Katherine Dunham - The HistoryMakers

Katherine Dunham 

Matriarch of Black Dance 

Spring 2006 

THE HISTORYMAKERS SPRING 2006 PAGE 1

Table of Contents 

Write On: the Art of The Written Word ..................3 

Volunteers .............................................................4 

A Tribute to Brock Peters .....................................5 

Celebrate Chuck Smith ........................................6 

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday and 

The HistoryMakers Open House ......................6 

The HistoryMakers’ Training Summit ....................7 

Upcoming Events .................................................8 

The HistoryMakers Founder and Executive Director Julieanna Richardson and Rev. 

Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr. 

Our Vision … 

To capture America’s history one person at a time, creating a priceless 

video collection and giving those involved their special place in history to 

educate the world about the struggles, determination and achievements 

of the African American experience. 

Our Mission … 

A national 501(c)(3) non-profit research and educational institution 

committed to preserving on videotape and making widely accessible the 

untold personal stories of both well-known and unsung African Americans. 

Through the media and a series of user-friendly products, services and 

events, The HistoryMakers enlightens, entertains and educates the public, 

helping to refashion a more inclusive record of American history. 

A HistoryMaker … 

Is African American by descent who: 

1) has made significant accomplishments in his/her own life; 

and/or; 

2) is associated with a particular movement, organization or 

association and event or time that is important to the 

African American community. 

Stories of success against the odds, achievement in the face of 

adversity, and in all cases … stories of inspiration. 

k 

The HistoryMakers 

1900 South Michigan Avenue • Chicago, Illinois 60616 

312-674-1900 • 312-674-1915 (fax) 

Atlanta/Southeast Region 

476 Auburn Avenue • Atlanta, Georgia 30312 

404-588-0085 • 404-588-0086 (fax) 

Washington D.C./Mid-Atlantic Region 

CTV-Community Television of Prince George’s Channels 76 & 70 

9475 Lottsford Road • Largo, MD 20774 

301-925-9155 

ab@thehistorymakers.com • nj@thehistorymakers.com 

Western/North Pacific Region 

African Diaspora Studies Program 

University of California, Berkeley 

660 Barrows Hall #2572 • Berkeley, CA 94720 

www.thehistorymakers.com • info@thehistorymakers.com 

Just the Facts .......................................................8 

Carson’s Display Window .....................................9 

The HistoryMakers’ Website .................................9 

Katherine Dunham ..............................................10 

An Evening With Denyce Graves ........................12 

Meet The HistoryMakers: A Day of Education 

Chicago ..........................................................14 

Atlanta ............................................................15 

Los Angeles ...................................................16 

The HistoryMakers’ Education Institue ...............17 

2006 HistoryMakers ............................................18 

2006 Contributions and Donations ....................18 

Sponsor A HistoryMaker .................................... 19 

The HistoryMakers’ Chicago Salon Featuring 

Geoffrey Holder ..............................................19 

Washington, D.C. HistoryMakers 

Documentazy Series ......................................20 

Julieanna Richardson appointed First 

Vernon D. Jarrett Fellow .................................20 

Julieanna Richardson Invited to Speak For 

JP Morgan Chase ..........................................20 

The HistoryMakers’ Mid-Atlantic/ 

Washington, D.C. Region ..............................21 

The HistoryMakers’ Atlanta/Southeast 

Regional Office ...............................................21 

The HistoryMakers and Carnegie Mellon 

Digital Library ................................................22 

In Memoriam ......................................................23 

Junius Gaten ......................................................24

The HistoryMakers events 

On Wednesday, February 15, 2006, The HistoryMakers hosted a free public 

program entitled, Write On: The Art of the Written Word. A panel of four 

HistoryMakers including: publisher and poet Haki Madhubuti, author Samuel 

Greenlee, poet Angela Jackson and playwright Useni Eugene Perkins, 

were featured for Black History Month. The program started with event 

moderator, WGN-TV’s Merri Dee, welcoming everyone. She introduced 

writer and educator Sandra Jackson-Opoku, who gave a knowledgeable 

assessment on the history and current state of African American literature, the 

historical significance of the Black Arts Movement and Gwendolyn Brooks’ 

contribution to African American literature in Chicago. Each panelist was 

introduced and recited an excerpt from one of his or her literary works after 

a video introduction featuring clips from each panelist’s HistoryMakers oral 

history interview. During the program, all four writers spoke about their work, 

personal experiences and writing techniques. A capacity crowd of diverse 

people: students, professionals, women, men and children were captivated 

by the panel discussion. 

This Illinois Humanities Council funded-public program was hosted at the 

Harris Bank Auditorium in downtown Chicago. Sponsors included the Harris 

Bank, American Airlines, the Chicago Tribune, Aly’s Posey Patch, Black 

Sophisticate’s and Carson Pirie Scott. 

At the conclusion of the program, audience members met with the panelists 

and got their books signed. Later that evening, The HistoryMakers staff hosted 

a private dinner for the four panelists. 

Counterclockwise from top: Left to right: Michael Lewis, Julieanna Richardson, Haki Madhubuti, 

Angela Jackson, Sandra Jackson-Opoku, Merri Dee & Useni Eugene Perkins. The HistoryMakers 

Scheduling Coordinators Jessie Engel & Jocelyn Delk. Audience shot. Stage Manager Carol Woolfolk 

speaks with Useni Eugene Perkins. Event Moderator Merri Dee. 


Volunteers 

The HistoryMakers would like to thank all of our volunteers for their hard work 

and dedication. Our programs would not be a success without their help. 

Thanks to the following for their continued support: 

