[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Pages 12122-12123]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

                                 ______
                                 

                             MAXINE WHITNEY

 Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, the mark of a truly great 
person may be identified by their generosity, and generosity is the 
reason I rise today. I would like to honor Mrs. Maxine Whitney, a long-
time Fairbanks, AK resident, businesswoman and philanthropist, for her 
multi-million dollar contribution of Native Alaskan artwork to the 
Prince William Sound Community College in Valdez, AK.
  For the past 50 years in Alaska, Mrs. Whitney and her husband, Jesse, 
have traveled extensively in rural Alaska to gain a deeper 
understanding and appreciation of Native people and cultures. During 
their travels, Maxine amassed what is reportedly the world's largest 
private collection of Native Alaskan art and artifacts.

[[Page 12123]]

  Maxine's hobby of collecting Native Alaskan art soon became a much 
larger commitment when she purchased a small private museum in 
Fairbanks to house her treasures. For nearly 20 years, Maxine's Eskimo 
Museum showcased Native Alaskan history and the important contribution 
Native culture has had on the formation of Alaskan society. Mrs. 
Whitney maintained the museum from 1969 until the late 1980s.
  Maxine's dedication to the arts is apparent from her recent donation 
of her extensive collection of Native Alaska art to Prince William 
Sound Community College, part of the University of Alaska education 
system. The collection, known as the Jesse & Maxine Whitney Collection, 
is the nucleus of the college's Alaska Cultural Center. This multi-
million dollar donation will provide a means for all visitors to the 
center to learn about past and present Native Alaskan cultures as well 
as the history of Alaska.
  Mrs. Whitney's dedication to keeping the Native Alaskan history alive 
should be celebrated. Her generous gift will enhance the knowledge and 
appreciation of Native cultures. It is people like Maxine Whitney, a 
patron of the arts and education, who enrich our lives with their 
gracious gifts.
  In donating the Whitney Collection, Maxine has provided a world-
renowned educational gem for all who visit the collection . . . she has 
provided a unique legacy for all Alaskans, and for all Americans. Thank 
you Maxine Whitney.

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