OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF CHICAGO
RICHARD M. DALEY
MAYOR
December 8, 2010
TO THE HONORABLE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I transmit herewith a resolution honoring the life and memory of Dr. Margaret T. Burroughs.
Your favorable consideration of this resolution will be appreciated.
Very truly yours.
H resolution
adopted by Tlie Qlty QoUHCll
of the Qlty of Qhicago, Illinois
DECEMBER 8, 2010
on
Resented bu MAYOR RICHARD M. DALEY
^A/rlBV6US ' Tne Members of this Chamber were deeply saddened to learn of the passing on November 21, 2010, at age 95, of Dr. Margaret Taylor Goss Burroughs; and
WHEREAS, Born in Saint Rose, Louisiana on November 1, 1917, Dr. Burroughs moved to the South Side of Chicago as a child in 1922; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Burroughs graduated from Englewood High School and went on to attend Chicago Normal College, Chicago Teachers College and also received a bachelor's degree and master's degree in Art Education from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, From 1946 through 1969, Dr. Burroughs was a teacher in the Chicago Public School system at DuSable High School; and
WHEREAS, Following her long tenure with the Chicago Public Schools, Dr. Burroughs was a professor of Humanities from 1969 through 1979 at Kennedy-King College in Chicago. Until her passing, she gave generously of her time as a volunteer teacher of art and poetry at the Joliet and Stateville penitentiaries; and
WHEREAS, On May 9,1986, Dr. Burroughs was appointed to the Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners. She served in that capacity with distinction for many years; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Burroughs received numerous awards throughout her life, including Honorary Doctorates from Chicago State University; the School of the Art Institute of Chicago; Columbia College; DePaul University; Spelman College and others; and
WHEREAS, Of all her accomplishments, Dr. Burroughs was most proud of co-founding with her husband, Charles, the DuSable Museum of African American History, in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago in 1961. At her passing she was the President Emeritus of the Museum, which boasts a collection of more than 100,000 pieces; and
WHEREAS, In a press release from the White House, President Barack Obama praised Dr. Burroughs for her contributions to American culture as an esteemed artist, historian, educator and mentor; and
WHEREAS, Among her many accolades, Dr. Burroughs was appointed by President Jimmy Carter as a member of the National Commission on African-American History and Culture. In 1989, she was inducted into the Chicago Women's Hall of Fame. Dr. Burroughs won the Paul Robeson Award, named for the black singer and actor known for his political activism. Recently, she received the Legacy Award from the Art Institute of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Burroughs was the loving wife of Charles Burroughs, who predeceased her in 1994; the caring mother of Paul and Gayle; the devoted grandmother of four grandsons: Eric, Jonathan, Manaseh, and Matthew; and the loving aunt of Carol, Lyneth, Nina and Brian. Dr. Burroughs will also be sorely missed and fondly remembered by many other loving relatives and friends; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this eighth day of December, 2010, do hereby honor the life and memory of Dr. Margaret T. Burroughs, and extend our heartfelt condolences to her family; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the family of Dr. Margaret T. Burroughs as a sign of our sympathy and good wishes.