Doris Adams 

Femeia Adamson 

Pat Aiken 

Charita Allen 

Dawn Allen 

Lionel Alonzo 

Shirley Alonzo 

Pamela Anderson 

Sherion Armstead 

Beth Arthur 

Joanne Bagnerise 

Cynthia Barnett 

Lezli Baskerville 

Michelle Battle 

Dorothy Bell 

Tracey Booker 

Pat Brooks 

Barbarella Brown 

Jennifer Brown 

Rhonda Brown 

Rosenita Brown 

Sandra Brown 

Chandra Bryant 

Shelia Bryant 

Debby Buggs 

Amanda Bullard 

Todd Burroughs 

Jennie Burton 

Dereck Butler 

Johnathan Butler 

Bertha Cahn 

Ayoka Campbell 

Cheryl Carnavon 

Patrick Carroll 

Annette Cashaw 

Louise White Cashin 

Ruby Chapman 

Angelyn Chester 

Josie Childs 

Amy Clark 

Cassandra Clark 

Richard Clark 

Tessa Clark 

Tanisha Coffee 

Shirley Cornell 

Kathy Cornog 

Carrie Crews 

Sherry Davis 

Vicky Davis-Bachus 

LeNeyce DeBurst 

Horace Derricotte 

Brenda Dillard 

Alexis Dobbins 

Frederick Douglass 

Debbie DuCre 

Cynthia Duhart 

Mary Elliott 

Valada Elliot 

Amirah Ellis 

Audrey Epps 

Gina Evans 

Jannie Evans 

Richard Fairley 

V.J. Fairley 

Melanie Felt 

LaDale Felton 

Angie Fisher 

Joan Flintoft 

Donna Foreman 

Vanessa Foster 

H. Marrell Foushee 

Gary Francis 

Jovon Franklin 

Lelia Fredeiu 

Renee Garner 

Ruby Garrett 

Alberta Gaskins 

Theresa Genus 

Tresa George 

Eleanor Gill 

Denise Gines 

LaToya Gipson 

Myrtle Gonnigan 

Garietta Graves 

Nikki Graves 

Katrice Grayson 

Kishia Grayson 

Darold Hamlin 

Steve Hanks 

Janet Harding 

Carla Harper 

Fontella Harris 

Johnathan Harris 

Gloria Henighan 

Kinshasa Hillery 

Toni Holloman 

Natalie Howard 

James Hoy 

Regina Hubbard 

Latari Hudson 

Pamela Hunnicutt 

Chontel Jackson 

Jerross Jackson 

Louise Jackson 

Marvin Jackson 

Melanie Jackson 

Elizabeth Jackson-Hodges 

Fred Jacobs 

Darlene Jenkins 

Tkeban Johannas 

Andre Johnson 

Midge Johnson 

Sandra Johnson 

Alika Joisha 

Brenda Jones 

Elizabeth Jones 

Julie Jones 

Racquel Jones 

Ava Jordan 

Gina Jordon 

Tamar Joseph 

Gretchen Kee 

Marlene Kelley 

Terry Kinnard 

Glenda Lassiter 

Deborah Lathen 

Katherine Lauderdale 

Jacquen Lee 

Crystal Lewis 

Pearl Alice Marsh 

Harriett Martin 

Ian McAllister 

Janice McAllister 

Denise McLeod Thomas 

Judy Meschal 

Brandon Miller 

Sakiliba Mines 

Sabrina Moore 

Allean Moore-Young 

Cynthia Morris 

Elise Morse 

Thomas Morse 

Monica Munoz 

Lenette Myers 

Bernice Oden 

Candace Oden 

Jo Ann Oni 

Yvonne Orr-Richardson 

Tiffany Payne 

Thema Peters 

Cheryl Petratos 

Sherry Ponder 

Sabrina Poole 

Lisa Porcher 

Lori Porcher 

Dorothy Pruitt 

Jennifer Pullen 

Yvonne Pulley 

Rolanda Rascoe 

Phyllis Ray 

Renee Redwood 

Annette Richardson 

Deborrah Richardson 

Jeff Richardson 

Minnette Rodwell 

Gwen Rutledge 

Ruby Sales 

Billye Schley 

Vanessa Segars 

Nana Seshibe 

Susan Sharpe 

Lisa Sheffield 

Teresa Sidewater 

Sheryl Skinner 

Barbara Smith 

Lewis Smith 

Robert Smith 

Ronald Troy Smith 

Shannon Smith 

Tamika Smith 

Dana Sneed 

Maggie Stanton 

Howard Strassner 

Bernard Strong 

Francine Taylor 

Ramon Taylor 

Rosalyn Taylor 

William Taylor 

Vickie Tellis 

Erin Thomas 

Keeya Thomas 

Robert Thomas 

Judy Thompkins 

Mary Tribune 

Darnella Vaughn 

Gwynne Walker 

Joe Warfield 

Tamara Washington 

Ashley Waters 

Grace Waters 

Blaine White 

Dorothy Williams 

E. Faye Williams 

Tamara Williams 

Patricia Willingham 

Stacey Willis 

Clarence Wells 

Shkan Woodruff 

Jim Yates 

The HistoryMakers 

& ICE Movie Theaters 

On Saturday, February 11th, 18th and 25th, The HistoryMakers was 

showcased at ICE Movie Theaters’ (Inner City Entertainment) on Chicago’s 

Southside. The HistoryMakers’ Executive Assistant Tawanna Streater and 

several of 

The HistoryMakers’ volunteers were on hand to distribute flyers, 

pamphlets, DVDs, program books and other materials. The HistoryMakers 

would like to thank Denise Sparkman of CinemAdvantage, the staff at 

ICE Theaters and our volunteers for their help in our outreach effort. 

Volunteer Ruby Chapman and The HistoryMakers Executive Assistant Tawana Streater. 

PAGE 4 SPRING 2006 THE HISTORYMAKERS


A Tribute to Brock Peters 

On Thursday, October 6, 2005, The 

HistoryMakers held a memorial reception 

celebrating the life of legendary actor Brock 

Peters at the California African American 

Museum (CAAM) in Los Angeles. The 

reception included a video montage featuring 

several of Brock Peters’ films, including Carmen 

Jones, Porgy and Bess, The Pawnbroker and 

To Kill A Mockingbird. Actor and close friend 

of Peters, Wren Brown, gave a moving and 

memorable tribute to Peters and shared his 

own personal experiences with the versatile 

actor. The HistoryMakers Executive Director 

Julieanna Richardson thanked Brock Peters’ 

family members and presented Marilyn Darby, 

Peters’ long time friend and companion, with 

The HistoryMakers trophy in memory of the late 

actor. Other speakers and attendees included 

Paul Brock and Congresswoman Diane 

Watson. The event was sponsored by the MCI 

Foundation and the California African American 

Museum. Many thanks to CAAM executive 

director, Charmaine Jefferson, Christopher 

D’Jimenez y West and the entire CAAM staff. 

Brock Peters passed away on August 23, 2005. 

He was 78 years old. 

The HistoryMakers’ Founder and 

Executive Director Julieanna 

Richardson presents Brock Peters’ 

award to Peters’ close friend 

and companion, Marilyn Darby. 

Marilyn Darby, The HistoryMakers’ 

producer/interviewer Paul Brock 

and actor Wren Brown. Julieanna 

Richardson, Congresswoman Diane 

Watson and Paul Brock. 



Celebrate Chuck Smith 

interview, Smith introduced scenes from his favorite directorial 

works: A Raisin in the Sun, Proof, The Meeting, and Ma Rainey’s 

Black Bottom. Members of Congo Square Theatre Group, under 

the direction of Derrick Sanders, added a wonderful theatrical 

element to the live interview. 

Actor Harry J. Lennix made a special guest appearance. Lennix 

is one of many Chicago actors who were influenced by Smith. 

Carol Woolfolk stage-managed the program and Les Kiskern 

served as artistic director. This program was the brainchild of Les 

Coney, the first African American Chairman of the Board of The 

Goodman Theatre. 

On Monday, February 6, 2006, The HistoryMakers collaborated 

with The Goodman Theatre for a Black History Month 

program entitled, Celebrate Chuck Smith, a tribute toHistoryMaker 

Chuck Smith. 400 were in attendance. Everyone gained insight 

on Chuck Smith’s background, career and his role in the history of 

Chicago’s black theatre as the resident director of The Goodman 

Theatre. 

Robin Robinson of Fox News Chicago interviewed 

Smith for the hour-long program. Throughout the 

Above: 

Chuck Smith 

and Robin Robinson. 

Right: 

Harry J. Lennix. 

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday 

& The HistoryMakers’ Open House Event 

On Monday, January 16, 2006, The HistoryMakers, in 

collaboration with N’Digo and The Chicago Defender, 

hosted its second annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Day Celebration and Open House at Second Presbyterian 

Church. The program began with a panel discussion entitled 

“The State of the Nation Since the Death of Dr. Martin Luther 

King, Jr.: Is the Civil Rights Era Dead” This discussion was 

moderated by WVON Radio Host Cliff Kelley 

and featured 

respected 93-year-old Judge 

George Leighton, activist Timuel 

Black, publicist Hermene Hartman 

and attorney James Montgomery, 

all of whom are HistoryMakers. The 

panelists shared their views on the state of the nation since 

Dr. King’s death, the condition of Black America and social 

change in today’s society. Over 400 were in attendance. The 

provocative discussion also examined each panelist’s rich 

history and their involvement in the Civil Rights Movement. 

Attendees lined up to ask questions of the panelists. 

The Whitney Young High School Gospel Choir performned. 

Following the symposium, over 100 people attended tours 

of The HistoryMakers’ archives and participated in oral 

history training sessions. The event served as a catalyst for 

audience members to reevaluate their personal involvement 

in preserving African American history and to see the work of 

The HistoryMakers first hand. 

From L to R: Judge George 

Leighton, Hermene Hartman, 

Julieanna Richardson, Timuel 

Black, Cliff Kelley, and some 

children eating lunch. 


The HistoryMakers’ Training Summit 

The HistoryMakers conducted its 

second Training Summit: convening 

a meeting with full time staff, and 

part time staff and staff trainees from 

Atlanta, Washington, D.C., New York, 

Boston and San Francisco. Evaluation, 

training and development took place at the 

Chicago headquarters from Wednesday, 

September 7 through Sunday, September 11, 

2005. 

Included were the following interviewers: 

Larry Crowe, The HistoryMakers senior 

interviewer with over 700 interviews to his 

credit; Robert C. Hayden of Massachusetts, 

who is the author of sixteen books and a 

primary biographer of African Americans 

in science; Paul Brock of Upper Marlboro, 

Maryland, veteran black journalist and television producer; San 

Francisco’s Loretta Henry of the African American Genealogical 

Society of Northern California; retired Army officer, educator 

and genealogist, Edward Anderson from Decatur, Georgia; 

New York author, Shawn Wilson and Atlanta’s Evelyn Pounds, 

educator and past president of the African American Genealogical 

Society of New England. Chicago veteran videographers, Scott 

Stearns and Matthew Hickey, and New York-based videographer 

Neculai Burghelea, provided orientation for trainees, 

Adrian Jackson, Foster Stenson and Viola Henry. 

The HistoryMakers producers, schedulers, editors, The 

HistoryMakers Digital Video Library Project fellows and 

administrative staff were also in attendance. Wednesday 

night, Julieanna Richardson, founder and executive 

director of The HistoryMakers welcomed participants 

at dinner at the Chicago O’Hare Hilton. That evening, 

noted Chicago historian and consummate storyteller Dr. 

Charles Branham shared details of recent research in 

the field of African American history. 

