[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 77 (Wednesday, June 12, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1011]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING WILLIAM WALLACE FOR 25 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE WORCESTER 
                           HISTORICAL MUSEUM

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES P. McGOVERN

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 11, 2002

  Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join the community of 
Worcester, Massachusetts in honoring William Wallace for his 25 years 
of service as Executive Director of the Worcester Historical Museum as 
the institution celebrates its 125th Anniversary.
  Founded in 1875 by Samuel Staples, the Worcester Historical Museum 
was designed to be a cultural organization ``not for today, but a 
hundred years to come.'' With the help of Mayor Clark Jillson, the 
museum incorporated in 1877. Originally, the museum consisted of two 
small rooms in the Worcester National Bank Building on Foster Street. 
The museum eventually moved to its own building on Salisbury Street 
fourteen years later.
  When Mr. Wallace signed on as Executive Director 25 years ago, he and 
his staff faced the challenges of establishing an effective exhibition 
program for the Worcester Historical Museum and managing the length of 
time that the museum and its fine collections would be open to the 
public. Because of his tenacious dedication and leadership, Mr. Wallace 
was able to overcome these initial obstacles and oversee many changes. 
In April 1980, the museum leased the Salisbury Mansion, thereby 
creating the city's first historic house museum. Even today, Salisbury 
Mansion serves as a venue for house tours, lectures, concerts, and 
exhibitions. Most recently, the museum moved into the Georgian Revival 
building on Elm Street and showcases Worcester's industrial history and 
the experiences of its immigrant groups. I believe the energy and 
passion Mr. Wallace has for the museum has been a major factor in the 
museum's overall evolution into the fine institution it is today.
  In addition to his duties at the museum, Mr. Wallace is currently on 
the Board of Trustees for the Friends of Hope Cemetery and served as 
founding president from 1992 to 1997. Mr. Wallace's interest in 
gravestones began through his work on his family's genealogy while he 
wrote a book on his great-great-grandfather, John Hubbard Spaudling. 
Mr. Wallace has also been an integral figure in organizing World Smile 
Day and is an avid collector of Mickey Mouse memorabilia. I can 
personally testify to this since every time I meet with Mr. Wallace, he 
is always wearing a Mickey Mouse tie! Clearly, Mr. Wallace approaches 
everything with the same vivacity and care that he does with his work 
at the museum.
  Mr. Speaker, I am certain that the entire House of Representatives 
joins me in honoring Mr. Wallace for his many accomplishments as 
Executive Director of the Worcester Historical Museum and wishes him 
the best of luck in retirement.

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