[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 71 (Thursday, June 9, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 9, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                   TRIBUTE TO CATHERINE FILENE SHOUSE

  Mr. WARNER. Madam President, I ask that my colleagues join with me 
today in honoring a truly great lady as she celebrates her 98th 
birthday: Catherine Filene Shouse.
  Kay Shouse has devoted her life to enhancing the lives of others. 
Through public service and commitment, arts and humanities, education, 
and philanthropy, she has continually demonstrated that one caring 
individual can make an enormous difference. This is my second recent 
opportunity to pay tribute to Kay's many contributions. Just a few 
weeks ago, I was delighted to participate in the American News Women's 
Club event naming Kay as ``Newsmaker of the Year.''
  Throughout her life, Kay Shouse has been a creative and innovative 
woman of vision, a pioneer and a leader. Her life has been marked by 
``firsts'': first woman to receive a master's degree in education from 
Harvard University, first woman chairman of the first Federal prison 
for women, organizer of the first chamber music concerts performed in 
Washington museums--the Phillips Collection, among others. She has 
enhanced the work of the Kennedy Center, the Virginia Commission of 
Arts and Humanities, and the Washington College Friends of the Arts 
Committee. In each case, her determination and leadership have improved 
the quality of life for those around her.
  Kay stands as an example for other women to emulate, and she has 
always gone out of her way to provide valuable tools and guidance to 
those who would follow in her footsteps. As an undergraduate at Wheaton 
College in Massachusetts in 1917 and 1918, she organized conferences to 
study and promote jobs for women with education beyond high school. Two 
years later, she authored ``Careers for Women,'' updated in 1932. She 
also founded and chaired the Institute of Women's Professional 
Relations. In recognition of her commitment to promoting careers for 
women, Wheaton College dedicated the Filene Center for Work and 
Learning in 1988, and Hood College in Frederick, MD dedicated the 
Catherine Filene Shouse Career Center in 1993.
  Her efforts on behalf of the arts have been equally fruitful. She has 
served in many vital capacities, including vice president of the board 
of the National Symphony Orchestra Association, chairman of the 
president's music committee, member of the executive and building 
committees of the John F. Kennedy for the Performing Arts--as well as 
honorary trustee of the Center, member of the board of the Opera 
Society of Washington, honorary director of the Washington Chamber 
Orchestra, and member of the advisory board for the Washington 
Conservatory.
  And, of course, there is the crowning jewel among the gifts America 
has received from Catherine Filene Shouse, Wolf Trap Farm Park for the 
Performing Arts. Her generosity made possible one of Washington's great 
gifts to the world. In 1966, she donated 100 acres of Wolf Trap Farm to 
create the only national park for performing arts. Her weekend getaway 
has become perhaps America's favorite arts center.
  Kay Shouse has been honored often and deservedly, at home and abroad, 
for her extraordinary efforts. Most notably, she has received our 
Nation's highest civilian award, the Medal of Freedom. She was the 
first recipient of the Governor's Award for arts in Virginia in 1979. 
Queen Elizabeth II named her Dame Commander of the British Empire. 
France honored her as an ``Officer Dans L'Ordre des Arts et des 
Lettres.'' She has received the first City of Paris Award, the Vienna 
Medal of Honor for assistance to Austrian youth, and she is the first 
woman to be similarly honored by the German Federal Republic.
  And I have only begun to outline her many accomplishments.
  I know that my colleagues will join with me in offering a heartfelt 
thank you to Catherine Filene Shouse for her talent, graciousness, 
charm, generosity, and determination. On this, her 98th birthday, it is 
truly fitting that she be honored not just in Virginia, or 
Massachusetts, or Washington, or on the floor of the Senate, but 
throughout this great country and around the world.

                          ____________________