On Thursday, there were tours of The HistoryMakers 

facility and participants shared their evaluations of past 

interviews, focusing on historical content and the use of 

timelines to assist the interview process. 

Dr. Walter Hill speaking at the 

Training Summit. 

follow up questions and well-researched 

interviews was emphasized. Saturday’s 

keynote speaker was Dr. Walter Hill, 

senior archivist and subject area specialist 

for Afro-American History and the federal 

records of the National Archives. Hill, a 

HistoryMaker 

National Advisory Board 

member, conducted The HistoryMakers 

interview of Dr. John Hope Franklin in 

2003. He stressed the singular significance 

of The HistoryMakers’ archive and put the 

project in historical perspective: 

We need to broaden our historical 

consciousness in thinking about history, 

our history. History is a little box in 

some people’s heads, but they really don’t 

understand the dynamics and power of 

history. ...When you learn history, your own history, you can’t help 

but develop a stronger sense of identity – of who and what you 

are. 

I would argue that what you are doing here at The HistoryMakers, 

Inc. is one of the most important methods of capturing human 

life, values, institutional thinking, beliefs and creations. You 

are capturing the human voice and you must understand that 

cont, on page 18 

Friday began with a review of the ENG camera 

packages and a checklist of pre-interview, interview 

and post interview procedures. Cheri Pugh and fellows of the 

The HistoryMakers Digital Video Library Project offered their 

review of some sample interviews and the best practices of specific 

HistoryMakers interviewers. The importance of appropriate 

The HistoryMakers Training Summit. Front row, left to right: Jessie Engel, 

Jennifer Pullen, Loretta Henry, Amy Billingsley (behind Henry), Paul Brock, 

Frederick Adams and Adrian Jackson. Second row up, left to right: Matthew 

Hickey, Neculai Burghelea, Julieanna Richardson, Ivy Jackson, Harvey Baker, 

III and Robert C. Hayden. Third row up, left to right: Edward Anderson, Shawn 

Wilson, Evelyn Pounds, Cheri Pugh and Ngina Jackson (in black). Top row, 

left to right: Foster Stenson, Viola Henry, Scott Stearns, Janelle Jennings, 

Walter Hill and Larry Crowe. 


Saturday, April 29, 2006 

An Evening With Colin Powell 

Interviewed by Juan Williams 

Washington, D.C. 

Saturday April 29, 2006 

The HistoryMakers Talking Truth Series in D.C. 

The documentary airs on WRC-TV, NBC 4 

Washington D.C. 

1:30PM eastern standard time 

Saturday June 3, 2006 

The HistoryMakers Los Angeles Salon 

Hosted by Bernard Kinsey 

Guest Speaker: TBA 

upcoming events 

Thursday June 8, 2006 

The HistoryMakers Washington, D.C. Salon 

Featuring Julian Bond 

Hosted by Frank Ross, Howard Ross, 

and Leslie Traub 


Saturday, June 17, 2006 

An Evening With Andrew Young: 

Interviewed by Charlayne Hunter-Gault 

Atlanta, Georgia 

Saturday October 28, 2006 

An Evening With Earl Graves 

Interviewed by Julian Bond 

Chicago, Illinois 

HistoryMakers who knew Paul Robeson 

Charles Blockson 

Dr. Margaret Burroughs 

Ossie Davis & Ruby Dee 

Junius “Red” Gaten 

Susan Woodson 

HistoryMakers who danced 

with Katherine Dunham 

Ruth Beckford 

Geoffrey Holder 

Cleo Parker Robinson 

Dr. Glory Van Scott 

Rev. Willie Taplan Barrow 

Rev. James Bevel 

Julian Bond 

Rev. Arthur Brazier 

Rev. E.T. Caviness 

Rev. Clay Evans 

Rev. Walter Fauntroy 

just the facts 

HistoryMakers who worked on 

the Manhattan Project: 

Dr. Ralph Gardner-Chavis 

Dr. Samuel Massie 

HistoryMakers who marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Rev. Leon Finney 

Rev. Floyd Flake 

James Forman 

Dr. Robert Green 

Rev. Shelvin Hall 

Rev. Curtis Harris 

Rev. Benjamin Hooks 

HistoryMakers who met Dr. W.E.B. DuBois 

Julian Bond 

Paul Brock 

Mercer Cook 

Dr. David Levering Lewis 

Dr. Richard McKinney 

Dr. Harold Pates 

Rev. Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr. 

Rev. Samuel Billy Kyles 

Rev. Joseph Lowery 

Rev. Calvin Morris 

Rev. Otis Moss 

Rev. John Porter 

Rev. Al Sampson 

Rev. Gardner Taylor 

Alderman Dorothy Tillman 

Rev. C.T. Vivian 

Rev. Marcus Garvey Wood 

Ambassador Andrew Young 


Carson’s display window 

he HistoryMakers 

collaborat- 

Ted T 

with Carson Pirie Scott 

for its annual display window at 

the store’s downtown location. 

Throughout the month of February, 

The HistoryMakers showcased 

and previewed An Evening 

With Denyce Graves and 

made the public aware of the 

organization’s activities. Poster 

boards, DVD covers, program 

books, event invitations, and 

several other materials were on display. The HistoryMakers would like to thank Carson Pirie 

Scott for their continued support and company employees Bruce Booker, Genasis Floeter 

and Deborah Jones for their hard work in putting the display together. 

The HistoryMakers’ website has been very successful since its 

creation. In February 2006, the website received over 5.9 million 

hits. As a result of the website’s popularity and the content of 

both it and The HistoryMakers’ archives, 

The HistoryMakers was able to negotiate 

a deal with AOL Black Voices. In 

exchange for content from our website 

and archives, we are now able to stream 

video clips on The HistoryMakers website 

again. The HistoryMakers also made a 

deal with a major telecommunications 

company, Sprint. Sprint customers 

signed up to receive black history fact 

text messages from The HistoryMakers’ 

website throughout Black History Month. 

The HistoryMakers also licensed some 

of the website’s content to universities 

and companies including Harvard 

University (used clips from Marva 

Collins’ interview to help teach a class), 

British publishing company Brown 

Reference Group, the Mound City Bar 

Association, The Washington Informer 

and Harpo Productions (used audio 

from our archives for their Legends TV 

show). 

The HistoryMakers’ website 

“As an educator and a Chicago native, I am just too proud of 

this website! Kudos to all that are involved!” – Royond Hendrix, 

Desoto, Texas 

“A worthy idea, and nicely done website. 

Best wishes with continued progress toward 

your mission.” – Ted Wachholz, Arlington 

Heights, Illinois 

“The HistoryMakers is a phenomenal 

project. Please continue the wonderful 

work you are 

doing! If possible, 

please let me 

know how I can 

be a supporter.” 

– Tresa Dunbar 

Garrett, Chicago, 

Illinois 

“Thank you for 

your contributions to our community that 

helps us recognize those that have been 

instrumental in all areas of society.” – 

Antonio Jones, Aurora, Colorado 


Katherine Dunham 

Matriarch of Black Dance 

By Tyler Barnett 

Katherine Dunham, one of the most influential dancers and 

choreographers of the twentieth century, sat for her interview 

with The HistoryMakers on December 17, 2000 at her apartment in 

New York City. Dunham is best known for founding the Katherine 

Dunham Dance Company. Her incalculable influence on dance 

has earned her the moniker the “Matriarch of Black Dance”. A 

summary of her interview with Julieanna Richardson follows. 

Katherine Dunham was born on June 22, 1909 in Glen Ellyn, 

Illinois, which was a very small suburb of Chicago at the time. 

Tragedy struck Dunham’s family in her early childhood when 

her mother, Fanny June Dunham, died when Katherine was only 

three-and-a-half years old. Dunham’s father, Albert Dunham, Sr., 

moved his family into the city so they could be closer to relatives 

while he traveled as a clothing salesman. In her interview, Dunham 

also describes her brother, Albert Dunham Jr.’s death, which 

occurred when she was about twenty-five years old. His death was 

particularly hard on Katherine, because “[he] was terribly important 

to me in those early school years in Chicago, and I depended on him 

in a different way and more, I think, than I would have depended 

on a mother and a father.” She goes on to describe how her brother, 

who earned a doctorate degree in philosophy from the University 

of Chicago, influenced her intellectual development: “He helped 

me define dance as I was using it then, which was to bring people 

more together, different people, different kinds. And he helped me 

realize that anthropology was the only academic study that I would 

be interested in at all.” 

