During the last week of June, a group of graduate students, doctoral candidates, and archivists from various North American universities had the opportunity to share their interest in conducting research in Spanish archives and libraries. The program—spanning Madrid, Toledo, and El Escorial—was conceived to grant them access to diverse state, ecclesiastical, and private institutions whose collections could help shape and enrich their respective projects on medieval and early modern Spain.

SLU’s Madrid campus hosted the opening day, featuring presentations by Spanish and North American faculty members who brought diverse methodological perspectives to the discussion of their own research. Subsequent days included group visits to selected repositories; with the guidance of curators and other specialists, and through sessions involving direct engagement with the archival materials, participants were introduced to a wide range of research avenues and approaches. The program concluded with a plenary lecture by Amanda Dotseth, Director of the Meadows Museum in Dallas, who presented her upcoming exhibition project dedicated to the Camino de Santiago, scheduled for 2027.

The success of the event encourages the Center for Iberian Historical Studies and the Center for Spain in America to continue their collaboration on future editions, establishing this course as an annual activity within their respective programs.

Center for Iberian Historical Studies
Center for Spain in America