Espe Alegria was a Basque immigrant who connected a worldwide community with her radio program “The Basque Hour.” As Boise recently celebrated Jaialdi, many remembered the show, which aired from 1955 to 1981 on KBOI Radio. For many Basque sheepherders, Alegria’s radio program was their main connection to Boise and their home country.
The Albertsons Library at Boise State is a repository for some of Alegria’s historical items, including her 1925 passport, radio scripts and photos of her with the sheepherder community.
Head of Special Collections and Archives Cheryl Oestreicher was interviewed for a recent CBS2 Idaho News article about the collection and the university’s role in preserving this unique history.