Dunham’s interest in anthropology blossomed while earning her 

bachelor’s degree at the University of Chicago, where she studied 

under noted scholars like Robert Redfield, Melville Herskovits, 

and Erich Fromm. She excelled in her studies, and earned a Julius 

Rosenwald Fellowship. Using funds from the fellowship, Dunham 

traveled to the Caribbean, visiting Haiti, Jamaica, and Trinidad 

to study rituals and dance. The journey was a life-changing 

experience for Dunham forming the basis of her dance philosophy: 

“At the time the fascinating thing was how they danced, why they 

danced, the form of it, and I was beginning to be vitally interested 

in form and function. Now those are the things that seemed to 

have preoccupied me when I lived among the people and joined 


them in their rituals and ceremonies and so forth. Later in life 

I have drawn from all of these places and people and things the 

things that I needed for the moment…” 

Upon her return to the United States in 1936, Katherine Dunham 

began to incorporate elements of African and Caribbean tribal 

dance into the techniques she taught at her Chicago dance company, 

the Negro Dance Group. Dunham wanted to expand her company 

into a commercial enterprise, and decided to move to New York 

City: “New York offered more in terms of theatrical experiences 

function. And if those two things are brought together, you get a 

person doing Dunham Technique and making a movement.” 

The Dunham Company became world-renown, touring Europe 

many times in the 1940s and 1950s. Dunham also drew the 

attention of renowned art historian Bernard Berenson, who 

became something of a mentor: “[Berenson’s] wealth was simply 

his brains, and he would put out there before me ... the sentence 

here or wisdom there … that was his contribution to me, and I 

welcomed it. I knew it. I didn’t want anything from him but that.” 

From left to right: Dunham with her company in a production of “Lady with a Cigar”; Dunham at age seventeen; Dunham performs “Guitar Blues” with 

partner, Vanoye Aikens; Dunham attends a Hollywood opening with her husband, theatrical designer, John Pratt. Photos property of Katherine Dunham 

and also in terms of training…we 

really began to think of ourselves…as a 

commercial possibility, and I think that 

New York helped me to realize that there 

was no way to learn all of our potential in 

Chicago.” Thus, the Katherine Dunham 

Dance Company was founded in 1939. 

It was with this company that Katherine 

Dunham conceived and solidified the 

Dunham Technique: “The Dunham 

Technique has several aspects. One 

is social. It’s a thing which aids in the 

melding together of people. It is a social act. It can be looked 

upon as an isolated act, but that is not its real intent and purpose, 

which is an erasing of conflicting boundaries among people…As 

a Dunham Technician, you’re learning about space, about time, 

about the relationship. I think the most important thing is form and 

“No matter how 

hard we try, 

we can never 

break our ties 

to Africa ...” 

- Katherine Dunham 

Dunham also starred in several major 

motion pictures, including Cabin in the 

Sky. 

Katherine Dunham does not dwell on 

her professional success in the interview. 

However, instead, she focuses on her 

personal life and her philosophy of 

dance. Regarding her relationship with 

her second husband, John Pratt, Dunham 

says: “We worked on the same artistic 

level. He understood the things that I 

did, and I understood the things that he 

did. We were in love not only on this great important artistic level, 

but also on a humanistic level. He felt about people the way I 

did. He loved what people do, and he wanted to do something 

about the destruction of the human spirit, which I did and so forth 

and so on. So we had everything going for us, but everything, and 

cont on page 13. 



On Saturday, October 22, 2005, 

The HistoryMakers celebrated 

its sixth anniversary in Chicago with 

An Evening With Denyce Graves. 

With 600 attendees at Northwestern 

University Law School’s 

Thorne Auditorium, award-winning 

actress Angela Bassett interviewed 

operatic singing sensation Denyce 

Graves. Jazz pianist Ramsey 

Lewis served as the event’s master 

of ceremonies and Discover Financial Services served as title 

sponsor for the event. Other sponsors included McDonald’s, 

Walgreen’s, CitiGroup, American Airlines, Intercontinental 

Chicago, The Chicago Tribune, Hilton Hotels, Northwestern 

University School of LawAon, Ariel Capital Management, 

Boeing, Comcast, Exelon/ComEd, Abbott Laboratories, 

Kathy Roberts and Morgan 

Stanley’s Joan Steinberg. She also 

encouraged others in the audience to 

support The HistoryMakers. Other 

speakers included National Black 

McDonald’s Owners Association’s 

Blanton Canady, Pamela Gilbert 

of the Intercontinental Hotel and 

honorary co-chair Bernard Kinsey 

who stressed the importance 

of history. The HistoryMakers 

Executive Director and Founder Julieanna Richardson spoke of 

The HistoryMakers’ programs and the importance of legacy. 

Denyce Graves took the stage after a wonderful introduction 

by Angela Bassett. For the next hour, Graves spoke about her 

childhood, her interests in the arts, and how and why she decided to 

change the spelling of her first name (from Denise to Denyce). She 

From left to right: Bernard Kinsey and Denyce Graves. Graves, her daughter and Bassett. Denyce Graves and Antoinette Cook Bush. Denyce Graves and Angela Bassett. 

Capri Capital, Cub Foods, Sara Lee Foundation, State Farm 

Insurance, Sophisticate’s Black Hair, and Toyota. 

Guests and attendees mingled and ate hors d’oeuvres in the lobby 

of the Thorne Auditorium before the taping began. Once the 

show started, Ramsey Lewis gave a welcome address. Attendees 

included: Carol Moseley Braun, Stella Foster and honorary 

co-chairs William Mason, Bernard Kinsey and David Van 

Zandt. Northwestern University Law School’s Dean David 

Van Zandt thanked all the event sponsors. Vice President and 

Legal Counsel for Morgan Stanley, Sheila Wilson-Freelon, 

was introduced and acknowledged Discover Financial Services’ 

spoke about her technique of singing, the importance of protecting 

one’s voice and the significant roles her mother and daughter 

play in her life. The audience was riveted by Denyce Graves and 

Angela Bassett’s conversation. After the taping, a private dinner 

was held for Denyce Graves, her family and Angela Bassett at the 

Intercontinental Hotel located in downtown Chicago. 

An Evening With Denyce Graves debuted on WTTW-11 in Chicago 

on February 26, 2006. The program debuted on WNET Channel 

13 in New York on April 9, 2006 at 12 p.m. EST and is slated to 

air nationally on PBS. 

N O RT H W E S T E R N U N I V E R S I T Y 

S C H O O L O F L AW 

C H I C A G O 


Katherine Dunham - cont from page 11. 

The HistoryMakers would like to thank the following 

for their support. 

AARP & The Walker Marchant 

Group 

Abbott Laboratories 

Aetna 

AFLAC 

AGL Resources 

Alliant Energy Corporation 

Allied Domecq 

Aly’s Posey Patch 

American Airlines 

Anheuser-Busch, Inc. 

Antoinette Cook Bush & 

Dwight Bush, Sr. 

Aon 

Ariel Capital Management 

The Atlanta Daily World 

The Atlanta Journal- 

Constitution 

The Atlanta Tribune 

Bank of America 

BellSouth 

Bloomingdale’s 

Boeing 

The California African American 

Museum 

Capri Capital 

Carson Pirie Scott 

Cathy Hughes 

The Chicago Defender 

Chicago Tribune 

CitiGroup 

Coca-Cola 

Comcast 

Cub Foods 

Darden Restaurants 

Delta Airlines 

Design Lab Chicago 

Discover Financial Services 

Dominick’s 

Exelon/ComEd 

Georgia Pacific Corporation 

Georgia Power 

Georgia Public Broadcasting 

The Goodman Theatre 

Harris Bank 

Hilton Hotels 

Illinois Humanities Council 

Intercontinental Buckhead, 

Atlanta 

Intercontinental Chicago 

Jewel-Osco 

Kellogg’s 

Lavish Salon & Spa 

Lynne & Joseph Horning 

Marriott International, Inc. 

Marshall Field’s 

Mary Wood’s Florist 

McDonald’s 

The MCI Foundation 

Metropolitan Limousine 

Morgan Stanley 

N’Digo 

News Corporation 

Nextel 

Nordstrom 

Northwestern University School 

of Law 

NoseGay Flowershop 

Peter & Judy Kovler 

Radio One 

RLJ Development, LLC 

Sara Lee Foundation 

Sheran & Herb Wilkins 

Shopper’s Food & Pharmacy 

Simmons-Lathan Media Group 

Sophisticate’s Black Hair 

State Farm Insurance 

Synovus Corporation 

Thompson Hospitality 

Toyota 

Turner Broadcasting 

UCLA 

United Pharmacy 

UPS 

USC 

V&J Security Transportation 

Walgreen’s 

The Washington Post 

Willard Intercontinental, 


WSB-TV 

aesthetically we matched.” Dunham also states that dance has the 

power to connect all people: “The important thing [in dance] is 

that you recognize, that you realize this human element in people, 

that you realize that the sense of movement and beauty and love 

and life are all accomplished in this one activity, if you want to. 

