1202 W. Thomas Road
Phoenix, Arizona 85013
602–285–7500

Symposium to Address History and Future of Arizona’s Homeland
Phoenix College Presents The Provincias Internas: Continuing Frontiers

By: Christy Skeen

Five local entities will join forces to present The Provincias Internas: Continuing Frontiers, a symposium that addresses the history and future of Arizona’s homeland on Friday, March 28 in the Dome Room at Phoenix College.

The event, which is designed to bring scholars together to discuss the history of the Provincias Internas, is a collaboration among the Phoenix College Liberal Arts Department, Phoenix College Honors Program, Arizona State University History Department, Arizona Historical Society and The Braun-Sacred Heart Center, Inc.

The first session of the symposium gets underway at 9 a.m. and concludes at 12:30 p.m. The next session is scheduled from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Focusing on the Provincias Internas, a name given by the Spanish in the 18th Century to the region stretching from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Coast - much of the current Western United States to present Northern Mexico, the program will feature the historical relevance tied to this rich area. The Provincias Internas were established to protect Spanish possessions from the expansion of the English/Anglo American frontier. They were also designed to establish peace with the Native American nations of that region and promote the security of the Hispanic frontier.

While the Spanish no longer control this area, the cultural and demographic frontiers still exist and continue to interact despite the changed political borders. The critical understanding of this historical evolution has a major impact on its current and future development.

The moderator of the symposium, Dr. Pete Dimas, Liberal Arts Department faculty, explains that "In Spanish, Las Provincias Internas literally means the interior or internal provinces. For many people of that region today, the legacy of these interior/internal frontiers continues to be an intimate part of their personal everyday lives."

This symposium is the first public expression of a process that will address a number of topics including economic development, migration patterns, environmental adaptation, intergroup relations, public health, community development over time, intra and inter-cultural relations, religious influences and political relationships. Speakers for this particular symposium will include:

Dr. Alfredo Jiménez, Professor of American History, University of Sevilla, Spain

Dr. Jiménez is a well-respected scholar on both sides of the Atlantic and will act as the keynote speaker of the event.

Dr. Susan Deeds, Professor of History, Northern Arizona University

Dr. Deeds is the co-author of perhaps the most widely used textbook on Mexican History, The Course of Mexican History published by Oxford University Press. She is heavily involved in studies on both sides of the U.S.--Mexico border.

Mr. Hartman Lowmawaima, Arizona State Museum, Tucson

Mr. Lowmawaima is a member of the Hopi community. Extensively involved with national museum organizations, and having a particular interest in American Indian issues, Mr. Lowmawaima is currently involved in a project on Hopi History using Spanish colonial documents as a part of his research.

Dr. Edward Escobar, Chicana/Chicano Studies and History , Arizona State University

Dr. Escobar’s dual scholarly interests are in the areas of the Chicano experience and 20th Century United States history. An author of several works, he has just completed a book on the relationship between the Los Angeles Police Department and Mexican Americans during the period of 1900-1945 and will soon bring his research and writing up to 1992.

Dr. Phil VanderMeer, History, Arizona State University

Dr. VanderMeer has been teaching U.S., Western, Arizona and community history since 1985. His recent publications include: Phoenix Rising: The Making of a Desert Metropolis (2002) and "The Historical Patterns of Arizona Leadership" in Building Leadership in Arizona, Arizona Town Hall, 2002.

After the conclusion of Friday’s event, those interested in participating in the continuation of this process are invited to meet again from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 29 in the Willo Room at Phoenix College.

The event is free and the community is encouraged to attend. For more information, please call (602) 285-7651 or (602) 285-7181.