[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 25 (Thursday, February 14, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E202-E203]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 COMMEMORATING THE OPENING OF THE DENTON COUNTY AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM

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                        HON. MICHAEL C. BURGESS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 14, 2008

  Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the opening 
of the Denton County African American Museum. This museum is being 
dedicated on Saturday, February 16, 2008, and will reflect the 
resilience and determination of the African American citizens of Denton 
County.
  The museum is located in an original Quakertown house that was 
restored under the guidance of the Historical Park Foundation of Denton 
County. With its dedication, the Denton County African American Museum 
joins the Courthouse-on-the-Square Museum and the Bayless-Selby House 
Museum as part of the Denton County Museums.
  The Museum's historical exhibits will feature African American 
families of Denton County as well as the Quakertown experience. It will 
also house the collection of artifacts from Dr. Edwin D. Moten, 
Denton's first African American doctor. The collection includes more 
than 600 letters written by Dr. Moten to family, friends, and 
professional colleagues as well as photographs, postcards, medical 
records, medicine cases, his medical shingle from in front of his 
office, prescription pads and narcotics register from Denton County.
  As someone who practiced medicine in the Denton area for nearly 30 
years, I am fascinated by the pieces in Dr. Moten's collection from 
both a medical and a historical perspective. My own grandfather, Dr. 
Harry Clifton

[[Page E203]]

Burgess, was a contemporary of Dr. Moten. While it is interesting to 
think about how these men practiced before the advent of anesthesia and 
antibiotics, it is also inspiring to think of the courage that someone 
like Dr. Moten would have had to practice in such inhospitable 
conditions both personally and professionally. His perseverance during 
these harsh conditions is remarkable.
  Madam Speaker, today I commend people like Dr. Edwin Moten for their 
inspiration and proudly rise to recognize the culturally rich addition 
of this important museum to Denton and the entire north Texas area. I 
also call on north Texans and all Americans to reflect and recall the 
courage, perseverance, and spirit of those honored in the new Denton 
County African American Museum. It is an honor to represent the 26th 
Congressional District of Texas and to commemorate this historical 
occasion.

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