‘Latino Literary Greats’ Event with Kanellos Comes to TAMIU April 11

A special lecture and ribbon-cutting on Wednesday, April 11 at Texas A&M International University will highlight Latino contributions.

The “Latino Literary Greats” lecture featuring Dr. Nicolás Kanellos starts at 7 p.m. at the Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library, followed by the opening of the newly renovated Killam Library Special Collections Room at 8 p.m.

This event is free and open to the public.

“Latino Literary Greats” is a special exhibition celebration event of “Our Journeys/Our Stories: Portraits of Latino Achievement,” currently on display at the TAMIU Student Center through May 12.

Dr. Kanellos is Brown Foundation Professor Spanish at the University of Houston and founding publisher of the Hispanic literary journal The Americas Review (formally Revista Chicano-Riqueña) and the nation’s oldest Hispanic publishing house, Arts Publico Press.

Kanellos’ “A History of Hispanic Theater in the United States: Origins to 1940” received three book awards. His other books include: “Thirty Million Strong: Reclaiming the Hispanic Image in American Culture,” “Biographical Dictionary of Hispanic Literature of the United States,” and the “Hispanic-American Almanac.”

He is the director of Recovering the US Hispanic Literary Heritage of the United States, which is dedicated to identifying, preserving, studying and making accessible tens of thousands of literary documents of regions that have become the US from the colonial period to 1960.

“Our Journeys/Our Stories,” its national tour and related programs are made possible by Ford Motor Company Fund.  Ford Motor Company Fund has also provided support for the exhibition's presentation in Laredo and for related education programs scheduled.

The Special Collections Room has relocated from the first floor of the Killam Library (KL) to an expanded area on the second floor.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony starts at 8 p.m.

For more information, please call the Office of Institutional Advancement at 326.2175 or visit office in KL 261.

University office hours are 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at prmis@tamiu.edu