They’re all a part of the behavioral science of dance.” 

When reflecting on her influential career, Dunham, now 96 years 

old, says, “I can see that I am the product of the good thinking, 

the forward direct thinking, the right thinking of a half dozen 

brilliant thinkers of our century,” referencing her mentors Erich 

Fromm, Robert Redfield, Melville Herskovits and Bernard 

Berenson. Dunham also pondered the value of art in the human 

experience: “Art is such a founding part of our being as human 

beings that it can no longer be just simply considered and tossed 

away…I think that art is us. Art is our being…Art is us.” Fitting 

words from an artist who has enabled so many people to discover 

new dimensions of humanity. ~ 

Left: Dunham 

dancing with her 

partner in “Barrelhouse” 

in Paris. 

Top: Dunham 

(center) works 

with Senegalese 

Master Per- 

cussionist-in- 

Residence, Mor 

Thiam (left) and 

wife, Kine, at the 

Dunham Museum 

in East St. Louis, 

Illinois 




Los Angeles 

Meet The HistoryMakers: A Day of Education in Los 

Angeles was held on Thursday, October 6, 2005 at the 

California African American Museum. The HistoryMakers 

Executive director, Julieanna Richardson welcomed all participants 

to the first Meet The HistoryMakers: A Day of Education in Los 

Angeles. 

MCI Foundation representatives Earl Taylor, Elisa Liang, and Dawn Brzezicki. 

Over 400 students and teachers from Los Angeles Public Schools 

participated in over a dozen panels featuring artists, journalists, 

actors and musicians. The HistoryMakers that participated in the 

panels included actors Louis Gossett, Jr., 

Lorraine Toussaint, T’Keyah “Crystal” 

Keymah, Janet Adderley and Aki Aleong; 

artists Artis Lane, Samella Lewis and Marie 

Johnson Calloway; cartoonist Morrie Turner; 

dancer and choreographer Ruth Beckford; 

MediaMakers Joe Dyer, Lee Bailey and Ron 

Brewington; and many others. Students were 

given advice on possible careers as well as 

advice to help them become productive and 

successful adults. 

T’Keyah Keymah, Aki Aleong, Lorraine Toussaint, and Moderator 

Janelle Jennings. 

At lunch, participating students and teachers enjoyed two celebrity 

guest speakers. Actress and minister Della Reese spoke about the 

importance of having a spiritual connection and relationship with 

a higher power and the enrichment that relationship will bring to 

young people’s lives. Basketball legend and entrepreneur Earvin 

“Magic” Johnson spoke about his life and the lessons he learned 

while growing up. He encouraged students to stay in school, get 

an education and follow their dreams. 

Thanks to the hard work of the California African American 

Museum staff, especially Christopher D’Jimenez 

y West, the adept catering of Yvonne White, the 

participating schools, and The HistoryMakers 

volunteers and staff. The program was a great 

success. 

Earvin “Magic “Johnson speaking. 




Above: Xernona Clayton, Moderator Cicely Bland and Alexis Scott. 

Meet The HistoryMakers: A Day of Education in Atlanta 

was held on Thursday, February 9, 2006 at Morehouse 

College’s new facility, The Leadership Center. Julieanna 

Richardson, Executive Director of The HistoryMakers and Dr. 

Walter Massey, President of Morehouse College welcomed 

all participants to the first Meet The HistoryMakers: A Day of 

Education in Atlanta. 

Over 300 students and teachers from Atlanta Public Schools 

participated in 14 different panels, which featured Atlanta 

HistoryMakers: 105-year-old Ann 

Cooper, MediaMaker Xernona 

Clayton, corporate executive 

Richard Holmes, museum founder 

Dan Moore, Sr., civic leader Valerie 

Richardson Jackson, business leader 

Thomas Dortch, educator Ed Irons, 

and physician Dr. Clinton Warner. 

Students enjoyed the film screening 

of The HistoryMakers’ Documentary 

Series co-produced with the Simmons- 

Lathan Media Group. After the first 

two sessions, attendees gathered for a 

lunch break before heading to their third and final session. 

“This was wonderful… [I learned] about the extraordinary lives of 

the women and their struggles in life…[I would like to] have them 

come visit our school and students!” – Teacher, Atlanta Public 

Schools 

Atlanta 

Students participating in a session. 

“Thank you all for [affording me] this opportunity…you can leave 

here today knowing that you [have] helped someone realize and 

structure their goals.” – Student, Atlanta Public Schools 

Participating schools: 

Long Middle School 

Sylvan Hills Middle School 

Fulton County Library 

MLK High School 

Parks Middle School 

Price Middle School. 

Later that evening, The HistoryMakers, in 

conjunction with SunTrust Bank, hosted a 

reception entitled An Evening of Celebration 

Honoring Dr. Walter E. Massey and Dr. Louis 

W. Sullivan. The reception was held at the new 

Georgia Aquarium, the world’s largest aquarium. The program 

began with a brief clip from Summer Hill, directed by Emmy 

award-winning filmmaker David Hughes Duke. The film tells the 

inspirational story of a remarkable African American community 

in Cartersville, Georgia. The honorees were interviewed by 

Valerie Richardson Jackson. This program was the brainchild of 

Ira Moreland, Managing Director of Corporate and Investment 

Banking for SunTrust and Charlie 

Shufeldt, Executive Vice President 

of Corporate and Investment 

Banking of SunTrust. 

Many thanks go to Druenetta 

Smith, Kevin Wong and Jocelyn 

Delk, Carol Woolfolk, Audrey 

Epps, and Patricia Telila for their 

work in arranging the event. 




Meet The HistoryMakers: A Day of Education in Chicago 

was held on Thursday, February 23, 2006 at the Merit 

School of Music’s brand new state-of-the-art facility. The theme 

of the day was classical music. The HistoryMakers’ Executive 

Director Julieanna Richardson, gave opening remarks welcoming 

students, teachers, HistoryMakers and guests. Guest speakers 

Chicago 

During the lunch session, 

participants gathered in 

two separate rooms to 

hear performances by 

The Sugarstrings, a 

young African American 

classical music group, 

and Rodney Stapleton, 

a classically trained 

baritone from Ravinia. 

W.H. Brown Math & Science Academy 

teacher Sharon Ponder. 

Other guests were Lyric Opera performers Jessica Usherwood 

and Khary Laurent. 

included Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan; Merit 

School of Music Executive Director Duffie Adelson, Manager of 

Social Studies Phyllis Henry; and a special inspirational spoken 

word performance by W.H. Brown Math and Science Academy 8 th 

grade teacher Sharon Ponder. 

Over 350 Chicago Public School students and teachers participated. 

Panel topics included business, dance, law, public service, music 

and the media. Students and teachers alike learned of the many 

roads to success. 

Top: The Sugarstrings. Above: Mildred Cruzat shares dancing exercises 

with students. Right: Duffie Adelson and Chicago Public Schools CEO, Arne 

Duncan. 

Throughout the day, WVON Radio broadcasted live with host 

Cliff Kelley. A host of HistoryMakers, Chicago journalists, 

performers, students and teachers were interviewed. 

“This session helped me understand what I want to do in life…I 

can never give up and [must] always keep my eyes on my goals… 

and [I can’t let] anyone bring [me] down.” – Antoinette Ivy, 8 th 

grade Student, DuSable Leadership Academy 

“I really enjoyed seeing African Americans who helped me see who 

I can be and who I want to become. This was very inspirational” 

– Alison Edwards, Student, Lincoln Park High School 

Participating schools: 

Lincoln Park High School 

DuSable Leadership Academy 

Gage Park High School 

Christian Fenger Academy 

Robeson High School 

W.H. Brown Math and Science Academy. 


The HistoryMakers’ Education Institute 

The HistoryMakers Education Institute is a year 

long, educational program that takes place in select 

Chicago Public High Schools. The program combines 

an effective mentoring program using an existing base of 

over 1200 HistoryMakers combined with the resources of 

The HistoryMakers unique African American video oral 

history archive. In essence, The HistoryMakers is bringing 

American history to life for students! 

This past year Larry Crowe and Chicago HistoryMakers 

visited area schools. Crowe introduced students to the 

techniques of oral history and the necessity of continually 

documenting positive movements in contemporary history. 

On a visit to W.H. Brown Math and Science Academy, 

Crowe asked 8th grade students if they had heard of Harry Belafonte. 

