[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 126 (Monday, September 12, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 12, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                      A TRIBUTE TO MURIEL COLLIER

                                 ______


                         HON. RONALD V. DELLUMS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 12, 1994

  Mr. DELLUMS. Mr. Speaker, it is with pleasure that I rise to pay 
tribute to Ms. Muriel Collier on the occasion of her 80th birthday. I 
am also proud to claim that she is a citizen of the Ninth Congressional 
District, which I am honored to represent.
  Ms. Collier, whose September 7 birthday we are celebrating, is an 
extraordinary lady. Ms. Collier is a pioneer in several ways; she 
refused to accept the iron barriers placed against African-Americans 
from being trained in two top-ranked professional schools, as she 
refused to accept the same barriers to her being employed as a 
professional in the health field.
  Ms. Collier became the first African-American woman in northern 
California to be hired as a social worker with the Alameda Social 
Services Department in Oakland, CA.
  Ms. Collier graduated from Oakland High School in 1927 and received 
her bachelor of arts degree from the University of California, 
Berkeley, in 1931, and then went on to earn a masters in social work 
from the University of Chicago in 1934.
  Already an experienced social worker, Ms. Collier joined the Red 
Cross at the inception of World War II and was stationed in Fort 
Huachuca, AZ, and then Oakland, CA. Following the war, she served as a 
psychiatric social worker for the Veterans Administration Hospital in 
Palo Alto, CA, where she worked for 30 years.
  In addition to her professional work, Ms. Collier's commitment to 
public service is exemplified in her contributions to numerous 
community projects and activities which have inspired others and 
provided the model so necessary for our youth. She embodies the best in 
our society, combining education, training, professionalism, 
humanitarianism, and selfless dedication to others.
  It is fitting to pause to wonder at the accomplishment of Ms. 
Collier. Born eight decades ago into a time that considered higher 
education and entry into a profession to be a rarity, except for those 
female members of society who had the highest social status and were 
financially endowed, she was able to overcome these almost impossible 
hurdles of resistance against women, and especially against African-
Americans.
  I join with our civic and community leaders to honor and salute Ms. 
Muriel Collier, pioneer, dedicated public servant, and trailblazer on 
her, and our very special day; we look forward to celebrating many more 
birthdays of this rare jewel amongst us.

                          ____________________