Dutchirican: A Latinx History of Central Pennsylvania

On Thursday, April 20 join LancasterHistory as we welcome Lebanon Valley College professors Dr. John Hinshaw and Dr. Ivette Guzmán-Zavala to discuss how, why, and when Latinos moved to central Pennsylvania, revealing a history that lies at the intersection of local, national, and global trends.

From the tomateros who came to pick fruits and vegetables in the 1950s to more recent arrivals drawn to the region by affordable housing, Latinx people have long been a part of the rich community fabric of central Pennsylvania. Through oral history interviews with area residents, Guzmán-Zavala, Hinshaw, and their students have documented the stories of these migrants. In this lecture, the speakers will share those stories of migration, personal sacrifice, racism, and the formation of communities that cross cultural lines. Living alongside Mennonites in a place shaped by Pennsylvania Dutch history, Puerto Ricans have found new identities as Dutchiricans.

Dr. Ivette Guzmán-Zavala is a Professor of Spanish at Lebanon Valley College. Guzmán-Zavala hails from Caguas, Puerto Rico where she graduated from the University of Puerto Rico in art education. She continued her education to receive a Masters from Syracuse University and her Ph.D. from Rutgers University. Guzmán-Zavala has published several articles on the literary, artistic, and photographic perceptions of mothers and women in Puerto Rican history, analyzing the role of migration and the diaspora in Puerto Rican women’s narratives. Her forthcoming book Maternidades puertorriqueñas examines visual and textual representations of biological and non-biological mothers.

Dr. John Hinshaw is a Professor of History at Lebanon Valley College. Hinshaw hails from Columbia, Missouri. He received his Bachelors from Macalester College in Minnesota and his Masters and Ph.D. from Carnegie Mellon University. He has written or co-written three books on industrial and labor history in the United States and world.

EVENT DETAILS & HOW TO REGISTER

This event is expected to take place in person at LancasterHistory on Thursday, April 20, 2023. Doors open and the reception begins at 5pm. The lecture will begin at 5:30pm. The lecture will also be streamed to Zoom at 5:30pm for those who wish to join us virtually.

This program is free and open to the public. In-person attendance requires advance registration in order to guarantee a seat. Due to capacity restrictions, tickets may not be available at the door. Virtual attendance requires advance registration in order to receive the Zoom link. Register online by clicking the appropriate link below or by calling (717) 392-4633. Registration will close online on Thursday, April 20 at 5:30pm. The online version of this program will also be recorded and uploaded to LancasterHistory’s YouTube channel after the event.