[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 54 (Tuesday, March 31, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E819]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       IN MEMORY OF ARCHIE GREEN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. NANCY PELOSI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 31, 2009

  Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Archie Green, a 
distinguished San Franciscan, who died on March 22, 2009.
  Born on June 29, 1917, Archie went on to a long and unique career. A 
scholar-worker, as he called himself, he blended his participation in 
the Civilian Conservation Corps, his service in the United States Navy 
during World War II, his experience as a shipwright and union member, 
his dedication to the study of workers' culture, his responsibilities 
as a family man, his scholarly training that resulted in a Ph.D. in 
folklore, his experience as a university professor and, above all, his 
unwavering dedication to social justice.
  Archie Green's contributions are many and I wish to mention a few of 
the most prominent ones. Archie envisioned a national center that would 
preserve and present American folklife and spent years lobbying the 
Congress tirelessly for the passage of federal legislation that would 
make this a reality. In time, this effort was successful and the 
American Folklife Preservation Act was unanimously passed by Congress 
and signed into law by President Ford in 1976. This led to the 
establishment of the American Folklife Center at the Library of 
Congress. For this work, Archie was honored in 2007 with the Library of 
Congress' Living Legend Award.
  Archie wrote many books and articles about the diverse traditions of 
working people and other ordinary Americans. In our city of San 
Francisco, he worked diligently to draw attention to the contributions 
of all working people. He was instrumental in the preservation of 
structures along the waterfront that are a direct link to shipping, 
longshoring and other maritime occupations that were so important to 
the city's growth. He was also a leader in the effort to erect plaques 
identifying other important labor landmarks around the city.
  In 2000, he was one of the founders of the nonprofit Fund for Labor 
Culture & History, a national organization dedicated to promoting a 
greater understanding of ``laborlore,'' which has convened meetings 
that bring together activists, trade unionists, scholars, and artists 
to discuss their various perspectives on workers' culture.
  While we mourn the loss of our friend, we celebrate the life of a 
generous and inspirational person who used his many skills to raise the 
nation's awareness of the traditions of working people and the 
indispensable role they have played in forging our personal identities 
and our national heritage.
  I hope it is a comfort to his wife, Louanne Green, his three sons, 
his sister, his four grandchildren, and to his many family and friends 
that so many in our country mourn their loss and are praying for them 
at this sad time.

                          ____________________