[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 92 (Thursday, June 5, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1162]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               TRIBUTE TO ANNE D'HARNONCOURT (1943-2008)

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CHAKA FATTAH

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 5, 2008

  Mr. FATTAH. Madam Speaker, the City of Philadelphia, its arts 
community and in fact all citizens who cherish our rich cultural 
environment are in mourning at the untimely loss of Anne d'Harnoncourt, 
Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
  Anne d'Harnoncourt was, as described by her countless friends and 
admirers, a world class leader of the arts who developed, led and 
leaves as her legacy a vibrant, world-class institution.
  Director of the Museum since 1982 and the George D. Widener Director 
and Chief Executive Officer since 1997, she led the institution with 
greatness and grace, overseeing a massive project to reinstall all of 
the European collections in more than 90 galleries; renovation of 20 
galleries of modern and contemporary art followed in 2000. Last 
September, another dream of hers was realized with opening of the Ruth 
and Raymond G. Perelman Building, a neighboring landmark, with greatly 
expanded, state-of-the-art facilities for specialized Museum 
collections. As a special gift to the people of Philadelphia, this 
annex opened admission free for its first four months.
  Anne d'Harnoncourt's fund raising prowess was legendary. She led the 
Museum through two major capital campaigns: the Landmark Renewal Fund, 
which raised $64 million between 1986 and 1993; and the 2001 FUND 125th 
Anniversary Campaign which concluded in 2004, exceeding its goal and 
raising over $246 million.
  H. F. ``Gerry'' Lenfest, Chairman of the Art Museum Board of 
Trustees, offered the following comment to the media as the Museum 
broke the sad news: ``Anne's death is a severe loss to our beloved 
Museum, to the world of art and to those who knew and loved her. I have 
never known a person with more human attributes: she was learned, a 
gifted speaker, had an effervescent personality, was a great director 
and, above all, a deeply caring person. We will miss her greatly.''
  It is important to note that Anne d'Harnoncourt's contributions and 
impact go far beyond the Art Museum's sturdy walls and its towering 
structure that overlooks the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, a thoroughfare 
described as Philadelphia's Champs Elysees. Under her leadership, the 
Art Museum has served as the anchor for arts, culture, music and civic 
celebration for all Philadelphians. The museum has become increasingly 
accessible to Philadelphia's diverse communities, both in its 
admissions policies, its community outreach and in its choice of 
showcase artists, such as the Henry Ossawa Tanner retrospective in the 
early 1990s that saluted the great Philadelphia raised African-American 
artist.
  I was proud to have Anne d'Harnoncourt as a friend. I extend my 
condolences to her husband, Joseph J. Rishel, her legions of admirers 
and friends, and I urge my colleagues to join in honoring her memory.

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