Lincoln Park High School teacher, Juanita Thurman and Julieanna 

Richardson hold up a special HistoryMakers inspired quilt created by 

Thurman’s students. 

Most perked up at the familiar name but few could describe 

who this man was and why they knew the name. Then one 

student sang out, “Dayyyo ... dayyyyyooo”. Though “The 

Banana Boat” song is probably what Mr. Belafonte is most 

famous for, Crowe explained that Belafonte was an early 

supporter of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 

one of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s confidants. The song 

made him famous; his life-story makes him a legend. 

After Crowe’s visits, 

Chicago HistoryMakers 

also visited area schools to 

share their inspiring stories 

one-on-one with students. 

The HistoryMakers Education Institute Teachers Alicia Donald, Juanita Thurman 

and Erik Young of Lincoln Park High School with Sharon Ponder of William H. Brown 

Elementary School 

Students also learned 

research and skills to help 

them conduct their own 

interviews. 

The HistoryMakers’ producer/ 

interviewer Larry Crowe 


2006 HistoryMakers 

Bishop John Hurst Adams 

General Clara Adams-Ender 

Lynn Allen 

W. George Allen 

Peg Alston 

Amalia Amaki 

Dina Ruth Andrews 

The Honorable Marvin 

Arrington 

Dr. Catrise L. Austin 

Rena Bancroft 

Juanita Baranco 

Lee Bey 

Veronica Biggins 

Mary Elizabeth “Betty” 

Brown 

Roscoe Lee Browne 

Wayne Budd 

Hugh C. Burroughs 

Rusty Burns 

Alice Bussey 

Bernie Casey 

James Cone 

Rev. Dr. Suzan Johnson 

Cook 

Rev. John H. Cross 

The Honorable David 

Cunningham 

Willis Bing Davis 

Ophelia DeVore 

Mohandas “Kool Moe Dee” 

DeWese 

June Dobbs-Butts 

Albert Dotson, Jr. 

Maxine Duster 

Troy Duster 

Felton James Earls 

Angeles Echols 

Simon Estes 

Dorothy Jenkins Fields 

Jim Gibbs 

Thelma Gibson 

James H. Gilliam, Sr. 

Sharon Gist Gilliam 

Denyce Graves 

Sheryl Riley Gripper 

James Guilford 

Jay Harris 

Narvie J. Harris 

Charles Henry 

Robert Hooks 

Stephanie Smith Hughley 

Andrew Ingraham 

The Honorable Edith Ingram 

Angela Jackson 

Rev. Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr. 

Yvonne Ruth Jackson 

Dr. Mildred Jefferson 

Alyce Jenkins 

Charles Floyd Johnson 

John Johnson 

Malvyn Johnson 

Marjorie Witt Johnson 

Robert Johnson 

Willard R. Johnson 

Gregory Jones 

The Honorable Nathaniel 

Jones 

Monica Kaufman 

Dennis Kimbro 

Reed Kimbrough 

Dr. DeLutha King, Jr. 

Melvin King 

Harry J. Lennix 

Willard “Chuck” Lewis 

Carl Long 

James Hiram Malone 

Manning Marable 

Diane McCoy-Lee 

Helen McCray 

Willie McCray 

The Honorable Harold Melton 

Littleton Mitchell 

Bebe Moore-Campbell 

John Moore 

The Honorable Marc Morial 

Effie Lee Morris 

Eugene Morris 

Rev. Cecil L. Murray 

Stanley Nelson 

Lynn Nottage 

Odetta 

Elisabeth Omilami 

Harold Pates 

Les Payne 

Scherrie Payne 

Brenda Payton 

Aurie Pennick 

Margaret Peters 

Anita Ponder 

Alma Powell 

Michael Powell 

Dr. Deborah Prothrow-Stith 

Dr. Roderick Wellington Pugh 

Vernellia R. Randall 

The Honorable Kenneth 

Reeves 

Constance Rice 

Edwin Rigaud 

Evelyn Roberts 

The Honorable Byron 

Douglas Rushing 

Dr. David Satcher 

Ilyasah Shabazz 

Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth 

Merton Simpson 

Beverly Evans Smith 

Rev. Dr. J. Alfred Smith, Sr. 

Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum 

Burl Toler 

Linda Torrence 

Ralph Tyler 

Anthony Wagner 

Lottie Watkins 

The Honorable Diane Watson 

Solomon Brown Watson 

Harold Wheeler 

George White 

Barry Williams 

Olly Wilson 

Robert Winfrey 

Hattie Winston 

Charles Calvin Yancey 

* List still in formation 

2006 contributions and donations 

The HistoryMakers would like to thank the following for their contributions and donations: 

$100,000+ 

The Chicago Tribune* $150,000 

Discover Financial Services $100,000 

$50,000+ 

News Corporation $50,000 

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution* $50,000 

$25,000+ 

Polk Foundation $30,000 

American Airlines* $25,000 

The Coca-Cola Company $25,000 

The Hilton Hotels Corporation* $25,000 

Jackmont Hospitality* $25,000 

The Chicago Community Trust $25,000 

UPS Foundation $25,000 

Verizon $25,000 

$10,000+ 

Georgia Power $10,000 

Herb & Sheran Wilkins $10,000 

SunTrust Bank $10,000 

The Darden Foundation $10,000 

Turner Broadcasting $10,000 

Tysons Dodge Jeep* $10,000 

$5,000+ 

Joseph Roberts $9,000 

AC Advisory (Adela Cepeda) $7,500 

Antoinette Cook Bush & Dwight Bush, Sr. $5,000 

Bell South Corporation $5,000 

Ellie Trowbridge $5,000 

Emmit McHenry & Singleton McAllister $5,000 

George & Cheryl Haywood $5,000 

Inner City Broadcasting $5,000 

Kirkland & Ellis $5,000 

Marlene & Fred Malek $5,000 

Radio One $5,000 

Wendy & Frank Raines $5,000 

RLJ Development $5,000 

Sharon Malone & Eric Holder $5,000 

Vicki and Roger Sant $5,000 

Synovus $5,000 

United Rentals $5,000 

WalMart $5,000 

Winston & Strawn $5,000 

$2,500+ 

Jewel-Osco* $4,500 

The Goodman Theatre $4,000 

Mercedes Laing $2,500 

Starcom $2,500 

$1,000+ 

Shelia & Raymond Whiteman $2000 

Stephanie Phillipps & George Murray $2,000 

Sherry Davis $1,800 

Sharon Moore $1,500 

Ann & James Hudson $1,000 

William & Lovida Coleman $1,000 

* In kind 

HistoryMakers Training Summit cont. from page 7 

history is revealed to us through four 

primary representations: 1) documentary 

evidence; 2) the human voice; 3) visual/ 

audio medium; and 4) objects, creations, 

artifacts and physical structures. 

As a trained historian and archivist, I believe 

that African American life, culture and history 

is the most compelling and dramatic history in 

the western hemisphere. 

On Sunday, all participants engaged in 

role-playing and various trouble shooting 

aspects of the production process. At the 

end of the day, both staff and trainees 

were ready to renew The HistoryMakers 

goal of gathering and preserving 5,000 

African American video oral histories for 

future generations. ~ 


Sponsor a HistoryMaker ® 

Save A Life ... Preserve A Memory ... Create A Legacy 

Help The HistoryMakers by sponsoring a HistoryMaker interview 

at the cost of $2,500-$5,000 per interview. Whether you are 

an individual, organization, company or school, sponsoring a 

HistoryMaker or a group of 

HistoryMakers is as easy as 1, 2, 3! 

Our goal in 2006-2007 is to have 400 interviews sponsored. We 

hope that you will take part in this unique program. 

Maybe you already have someone 

in mind or we can supply you 

with a list of candidates. Your 

contribution will be promoted to 

millions via our website (www. 

thehistorymakers.com), in our 

program books, our newsletter and 

as part of our programs and events. 

You will have the satisfaction 

of knowing that you helped to 

preserve an important part of 

history. Our corporate and foundation sponsors 

have included the Knight Foundation, the Lincoln Financial Group 

Foundation and the McCormick Tribune Foundation. Our largest 

individual sponsors, to date, are Ray Shepard and Gail Waller and 

Tim Schwertfeger with a contribution of $25,000 each! 

