‘Legacy of Empire’ examined in centennial series, exhibit

Colonialism and imperialism in the wake of the Spanish American War will be the theme of a series of campus activities marking the centennial of the war this fall.

The centennial of the Spanish American War provides an appropriate opportunity to look back at this country’s past century as a world power and to look forward to examine possibilities for peace and prosperity.

“The significance of this program is that it brings together scholars from the different parts of the empire and the new empire to talk about the impact of this history,” says Alda Blanco, associate professor of Spanish and Portuguese.

Sponsored by the Latin American and Iberian Studies program and the Southeast Asian Studies program, the series will encourage a dialogue among historians of Cuban, Spanish, Filipino, Puerto Rican and North American legacies.

This year marks the centennial of the U.S. takeover of the former Spanish colonies of Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines, as well as the formal annexation of the Hawaiian Islands. The United States’ rise as a world power in the Caribbean and Pacific regions is traced to this point.

Sponsors hope to encourage a greater comparative and transnational perspective on developments during the last 100 years. Major activities on campus include a full visiting professor from the University of Madrid, Florentino Rodao, who is working in the history department and Southeast Asian Studies program; interdisciplinary seminars combining approaches in history and Spanish; lectures devoted to 1898 on the five major areas (Spain, Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Philippines and the U.S.); and a black-and-white photo exhibit at the Union galleries featuring photos from the Smithsonian Institution’s traveling exhibit and the U.S. National Archives and other museums. The exhibit will run from Oct. 19 through Nov. 29.

Events are as follows:

• “Beyond the Maine: Imaging the New Empire,” Miguel Bretos, curator of this Smithsonian exhibit, Oct. 19, 4 p.m., in 1924 reception room, Memorial Union. Exhibit reception to follow.

• “Conflicting Views of Cuban Independence: From U.S. Annexation to (Afro-) Caribbean Federation,” Aline Helg, University of Texas-Austin. Lecture: Oct. 19, 7 p.m., 1924 reception room, Memorial Union. Seminar: Oct. 20, 3:30 p.m., 206 Ingraham.

• “Political Identities, Mass Politics and the Demise of Spanish Colonialism in Puerto Rico 1887-1898,” Astrid Cubano, University of Puerto Rico. Lecture: Nov. 2, 3:30 p.m., 206 Ingraham. Seminar: Nov. 3, 3:30 p.m., 206 Ingraham.

• “The Consequences of Conquest: The Philippines, the United States and the Legacy of the Philippine-American War,” Glenn May, University of Oregon. Lecture: Nov. 30, 3:30 p.m., 206 Ingraham. Seminar: Dec. 1, 3:30 p.m., 206 Ingraham.

• “La Tentativa de recomposicion Simbolica del Poder en la Espana despues del Desastre,” Carlos Serrano, University of Paris, Sorbonne. Lecture: Dec. 14, 3:30 p.m., 206 Ingraham. Seminar: Dec. 15, 3:30 p.m., 206 Ingraham.