[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 90 (Wednesday, June 23, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1379]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


         IN CELEBRATION OF MS. KATHERINE DUNHAM'S 90TH BIRTHDAY

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                        HON. WILLIAM (BILL) CLAY

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 23, 1999

  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to celebrate the 90th birthday of 
Ms. Katherine Dunham of East St. Louis, Illinois. Besides being 
recognized as a Kennedy Center Honoree, as well as the recipient of 
over seventy international awards, Ms. Dunham has consistently used her 
abundance of talent and creative energy to enhance the fine arts and 
humanities in America and worldwide. While well known for her 
contributions in the areas of dance, poetry, musical composition, and 
choreography, Ms. Dunham has also worked to advance the causes of human 
rights and world peace. However, it can be argued that her greatest 
accomplishments have come through her 31 years of tireless educational 
efforts in behalf of the residents and especially the children of East 
St. Louis, Illinois.
  Born in Chicago, Illinois, Ms. Dunham has distinguished herself in 
both academic and artistic venues. A graduate of the University of 
Chicago, she is the author of ``Dances of Haiti: Their Social 
Organization, Classification, Form and Function,'' Further, she has 
shared her intellect with us by writing several books, including Dances 
of Haiti, Island Possessed, and A Touch of Innocence. Ms. Dunham has 
been recognized for her academic accomplishments as the recipient of 
honorary degrees from many institutions of higher education, including 
Brown University, Howard University, and Washington University in St. 
Louis, Missouri. Her contributions to the arts have come through 
various theater productions, motion pictures, operatic performances, 
and television presentations. Throughout Ms. Dunham's career, she has 
performed both nationally and internationally in major performances and 
famous venues, including Aida at New York's Metropolitan Opera House in 
1964.
  As an advocate for education of the arts and humanities among the 
citizens of East St. Louis, Illinois, Ms. Dunham has proven her 
dedication to public service and community involvement for over three 
decades. Through the Katherine Dunham Centers for Arts and Humanities, 
she continues to provide cultural enrichment to both adults and 
children, while presenting opportunities for Master Artists to display 
and share with others their enormous talents and abilities. At age 90, 
she continues to develop new projects for the East St. Louis, Illinois 
community, including the soon to be completed African Artisanal Village 
on the campus of the Katherine Dunham Museum. A vision of Ms. Dunham 
and her late husband, John Pratt, this center will provide exposure to 
the arts of Africa, as well as a performing arts facility for the 
children of the Dunham Workshop and other visiting artists.
  Mr. Speaker, the city of East St. Louis, Illinois is proud to be the 
direct beneficiary of both Ms. Dunham's philanthropy and hands on 
involvement in the artistic community. It is a pleasure for me to wish 
Ms. Dunham a happy and healthy 90th birthday, as I look forward to the 
exciting new programs she has planned for the City of East St. Louis.

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