[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 100 (Wednesday, June 30, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1250]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     CELEBRATING THE HOWARD K. WATKINS PHOTOGRAPHIC ARCHIVE PROJECT

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                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 30, 2010

  Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Howard 
K. Watkins Photographic Archive Project, aptly recognized as the 
current ``Fresno Photo Laureate.''
  Since his arrival in Fresno in 1973, Howard K. Watkins has been 
photographing and documenting events in the greater Fresno area. His 
collection of 200,000 photos is the largest of its kind and includes: 
elected officials, community and business leaders, members of the 
judiciary and legal community, celebrities, numerous community groups, 
parades, political rallies, athletes, historic buildings and several 
award winning photographs.
  Influenced by the historic Pop Laval Photographic Archive Collection 
and encouraged by others, Mr. Watkins has partnered with the Fresno 
Regional Foundation and the Henry Madden Library at California State 
University, Fresno to provide a permanent home for all to enjoy. 
Therefore, Fresno State is helping to establish the Howard K. Watkins 
Photographic Archive Project with the goal of making the photographs 
publicly accessible as an online historical archive.
  Mr. Watkins began taking photos in junior high school with a simple 
Brownie camera. He pursued his passion for photography as a hobby as a 
young adult and continued throughout his career as an attorney with 
Fresno County Legal Services and the Office of Fresno County Counsel. 
Mr. Watkins became the official photographer for the Fresno County 
Supreme Court and has taken photographs for the State Bar of California 
and the California Supreme Court.
  Now retired from a distinguished thirty-three year career in the 
legal field, Mr. Watkins is devoting most of his time to indexing his 
photographic collection and raising the funds needed to make his photos 
accessible for generations to come.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to rise with me today to express 
our appreciation for Mr. Watkins' unwavering dedication and commitment 
to keeping the greater Fresno legacy alive through the Howard K. 
Watkins Photographic Archive Project.

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