[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 13800]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE EFFORTS OF LONNIE BUNCH, THE FOUNDING DIRECTOR OF THE 
  SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE

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                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 27, 2016

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 
recognize Lonnie G. Bunch III; a great educator and American historian 
who's relentless and dedicated work led to the opening of the 
Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture on 
the national mall this past weekend.
  From a young age, Lonnie has cared about the stories of those who are 
anonymous. The experience of a four-year-old Lonnie with his 
grandfather looking at a photo of unidentified African-American 
schoolchildren in a book left him wanting to learn their stories. The 
curiosity inspired by hearing his neighbors speak Sicilian urged him to 
understand the history that led groups of immigrants to populate his 
neighborhood in New Jersey.
  These experiences as a child helped shape the distinguished career 
Mr. Bunch would have as an author, educator and curator at various 
institutions. While serving as president at the Chicago Historical 
Society, Mr. Bunch was approached by the Smithsonian Institute to be 
the founding director of the National Museum of African American 
History and Culture. Mr. Bunch spent the next decade traveling around 
the world raising the $270 million needed to open the museum while also 
leading the charge in opening seven different exhibits related to 
African American history and culture in the Smithsonian National Museum 
of American History. Mr. Bunch is also responsible for establishing a 
daylong workshop program designed to identify and preserve items of 
historical significance.
  Through his career endeavors culminating in the opening of the 
Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, 
Mr. Bunch has presented an opportunity to every American visiting 
Washington, DC to experience the history of the United States through a 
unique prospective.

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