[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 159 (Wednesday, September 26, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1312]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





        TRIBUTE TO THE WISCONSIN BLACK HISTORICAL SOCIETY/MUSEUM

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GWEN MOORE

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 26, 2018

  Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the renowned 
Wisconsin Black Historical Society/Museum. On November 3, 2018, the 
Wisconsin Black Historical Society/Museum will celebrate its 30th 
anniversary.
  Much of the success of the Wisconsin Black Historical Society/Museum 
can be attributed to its founder and Director, Clayborn Benson III. He 
worked as a photojournalist for 39 years at WTMJ-TV News. When Benson 
was an adult student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1987, 
he produced a documentary, ``Black Communities,'' for a film class. The 
three-part film follows a grandfather as he shares stories with a young 
girl about black history in the United States, Wisconsin and Milwaukee. 
The project reignited Benson's love of history. In producing the 
documentary Benson discovered that the records and documents concerning 
the history and roots of African American people in Wisconsin were 
widely scattered and poorly preserved. Benson felt the stories had to 
be told.
  The Wisconsin Black Historical Society/Museum, located on the corners 
of North 27 and West Center Streets, opened its doors and its heart to 
the community, city and state in 1987 and remains at this location. In 
1988, the Museum became an affiliated member of The State Historical 
Society. The building, constructed in 1898, was the Engine No. 2 Fire 
Station. It was converted into the Center Street Library in 1928.
  Mr. Benson founded the Society/Museum to instill cultural pride and 
self-worth based on the premise that a people who know their history 
will grow to love and appreciate themselves more. The mission of the 
Wisconsin Black Historical Society/Museum is to document and preserve 
the historical heritage of African descent in Wisconsin. The Museum 
exhibits, collects and disseminates materials depicting this heritage. 
The Society/Museum serves as a resource center for all people 
interested in Wisconsin's rich African American heritage and encourages 
and promotes family, community and cultural activities. He not only 
teaches at the museum, but also at schools. Further, he encourages 
people to write down their own stories, so they can be passed down for 
generations. Mr. Benson really loves history and states that history 
fits his spirit and understands this is what he was supposed to do in 
this lifetime.
  The Wisconsin Black Historical Society/Museum is a true Wisconsin 
treasure. The Society/Museum through its many exhibits has shown 
despite the limitations often placed upon them, African Americans were 
pioneers, leaders and great contributors to the growth of this nation 
and to the settlement of Wisconsin. They were men and women who made 
enormous impacts, strived for freedom, and were leaders in our 
community.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to say the Wisconsin Black Historical 
Society/Museum hails from the 4th Congressional District and I am 
pleased to give praise to Clayborn Benson III on their 30th 
anniversary. I wish them many more years of success.

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