The following people or organizations have sponsored 

HistoryMaker 

interview(s). Thank you for your support 

$25,000 

Gail Waller & Tim 

Schwertfeger 

$10,000 

Reynaldo Glover 

Kleberg Foundation 

Herman Russell 

$7,500 

Barbara Burrell 

Robert James, II 

Walter Hill 

$5,000 

Bank One 

Lonnie Brooks 

Clark Burrus 

Discover Financial Services 

Don Roman 

Pritzker Foundation 

State Farm Insurance 

Turner Construction 

Foundation 

$2,500 

Abott Labs 

Nicole Adams 

Dickerson Amina 

Ruth Apilado 

Ariel Mutual Funds 

Sterling Ashby 

Norma Barfield 

Sherman Beverly 

William Bonaparte 

Juel Pate Borders 

Alfreda Bradley-Coar 

Tyrone Brooks 

Diann Burns & Marc Watts 

Alfred Cain 

Diane & Louis Carr 

Les Coney 

Ron Daly 

Merri Dee 

Renee Ferguson & Ken 

Smikle 

Ulysses Ford 

Badi Foster 

Murrell H. Fouchee 

Rita Fry 

Brenda Gaines 

Bettiann Gardner 

Amy Golson 

Ernest Green 

Gloria Hemphill 

Eric Holder & Sharon 

Malone 

Wendell & Marie Johns 

Thelma Jones 

Ella Mizelle Kelly 

Paul King 

Paul D. King 

Willie Leftwich 

William Lowry 

Renetta McCann 

Patricia Mell 

Ralph Moore 

Northwestern Univ. Dept. 

of Alumni Relations 

The Philadelphia Chapter 

of The Links 

Amos Otis 

The Potomac Chapter 

of The Links (Ann 

Ashmore Hudson) 

Madeline Murphy Rabb 

Ruby Sales 

The Savannah Chapter of 

The Links 

SBC/Ameritech 

Melody Spann-Cooper 

Richard Stephenson 

Curtis Symonds 

Marshall Thompson 

Genelle Trader 

Richard Weedman 

$1,500 

Edward J. Williams 

The HistoryMakers Chicago Salon Featuring Geoffrey Holder 

On Thursday, September 8, 2005, The HistoryMakers held a salon at the home 

of Nuveen president Timothy Schwertfeger and his wife Gail Waller featuring 

TONY award-winning actor, choreographer and director of The Wiz, Geoffrey 

Holder. Salon attendees were treated with hors d’oeuvres and gathered around 

to listen to Geoffrey Holder’s stories. Attendees included HistoryMakers Bettiann 

and Ed Gardner, The HistoryMakers’ staff, volunteers and other invited guests. 

Salon hosts Timothy Schwertfeger and Gail Waller donated $25,000 to The 

HistoryMakers, and other attendees donated $75,000. The HistoryMakers raised 

a total of $100,000 as a result of the salon. The HistoryMakers would like to thank 

Geoffrey Holder and all those who attended. 

The HistoryMakers interviewer, Larry Crowe, presents Geoffrey Holder with a HistoryMakers 

statue. L to R: Ed Gardner, Larry Crowe, Bettiann Gardner, and Geoffrey Holder. 



Washington, D.C. HistoryMakers Documentary Series 

On Wednesday, February 1, 

2006, The HistoryMakers 

premiered The HistoryMakers 

Talking Truth Series coproduced 

by Simmons-Lathan 

Media Group and The HistoryMakers 

in Washington, D.C, 

at the Jack Valenti Auditorium. 

The documentary is comprised 

of three hour-long DVDs with each one containing 

stories and excerpts from more than 40 different 

HistoryMakers’ interviews. Simmons-Lathan 

Media Group took footage from The History- 

Makers’ archives and complemented them with 

reenactments, bringing the individual History- 

Makers’ stories to life. Among those featured 

in the documentary include Gordon Parks, 

Nikki Giovanni, Terry McMillan, Vernon 

Jordan, Lerone Bennett, Ossie Davis, B.B. 

King, Isaac Hayes, Sonia Sanchez, and Congressman 

Jessie Jackson Jr.. The DVD set can be purchased for $50 

or individually for $20. The DVDs are entitled HistoryMakers 

On Success, HistoryMakers 

On Courage and History- 

Makers On Faith. The series 

is intended to uplift and encourage. 

It shows that despite 

the troubles and hardships that 

those in the documentary faced, 

their courage and faith led them 

ultimately to success. 

Invited guests to the 

screening included 

the Members of Congress 

Jesse Jackson, Jr. and Diane 

Left: Sonia Sanchez and Juan 

Williams. Above: Pam Fisher, 

Congressman Jesse Jackson, 

Jr. 

Watson, Mike Regan, Mitsy Wilson and Pam Fisher of 

News Corporation, Johnathan Rodgers of TV One, Patrick 

Butler of the Washington Post, Nick Charles of AOL 

Black Voices and Will Griffin of Simmons-Lathan Media 

Group. After the forty-five minute preview of the series, one 

of the HistoryMakers, Sonia Sanchez, was interviewed by 

journalist Juan Williams to the delight of the audience. The 

event was sponsored by News Corporation. 

On Friday, February 24, 2006, JP Morgan Chase 

invited The HistoryMakers Founder and Executive 

Director, Julieanna Richardson, to be the featured 

guest speaker for their program entitled, From Boycotts 

to Boardrooms: Celebrating the Progress of Our Nation 

at Chase Tower in downtown Chicago. Richardson 

spoke on the subjects of media relations, community 

Julieanna Richardson appointed 

First Vernon D. Jarrett Fellow 

In December of 2005, The University of Illinois at Chicago’s Great Cities Institute awarded The 

HistoryMakers Founder and Executive Director, Julieanna Richardson, with the first Vernon D. 

Jarrett Senior Fellowship. The Great Cities Institute has invited Richardson to produce research and 

scholarship in residence at the institute and extend Jarrett’s work on the topics of education, journalism, 

and race or social commentary. Jarrett served as a Senior Fellow at the Great Cities Institute for over six 

years, conducting research, writing papers and helping influence young people to get a good education. 

Richardson plans to keep Jarrett’s legacy alive by continuing the work he began at the institute. The late 

Vernon Jarrett was interviewed by 

The HistoryMakers in 2000. He passed away on May 23rd, 2004. 

Julieanna Richardson Invited to Speak 

For JP Morgan Chase 

development and corporate progress since the Civil 

Rights Movement. Julieanna Richardson and The 

HistoryMakers would like to thank Shawntee Reed 

and everyone at JP Morgan Chase. She would also 

like to thank Sharon Moore for her contribution of 

$1,500. 


our offi ces 

The HistoryMakers’ Mid-Atlantic/Washington, D.C. Region 

for about 30 Prince George’s County residents, including many 

of the County’s “Movers and Shakers.” Several representatives 

of the County government were in attendance including Jack 

Johnson, the County Executive. 

The HistoryMakers launched its Mid-Atlantic/Washington, 

D.C. Regional Office in September 2005. With the leadership 

of Regional Coordinator, Amy Billingsley and Executive 

Assistant, Ngina Jackson, the staff and our volunteers have 

been busy with HistoryMaker 

programs including salons. 

On November 19, 2005, The Honorable Dr. Dorothy Height, 

former D.C. Congresswoman Nadine Winter and our own 

Amy Billingsley hosted a salon at the Town Square Towers 

building in Southwest Washington. About 40 people recounted 

their family stories in keeping with The HistoryMakers’ oral 

tradition. 

On March 18, 2006, Rex and Janice McAllister hosted a salon, 

The Mid-Atlantic Region also hosted a field trip on April 8, 2006 

to the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African 

American History and Culture in Baltimore, Maryland. A 

public arts program entitled The Power of the Pen: A Tool for 

Social Justice, will be held in the fall, 2006 at the University of 

Maryland College Park. 

The Meet The 

HistoryMakers: A Day 

of Education will be 

hosted in the fall as 

well. 

Top: March Prince George’s 

County Salon, including 3 

generations of McAllisters. 

Eric and Ian McAllister, Dr. 

Delores Hunter, Ngina Jackson, Dr. Yolanda Haywood, Rex McAllister, 

Amy Billingsley, Janice, Ruth and Anna McAllister. Left: Washington 

November Salon with hosts and volunteeers Standing: Nadine Winter, Jo 

Jones (partially hidden), Eleanor Gill, Mary Elliott, Amy Billingsley, Jacque 

Lee, Bertha Cahn, Mary Brown. Seated: Ngina Jackson, Dorothy Height. 

The HistoryMakers’ Atlanta/Southeast Regional Office 

On Tuesday, September 20, 2005, The HistoryMakers’ Atlanta/ 

Southeast Regional Office hosted a salon entitled, Stories, 

History and Heritage at The City Grill in downtown Atlanta. 

Each attendee was given a media kit, program book, sourcing 

list, calendar of events and a Sponsor-A-HistoryMaker form. 

