[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 51 (Tuesday, May 3, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 3, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
   TRIBUTE TO YORK COLLEGE-BLACK AMERICAN HERITAGE FOUNDATION MUSIC 
                            HISTORY ARCHIVE

                                 ______


                          HON. FLOYD H. FLAKE

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 3, 1994

  Mr. FLAKE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce the opening of a 
very special exhibit in my district. For the first time, the York 
College-Black American Heritage Foundation Music History Archive will 
be on display for public viewing Monday May 2, 1994, through May 14 in 
the York College Art Gallery, located on the lower level of the 
Academic Core Building, 94-20 Guy R. Brewer Boulevard, Jamaica, NY. 
This comprehensive exhibit opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and 
reception, which included piano playing featuring Bross Townsend. 
Exhibit viewing hours are Monday through Friday 12 noon to 2 p.m. and 5 
to 7 p.m., Saturdays 9 A.M. to 5 p.m. The exhibit is free and open to 
the public.
  The Music History Archive is a repository for a variety of 
fascinating materials reflecting the artistry of the musicians and 
composers of Southeast Queens. Contained in the archive are original 
scores, musical compositions and instruments, Count Basie, Duke 
Ellington, and Brook Benton memorabilia, photographs, videos, and 
records all pertaining to the careers of notable black American 
composers, musicians and vocalists, some of whom still live in Queens, 
and others who have lived in the Jamaica and other Queens communities. 
Other items of interest, which will be on display, are five 
compositions donated by the late Wilbur ``Buck'' Clayton, a founding 
member of the Archive advisory committee; a saxophone played by the 
late Al Sears; a flute belonging to Lewis Latimer, an inventor and 
electrical pioneer; the ``Story of Jazz'' narrated by Langston Hughes; 
a West Indian song book; and early recordings by Ella Fitzgerald and 
Louis Jordan.
  Established in March 1989 between York College and the Black American 
Heritage Foundation, the Music History Archive was the beginning of a 
very successful and unique partnership between the college and the 
Jamaica community. This exhibit is part of the Jamaica Jubilee Festival 
Spring 1994, which is being produced under the direction of Cultural 
Collaborative Jamaica. The Cultural Collaborative is a partnership 
consisting of arts, education and economic development organizations in 
the Jamaica community. York College and the Black American Heritage 
Foundation are members of the collaborative.
  In recognition of this archive, the New York City host committee for 
the 1992 Grammy Awards selected York College as an official site on the 
New York Music Trail. York is the only college among 28 landmarks on 
the New York City trail.
  Dr. Robert D. Parmet, professor of history, and Mr. Clarence L. 
Irving, Sr. serve as cochairs of the York College-Black American 
Heritage Foundation Music History Archive Advisory Committee. Janet 
Barkan of Jamaica has been serving as volunteer archivist. Along with 
``Buck'' Clayton, other former founding members included Rev. John G. 
Gensel, who is known as the Jazz Minister to the World, and Estella 
Williams, the daughter of the late band leader Fess Williams. In 
addition to the two cochairs, Dr. Parmet and Mr. Irving, the archive 
advisory committee includes: Dr. Celestine E. Anderson, J. Kevin Barry, 
Hoover Burroughs, Charles Coleman, Dr. Leo A. Corbie, Janet Fisher, Dr. 
Joseph McLaren, Dr. Dennis L. Moorman, Dr. Jacqueline W. Ray, Phyllis 
White Thorne, and Estella Williams.

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