Pete Cenarrusa was born Carey, Idaho, on December 16, 1917. His parents, Jose (Joe) Marie Zenarruzabeitia and Ramona Gardoqui, were immigrants from the Basque Country. They met and were married in Shoshone, Idaho, and established a successful sheep business based in Carey. They had five children, all of whom were raised speaking Basque, later learning English in public school. Upon graduation from high school, Pete Cenarrusa attended to the University of Idaho, where he was a member of the University's boxing team. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in agriculture in 1940 and then moved to Cambridge, Idaho where he taught agricultural sciences and coached various sports. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Pete enlisted in the Navy, eventually becoming a Marine naval aviator and training other enlistees during World War II. He retired from the reserves as a major in 1963.
After the war Cenarrusa returned to his native south central Idaho and taught farming methods throughout Blaine County. During this time he was also a key figure in the building of Carey's airport, which was dedicated by President Truman, who happened to be in Idaho at the time. Cenarrusa married Freda Coates in October 1947. They had one son, Joe. In 1949 he was persuaded to run for the Idaho House of Representatives, and won in 1950 running on the Republican ticket. While working as a legislator, Cenarrusa also helped operate his family's sheep business in Carey. He was elected to his seat in the House for nine consecutive terms, and served as Speaker of the House from 1963-1967. In 1967, Governor Samuelson nominated Cenarrusa to finish the term of Secretary of State Edison Deal, who had died in office. Then Cenarrusa ran for and successfully won the position in the general election in 1970. He was reelected seven times, retiring in 2002. Among his many duties as Secretary of State, Cenarrusa served as a member of the State Land Board and was chief elections officer for the state of Idaho. Cenarrusa's fifty-two years of service as legislator and Secretary of State makes him one of the longest-serving public officials in the United States.
Throughout his life Pete Cenarrusa was dedicated to promoting the Basque cause and helping Basque communities and immigrants. In 1970 he was influential in getting Generalissimo Francisco Franco to commute the death sentences of 16 Basque citizens accused of murdering a Spanish government official. Cenarrusa initiated three memorials in the Idaho State Legislature in support of Basque rights and autonomy, the first in 1972, with two others following in 2002 and 2006. Cenarrusa also worked to promote an end to all political violence within the Basque Country, as well as Basque education, helping in the establishment ikastolas, Basque preschools. In 2001, the Sabino Arana Foundation in the Basque Country honored Cenarrusa as a "Basque of the World."
Cenarrusa has promoted Basque culture within his home state, contributing both time and money to the various institutions, such as the Basque Museum and Cultural Center in Boise. In 2005, Cenarrusa formed the Cenarrusa Center for Basque Studies (now the Cenarrusa Foundation for Basque Culture). The Center has a program at Boise State University, where students can earn a Basque Studies minor. Pete Cenarrusa continues to work as a spokesperson for the Basque people and to end violence within the Basque Country.
The Pete T. Cenarrusa Papers consists of correspondence, writings, government documents, subject files of clippings, publications, and articles, and a few artifacts. They focus on Basque politics and culture throughout the world, and encompass the period from about 1970 to 2008, with a few scattered items from earlier years. They constitute a significant source of primary research materials on Basque affairs during this time.
As one of Idaho's most prominent Basques, Cenarrusa is involved in Basque matters across the globe. Subject matter ranges from politics and peace efforts in the Basque Country and Spain, to the Basque diaspora communities throughout the world. The collection includes correspondence with five Lehendakaris (Basque presidents) and other Basque and Spanish politicians. The collection also features numerous press clippings and articles about Basque affairs, not only from U.S. publications, but Basque and Spanish ones as well. The three Joint Memorials passed by the Idaho Legislature concerning Basque affairs, as well as drafts and notes about them, are also featured items. The scope of the collection demonstrates the complex nature of Basque politics.
The Pete T. Cenarrusa Papers are arranged in six series: 1. Basque homeland affairs; 2. Basque diaspora; 3. Idaho legislature joint memorials; 4. Basque studies; 5. Articles and manuscripts on Basque topics; and 6. Basque art.
The majority of this collection is available for research; only selected items are closed to access. Contact archives staff for information.