Invited guests, staff and volunteers talked about their family 

histories and heritage. These conversations reminded the 

attendees about the importance of one’s heritage and ultimately 

led to the sponsoring of two future HistoryMaker interviews 

by Robert James II. James and his wife, Linda, then hosted 

their own salon to spread the word about The HistoryMakers. 

On Tuesday, March 14, 2006, The HistoryMakers Atlanta/ 

Southeast Regional Office in partnership with the Narvie 

J. Harris Traditional Theme School (NJHTTS) and the 

NJHTTS’ Parent-Teacher Association presented, Heroes and 

HistoryMakers: A Tribute to Narvie J. Harris at the NJHTTS 

in Decatur, Georgia. The program began with opening remarks 

made by Janelle Jennings and Denise Gines. The NJHTTS’s 

students put on a skit and the remainder of the program was 

a conversation between Denise Gines and Narvie J. Harris. 

Afterwards, audience members took pictures with Mrs. Harris, 

purchased copies of her book and enjoyed refreshments. 

Since the opening of the The HistoryMakers’ Atlanta/Southeast 

Regional Office, the organization has collected 46 oral history 

interviews in the Metro-Atlanta area. Some of our new 

Atlanta-area HistoryMakers include Alice Bussey, Stephanie 

Smith Hughley, Bishop John Hurst Adams, Valerie 

Richardson Jackson, Juanita Baranco, Veronica Biggins 

and Ambassador Andrew Young. A photo and bio on all 

of these HistoryMakers can be found on The HistoryMakers 

website, www.thehistorymakers.com. 


The HistoryMakers and Carnegie Mellon 

Collaborate to Test Digital Library of 1200 hours of Video 

It is an exciting time at The HistoryMakers as our joint digital 

indexing project with Carnegie Mellon University’s Informedia 

Digital Video Library moves into its second phase. One third 

of our approximately 1200 interviews will be digitized, indexed 

and made searchable at test sites around the country. Participating 

institutions include The Schomburg Center for Research in 

Black Culture (New York), the State University of New York 

at Buffalo, Wright State University (Dayton, Ohio), Emory 

University (Atlanta), and the University of Illinois at Urbana- 

Champaign. In addition, librarians from the University of Illinois 

at Chicago have pledged to assist in the testing process on-site at 

The HistoryMakers’ office in Chicago. 

Video player (search term highlighted). 

The HistoryMakers began the project with the goal of creating a 

database of searchable digital videos and transcripts for 400 of its 

approximately 1200 interviews. The project began in 2004 with a 

grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services that 

lasted through the end of 2005. 

displays the title of each segment, the date of the interview, the 

length of the segment, and the option to play the corresponding 

video. The transcript of each segment is displayed below the 

video, with keywords coded in different colors. Voice recognition 

technology highlights the text as it is spoken in the video. 

The end result of the Project Fellows’ and Carnegie Mellon’s hard 

work is a tool that brings thousands of America’s untold stories to 

the fingertips of researchers. 

Since receiving the data server in January 2006, Cheri Pugh and 

Tyler Barnett have tested the search client and given feedback 

to Carnegie Mellon. In May 2006, Cheri and Tyler will travel to 

Carnegie Mellon’s Informedia Digital Video Library Center to 

learn about a new version of the software, which was designed 

with their feedback. Starting in June, the test sites should receive 

their own data server and testing will begin. 

In the long term, this project will help to revolutionize history 

education and research, making invaluable primary source 

material available on a widescale basis. The eventual goal is for 

every interview at The HistoryMakers to be included in the digital 

archives. In the meantime, all are welcome to visit the offices 

of The HistoryMakers at 1900 S. Michigan Avenue in Chicago 

and explore the database for themselves. Your feedback and 

participation is important. Please call (312) 674-1900 to arrange 

your visit. And a special thanks goes out to Howard Wactlar and 

his team: Bryan Maher, Mike Christel, Colleen Everett, Bob 

Baron and Melissa Keaton. 

From November 2004 through January 2005, Project Leader Cheri 

Pugh hired five Project Fellows: Susan Perry, Tyler Barnett, 

Sonia Nelson, Tracey Lewis, and Mike Downey. Melissa Minor 

would join the team as a Project Fellow in April 2005. The Fellows 

reached the goal of 400 interviews processed by December 2005. 

Once the process of indexing and segmenting the interviews was 

completed, The HistoryMakers transferred the data to Informedia 

Digital Video Library at Carnegie Mellon University. Informedia 

sent back a fully functional data server. With every user query, the 

program searches through all 400 interviews in the database and 

displays the results as thumbnail photos. Selecting each thumbnail 

Database tree view (with notes window). 


The HistoryMakers in Memoriam 

Junius “Red” Gaten 

Social Activist 

February 28, 1900 - November 30, 2005 

Wilhelmina Rolark 

President, United Black Fund 

September 12, 1916 – February 14, 2006 

Jorja English Palmer 

Community Activist 

June 16, 1930 – December 29, 2005 

Art Minson 

Community Leader 

N/A – December 14, 2005 

Charles Stewart 

Electrician 

August 7, 1910 – February 13, 2006 

Gordon Parks, Sr. 

Photographer, Writer & Director 

November 30, 1912 – March 7, 2006 

Fayard Nicholas 

Dancer 

October 20, 1914 – January 24, 2006 

Doris Jones 

Ballet Dancer & Instructor 

N/A – March 21, 2006 

Rhoda Louise Kent-Hope 

Educator & Arts Advocate 

January 15, 1915 – October 6, 2005 

Della Hardman 

Arts Educator 

May 20, 1922 – December 13, 2005 

Julia Woodhouse Harden 

University Librarian 

July 6, 1909 – February 11, 2006 

Truman K. Gibson, Jr. 

Attorney & Boxing Promoter 

January 22, 1912 – December 23, 2005 

George L. Brown 

Political Leader 

July 1, 1926 – March 30, 2006 


On Wednesday, November 30, 2005, HistoryMaker, Junius “Red” 

Gaten of Chicago passed away at the age of 105. Retired from the 

Jefferson Ice Company over thirty years, the confusion caused by his 

red hair helped Gaten survive the infamous Chicago Race Riot of 1919. 

Gaten was a rent party pianist and knew a participant in the Southside’s 

old Washington Park 

Forum. As a political 

organizer, Gaten helped 

bring Paul Robeson 

to Chicago in the 

1940’s. Articulate with a 

booming voice and a 

great sense of humor, 

Mr. Gaten, at 105 years 

old could still walk 

and possessed close 

to absolute recall, 

providing names, dates 

and street addresses 

dating back to his arrival 

in Chicago in 1905. 

His memories include 

Jack Johnson shoveling a load of dimes to street children; Ma Rainey’s 

band; Jesse Binga’s financial advice; J.A. Rogers history lectures; 

businessman Anthony Overton; Chicago Defender 

founder, Robert 

Abbott; and picking up dry cleaning for Al Capone. He discussed history 

with Dr. Carter G. Woodson, who was a frequent guest of Gaten’s uncle. 

He heard Marcus Garvey lecture and was friends with the Gordon family 

of Chicago’s Universal Negro Improvement Association. 

Originally from Amite County, Mississippi, Mr. Gaten said that he 

grew up near the old Chicago Coliseum in Chicago’s “Black Belt”, 

not “Bronzeville”, a name that came much later. At age 15, he was 

an “ice man” delivering ice down Grand Boulevard from a horse 

drawn wagon to anti-lynching activist, Ida B. Wells and former black 

Reconstruction Congressman John R. Lynch. Grand Boulevard 

was subsequently renamed South Park, and is known as Martin 

Luther King Drive. 

Mr. Gaten made a rare television appearance last January 

on WTTW’s “Chicago Tonight”. He was demonstrating Jack 

junius gaten 

105 year old knew Ida B. Wells, Jack 

Johnson, Carter G. Woodson and other greats 

Johnson’s boxing style to promote the Johnson documentary, 

“Unforgivable Blackness”. A philosopher with a keen grasp of 

current events, Mr. Gaten was a regular caller to Chicago talk 

radio station, WVON. Gaten celebrated his birthday with several 

dinners each year with recognition from Chicago’s Third Ward Alderman 

Dorothy Tillman and the DuSable League. Mr. Gaten’s funeral was held 

Friday, December 9, 2005 at St. John Church – Baptist in Chicago. An 

indispensable part of the collection, Gaten’s photograph and bio are on 

our website, www.thehistorymakers.com. 

1900 S. Michigan Avenue 

Chicago, IL 60616 

www.thehistorymakers.com 

info@thehistorymakers.com

Katherine Dunham - The HistoryMakers

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