History
Latin America became a focus of research at the University of Illinois as early as 1904, when the School of Agriculture sent a delegation to São Paulo, Brazil. In 1909 the Department of History began offering courses on Latin America, and the Spanish Department followed in 1928. The Library began collecting materials from the region before World War I.
A Latin American Studies major was established in 1949, and a formal program has been administered by the Center, with its own Director since 1965. In that year the U.S. Department of Education designated the Center a National Resource Center for Latin American Language and Area Studies, a status that has been renewed through subsequent national competitions.
CLACS is one of the few centers in the country that has received uninterrupted funding - as a consortium with the University of Chicago - since 1976.
In 1991, we moved into the International Studies Building. It was especially designed to house the University of Illinois Area Studies Centers and other international programs, such as Study Abroad. The International Studies Building also provides a reception area which the Center utilizes for receptions, its brownbag lecture series, and film screening. We occupy 9 rooms on the second floor, including staff offices and meeting rooms, plus study space for research assistants and visiting scholars.