Gift of Pete Cenarrusa, 2004.
See also: Pete T. Cenarrusa Secretary of State Records.
[item description], Pete T. Cenarrusa Papers, Box [number] Folder [number], Boise State University Special Collections and Archives.
This series features material connected with the Basques in the Basque Country and Spain. Information pertaining to the Basque and Spanish governments, including Basque political parties can be found in their respective sections. The Spanish government section also includes information on two other autonomous communities in the Spain, Navarre and Catalonia. Material on the banned Basque political party Batasuna can be found within the Basque section.
A critical part of Basque politics is the group Euzkadi Ta Askatasuna, or ETA (Basque Homeland and Freedom). Information, including communiqués, newsletters and propaganda put out by the group is a prominent part of the series. Also included is information on the peace process, as well as numerous peace movements and groups that have appeared in the Basque Country.
Human rights have been a longstanding issue within Spain and the Basque Country, and part of the series includes reports and examinations of human rights violations.
This series focuses on the Basque diasporas throughout the world. It also features material on relations between the diasporas and the Basque Country. Most of the information pertains to the Idaho diaspora, which is unique for its high involvement with homeland politics. However, Cenarrusa corresponded with other diaspora communities, especially in South America, and those activities are documented in the International Diaspora section.
The Basque diaspora within Idaho is highly involved in preserving Basque culture, and numerous activities are recorded within the material in this series. These range from the historic sheepherders balls, to the establishment of the Basque Museum and Cultural Center in Boise, the only one of its kind in the United States. Information (mostly in the form of press clippings) on individual diasporic communities within Idaho can also be found in this section.
Relations between Idaho and the Basque Country have been well developed. There have been trade missions between the two governments, and visits by a variety of government delegations. In 1980, a seedling from the Tree of Gernika, a historic Basque monument, was brought to Idaho and planted in front of the State Capitol Building. Records and a speech by Cenarrusa are found with the diaspora-homeland relations section. In 1993, Boise and the Basque city of Gernika became sister cities, details of which can be found in this series. Also a part of the series is condolences sent by members of the Basque government for the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center.
Diaspora communities formed a wide variety of organizations, most with intent of supporting or influencing Basque politics. Correspondence, newsletters, reports from these organizations are located within this series.
In 1972, Cenarrusa initiated a Joint Memorial within the Idaho Legislature calling for the Spanish Government, then led by Generalissimo Franco, to follow the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It passed the Idaho legislature and U.S. Senator Frank Church read the memorial to the United States Congress, where it was entered into the Congressional Record.
Following the visit of Spanish Ambassador Ruperez in 2002, Cenarrusa, working with State Representative David Bieter, sponsored another Joint Memorial, asking for greater autonomy within the Basque Country and a cessation to all violence. The memorial once again passed through Idaho legislature, although this time with a bumpier ride. Ambassador Ruperez and the Spanish government became involved, as well as U.S. National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice. Changes were made, and the memorial was sent onto the United States Congress.
In March of 2006, ETA declared a permanent ceasefire, and the Idaho Legislature once again passed a memorial, this time applauding ETA and encouraging efforts at a real peace. All of these memorials demonstrate the unique place Idaho has had in attempting to influence a foreign government's policies and actions.
Closed.
This series features information regarding Basque studies and education. It includes information on the Cenarrusa Center for Basque Studies, as well as the University of Nevada at Reno's Center for Basque Studies. Also featured in the series is information on the Ikastolas, or Basque preschools. Ikastolas focus on teaching the Basque language, keeping it alive for generations to come. Cenarrusa was influential in helping to establish these, both in the Basque Country and in Idaho. His notes and correspondence on this can be found here.
Closed.
Pete Cenarrusa collected a variety of manuscripts, articles and books on the Basque Country, culture, and politics. He was sometimes sent drafts of writings for his commentary.
Pete Cenarrusa collected material on Basque art. He was part of the committee that commissioned the National Monument to the Basque Sheepherder, located in Nevada (a replica of which is included in the collection). Information on art for the Basque Block in Boise is included, as well as press clippings and brochures for a variety of Basque art exhibits.