euskalkultura.eus

Derio, Bizkaia.  The Historic Ecclesiastic Archive of Bizkaia (AHEB-BEHA) will send two of its technicians to Boise, Idaho next week to instruct people on the possibilities of its database as well as the possibilities of conducting research online.  The two will be Cristina Castillo, who is in charge of cataloging and digitization of the archive and Asier Romero, who is responsible for data extraction and the scanning process.  The trip is the result of an invitation from the Cenarrusa Center in Boise which also has the support of the Provincial Government of Bizkaia.  

Much of the Basque immigration to Idaho originated in Bizkaia and these talks and workshops will be of particular interest for those who want to find their roots.  The workshop will take place on October 14^th and 15^th with only 30 seats available.  During the workshop the HEAB-BEHA technicians will show participants how to search the archive’s online database and how to print maps, photographs, birth certificates, death certificates, and marriage certificates…The archive has digitized all of the information from the Diocese of Bizkaia going back to 1500. 

-For more information on the workshop, http://cenarrusa.org

Workshops at other Basque centers

As Anabella Barroso, director of the HEAB-BEHA explained to EuskalKultura.com, the archive gives great importance to dissemination, that is to say, to inform users of the possibilities and services it offers through its online database.  Both the web and the physical file, headquartered in Derio, are free and allow users access to records all the way back to the 16^th century.

However, internet users are often unsure of how to use the web, or how to begin a search.  “It is very important to us that people find what they are looking for, and that they enjoy all that the archive offers,” Barroso said.    “We often get many requests from the Diaspora, and we would be willing to give more talks or workshops at other euskal etxeas, to help those users.”  If there is interest, we can see how we can make it happen.”

-The HEAB’s website, http://www.aheb-beha.org