ST. LOUIS — This summer, Saint Louis University will become the permanent home of Fontbonne University’s renowned Center for Bosnian Studies.
The only initiative of its kind in North America, the Center is a historical and cultural preservation initiative that creates an enduring record of the experiences of Bosnian genocide survivors and their families, especially those living in metropolitan St. Louis, which is home to the largest Bosnian community outside of Bosnia-Herzegovina, with some 60,000 members.
SLU will become the permanent home of the Center’s unique oral histories, rare collections, circulating materials and growing digital archives. The move ensures that the Center’s mission continues, and its work remains accessible as Fontbonne ends instruction and closes its operations after the summer term.
“For almost 20 years, Fontbonne has worked with the Bosnian community in St. Louis to ensure that their people’s history, heritage, and experiences are memorialized as part of the Center for Bosnian Studies on the university’s campus,” said Fontbonne President Nancy Blattner, Ph.D. “With our closure later this summer, we are grateful that Saint Louis University has agreed to host this precious and significant collection, preserving the legacy that Fontbonne made a commitment to so many years ago.”
Originally founded in 2006 as the Bosnia Memory Project, the Center was renamed in 2020 to reflect its increasing role as a hub of knowledge and resources on Bosnia and Herzegovina. In 2022, Fontbonne dedicated a new campus space for the Center on the 30th anniversary of Bosnia and Herzegovina gaining independence from Yugoslavia.
“We are honored to continue the Center for Bosnian Studies’ critical work of cultural preservation and education at Saint Louis University,” said Jennifer Nutefall, dean of Libraries and Museums at SLU. “By bringing the Center to SLU, we can ensure that the voices of Bosnian genocide survivors and their families are not only preserved but continue to be heard and honored for generations to come.”
In a joint statement, Benjamin Moore, Ph.D., the founder of the Bosnia Memory Project, and Adna Karamehic-Oates, Ph.D., the Center’s director, said: “We are grateful for Fontbonne University’s support and stewardship of the Center’s work over the years. This transition is a new chapter with opportunities to grow the collections and advance the Center’s mission of documenting the evolving story of one of America’s most important immigrant communities.”
As part of the transition, Karamehic-Oates and Rebecca van Kniest, a Fontbonne professor and librarian who serves as the Center’s archivist, will transition to similar roles at SLU.
The long-term support of Midwest BankCentre has been a vital part of the Center's growth, and their partnership has been instrumental in its success in procuring grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities and other sources. SLU will work to sustain the Center’s existing partnerships and philanthropic support.
This spring, Fontbonne University will host an event to mark the transition. The Center’s first event at its new home at Saint Louis University will be this fall for the presentation of this year’s Civic Courage Award.
About the Saint Louis University Archives
The Saint Louis University Archives comprises hundreds of archival collections covering a variety of topics and disciplines. The collection reflects the rich educational, historical, religious and cultural heritage of SLU and of the St. Louis area. The Archives also collects materials of significant research value representing individuals and institutions outside the University that support SLU’s educational mission.
About Saint Louis University
Founded in 1818, Saint Louis University is one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious Catholic research institutions. Rooted in Jesuit values and its pioneering history as the first university west of the Mississippi River, SLU offers more than 15,300 students a rigorous, transformative education that challenges and prepares them to make the world a better place. As a nationally recognized leader in research and innovation, SLU is an R1 research university, advancing groundbreaking, life-changing discoveries that promote the greater good.
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