12 THE BASQUES OF NEW YORK: A Cosmopolitan Experience Gloria Totoricagüena With the collaboration of Emilia Sarriugarte Doyaga and Anna M. Renteria Aguirre TOTORICAGÜENA, Gloria The Basques of New York : a cosmopolitan experience / Gloria Totoricagüena ; with the collaboration of Emilia Sarriugarte Doyaga and Anna M. Renteria Aguirre. – 1ª ed. – Vitoria-Gasteiz : Eusko Jaurlaritzaren Argitalpen Zerbitzu Nagusia = Servicio Central de Publicaciones del Gobierno Vasco, 2003 p. ; cm. – (Urazandi ; 12) ISBN 84-457-2012-0 1. Vascos-Nueva York. I. Sarriugarte Doyaga, Emilia. II. Renteria Aguirre, Anna M. III. Euskadi. Presidencia. IV. Título. V. Serie 9(1.460.15:747 Nueva York) Edición: 1.a junio 2003 Tirada: 750 ejemplares © Administración de la Comunidad Autónoma del País Vasco Presidencia del Gobierno Director de la colección: Josu Legarreta Bilbao Internet: www.euskadi.net Edita: Eusko Jaurlaritzaren Argitalpen Zerbitzu Nagusia - Servicio Central de Publicaciones del Gobierno Vasco Donostia-San Sebastián, 1 - 01010 Vitoria-Gasteiz Diseño: Canaldirecto Fotocomposición: Elkar, S.COOP. Larrondo Beheko Etorbidea, Edif. 4 – 48180 LOIU (Bizkaia) Impresión: Elkar, S.COOP. ISBN: 84-457-2012-0 84-457-1914-9 D.L.: BI-1626/03 Nota: El Departamento editor de esta publicación no se responsabiliza de las opiniones vertidas a lo largo de las páginas de esta colección Index Aurkezpena / Presentation............................................................................... 10 Hitzaurrea / Preface.......................................................................................... 14 New York 7 Acknowledgements .......................................................................................... 17 Introduction...................................................................................................... 23 Kaletarrak and baserritarrak: Those from the streets and those from the farms ................................................ 25 Bakes sales versus bond sales .......................................................................... 30 “A challenge and a dream”................................................................................ 34 Homeland History and Factors of Basque Emigration ....................................... 39 Basque Ethnicity ............................................................................................... 39 Homeland History ............................................................................................. 41 Departing Euskal Herria .................................................................................... 45 Arrival to New York ............................................................................................ 49 “Modern” Day Euskal Herria of the Twentieth Century....................................... 55 Conclusion........................................................................................................ 62 Adaptation to Life in the New Word................................................................... 67 Basque Pioneers of New World.......................................................................... 68 Valentín and Benita Orbe Aguirre ...................................................................... 72 A selection of Basque boardinghouses.............................................................. 80 Everyday life in the neighborhood ..................................................................... 82 Living and Dying in New York............................................................................. 86 White Plains and Plattekill................................................................................. 88 Entertaiment..................................................................................................... 92 Centro Vasco-Americano Sociedad de Beneficiencia y Recreo .......................... 97 Establishing a Basque mutual aid society.......................................................... 99 The Basque Charter and By-Laws ...................................................................... 101 Administration of the club ................................................................................. 103 Constructing a Building and an Identity............................................................. 105 Benefits for members of the Centro Vasco-Americano ....................................... 107 The 1940s.......................................................................................................... 111 The Centro Vasco-Americano’s own migration ................................................... 117 The first and second “generation” gap .............................................................. 123 Locating and re-locating.................................................................................... 126 Earning a Living in New York: Employement, Businesses and Professions of Immigrant Basques .................. 131 Seamanship...................................................................................................... 131 Small business entrepreneurs........................................................................... 137 8 “So many choices for work!” ............................................................................. 138 Grocers and food distributors............................................................................ 140 Índice Basque cuisine and restaurants ........................................................................ 142 Professionals and Public Service....................................................................... 147 Manufacturing and Craftsmanship .................................................................... 153 Musicians, Dancers, Artists and Athletes ......................................................... 157 Symbolic and substantial importance of dance in ethnic identity maintenance .... 157 Jon Oñatibia and the “Euzkadi” tour.................................................................. 162 The second half of a century of Basque dancing ................................................ 166 Musicians ......................................................................................................... 174 Classical Musicians ........................................................................................... 177 Abeslariak: Singers ........................................................................................... 179 Artists ............................................................................................................... 182 Athletes ............................................................................................................ 186 Boxing............................................................................................................... 189 Other sporting interests .................................................................................... 190 Political interest and activism of New York Basques ......................................... 193 Dabbling in Politics ........................................................................................... 194 Political activity of early New York Basques....................................................... 196 Diaspora understanding of the Spanish Civil War .............................................. 198 The Basque Delegation in New York .................................................................. 202 Professor José Antonio de Aguirre ..................................................................... 206 Jesús de Galíndez and the United Nations ......................................................... 211 Individualized political interest and expression................................................. 213 Contemporary political views ............................................................................ 220 Euzko-Etxea of New York: Basque-American Cultural & Benevolent Society, Inc.. 225 Aberri Eguna: Day of the Homeland................................................................... 231 Andrak: Women................................................................................................. 234 Expanding the activities .................................................................................... 236 Accepting or rejecting change and progress ...................................................... 243 Relations with the Basque Government and homeland institution..................... 245 Benefits to Basque Organizations ..................................................................... 248 Grants............................................................................................................... 252 Conclusion........................................................................................................ 254 The Society of Basque Studies in America: Educating Our Future ..................... 257 The Society’s Leadership................................................................................... 259 Projects of the Society....................................................................................... 261 Ameriketatik Trainera: the fishing boat from America ........................................ 263 New York 9 The Society of Basque Studies in America Basque Hall Of Fame ........................ 265 Conclusion: Basques living at the intersection of tradition and modernity ....... 325 Euskeraz Mesedez: In Basque Please ................................................................ 325 Conclusion on today’s