[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 91 (Tuesday, June 9, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E853]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              IN HONOR OF THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF COTERIE

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                           HON. DIANA DeGETTE

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 9, 2015

  Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the Coterie 
organization as they celebrate their 100th anniversary. I have the 
privilege of representing this outstanding organization and many of its 
members, who are truly a great asset to our community.
   Established in 1915 by a small group of African American women in 
Denver who had a great thirst for knowledge, the group has persevered 
for a century. Since their founding at a time when the Ku Klux Klan 
predominated and then through two world wars, the Great Depression, 
economic recessions and segregation, their tradition has endured. Each 
year, Coterie has investigated a new research topic, choosing subjects 
as diverse as the ages and interests of their members. Through the 
years, topics have included Milton and English Drama, Contemporary 
Women Meeting Today's Challenge of the Space Age, The World's Great 
Opera, and Spotlighting Colorado Afro-American Achievers.
   Since Coterie members understand the value that education brings to 
a community, they have shared it with countless others over their 100 
year history. Members have been mentors to others and have inspired 
young people to continue their education. The findings from their 
research will be stored at the Blair Caldwell African American Research 
Library, an appropriate depository of their work given, its mission of 
``sharing resources and services about African-American History.'' The 
preservation of their work will enable future generations to benefit 
from their efforts for many decades to come.
   Coterie has been an important part of African-American culture in 
Denver, and many of their members have also served as community 
leaders. Some of their notable living members include Marie Greenwood, 
who is now 102 years old, joined Coterie in 1937, and is the first 
African American woman to receive a contract to teach with Denver 
Public Schools. Erma Ford, now 89 years old and a member since 1958, 
served as past president of the Colorado Association of Early Childhood 
Education.
   Life, present and past, has been their teacher. Please join me in 
celebrating 100 years of Coterie in their dedicated pursuit of 
knowledge.

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