[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 2693-2694]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 IN RECOGNITION OF WILHELMINA COLE HOLLADAY ON RECEIVING THE NATIONAL 
                    ARTS CLUB'S GOLD MEDAL OF HONOR

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 30, 2007

  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to 
Wilhelmina Cole Holladay, a great American who has devoted her life to 
promoting the development and appreciation of great women artists. In 
November of 1981, Wilhelmina Cole Holladay founded the National Museum 
of Women in the Arts in our Nation's Capital. In the ensuing quarter 
century, the Museum has enlightened countless members of the public 
about the remarkable achievements of women artists throughout history 
by acquiring, preserving and exhibiting great works of art by women. 
This month, Wilhelmina Cole Holladay is receiving the Gold Medal of 
Honor from the National Arts Club of New York City in recognition of 
her remarkable, visionary leadership and her tremendous contributions 
to the arts.
  In the 1960s, in concert wit her husband Wallace, Wilhelmina Cole 
Holladay began carefully assembling a unique and invaluable collection 
of significant works of art by women, whose tremendous creative 
contributions to the fine arts had historically been grievously 
underappreciated and often overlooked altogether. The Holladay 
Collection constituted the core of the offerings of the National Museum 
of Women in the Arts when it was founded in 1981, and the basis of its 
permanent collection.
  To fulfill its mission of increasing exposure to and appreciation of 
great art by women, the National Museum of Women in the Arts cares for 
and displays this magnificent permanent collection, offers special 
exhibitions, conducts outreach and education programs, maintains a 
research center and library, produces periodicals and books on women 
artists, and provides support to artists and fine arts groups around 
the globe. The Museum also offers a home in the capital area to those 
devoted to the appreciation of the performing and literary arts and 
other creative disciplines.
  During the first 5 years of its existence, the National Museum of 
Women in the Arts operated from temporary offices, with docents 
conducting tours of its collection and special exhibitions at the 
Holladays' own residence. Two

[[Page 2694]]

decades ago, the Museum opened its permanent home in a 78,810-square-
foot Washington landmark located by the White House, previously a 
Masonic Temple. The Museum's handsome building was refurbished to meet 
the most demanding design, museum, and security standards, and has 
since earned several architectural awards.
  Wilhelmina Cole Holladay's significant and enduring contribution's to 
American art and culture are very appropriately being recognized this 
month by the National Arts Club, an institution dedicated to 
stimulating, fostering and promoting public interest in the fine arts 
since its founding in 1898. Located in the architectural gem of the 
Samuel Tilden Mansion on Manhattan's picturesque Gramercy Park, the 
National Arts Club is a designated New York and National Historic 
Landmark and a pillar of the culture and artistic heritage of the 
United States of America.
  Madam Speaker, I ask that my distinguished colleagues join me 
recognizing the enormous contributions to the civic and cultural life 
of our Nation by Wilhelmina Cole Holladay, founder of the National 
Museum of Women in the Arts.

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