New Directions Volume 11 | Issue 1 Article 4 10-1-1983 Commencement '83 Editorial Staff Follow this and additional works at: http://dh.howard.edu/newdirections Recommended Citation Staff, Editorial (1983) "Commencement '83," New Directions: Vol. 11: Iss. 1, Article 4. Available at: http://dh.howard.edu/newdirections/vol11/iss1/4 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by Digital Howard @ Howard University. It has been accepted for inclusion in New Directions by an authorized administrator of Digital Howard @ Howard University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Staff: Commencement '83 Published by Digital Howard @ Howard University, 1 New Directions, Vol. 11 [], Iss. 1, Art. 4 25 PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARVIN JONES pproximately 2,000 students Black woman to seek that office. In 1982, debut in "St.Louis Woman" in 1946- received undergraduate, she chose not to seek reelection to the going on to star in several Broadway graduate and professional Congress and currently writes, teaches, shows. Her "Hello Dolly," starting in 1967, ~ degrees at the University's and lectures around the nation. She re- was the longest running Broadway com- .115th commencement exercises on May ceived the honorary degree of doctor of pany of the show, having run for 716 . 14. Honorary degrees were conferred on laws from the university . performances. former Congresswoman Shirley Since her appearance in "Variety Girl" Coy Eklund joined Equitable in 1938, Chisholm, the commencement speaker; in 1947, she has also starred in several and, except for a period of service in the along with Coy G. Eklund, chairman of films, including "St. Louis Blues" and Army during World War II in which he ad- the board and chief executive officer of "Porgy and Bess." She is a successful vanced to the rank of lieutenant colonel, The Equitable Life Assurance Society of author of five books, starting with "The he has been with the company ever the United States; Pearl Bailey, enter- Raw Pearl" in 1968 to her latest "Hurry since. Progressing through the ranks, he tainer and star of several Broadway hits, Up, America, and Spit." Her television was named senior vice president in 1964, films and television series; James Van series,"The Pearl Bailey Show," was car- to the board of directors in 1965, execu- DerZee, world-renowned photographer; ried by ABC-TV from 1970-71. In 1975 tive vice president in 1969, president in William Greene, MD., a Washington, and 1976, she served as special adviser 1973 and chief executive officer in 1975. D.C., physician, and Luther H. Foster, to the U.S. Mission at the United Nations. president emeritus of Tuskegee Institute. A native of Minnesota, Eklund is a Howard bestowed on her the honorary Chisholm served in the U.S. Congress graduate of Michigan State University. degree of doctor of music. from 1969 to 1982, representing the 12th He is a director of several institutions and James Van DerZee, who was born in Congressional District in Brooklyn, N.Y organizations and is chairman of the 1886, opened a photography studio on She earned recognition for her out- board of the National Urban League. He 135th Street in Harlem in 1918 and called spoken independence in Congress, also received the honorary degree of it the Guarantee Photo Studio, thus working for minorities and the poor. She doctor of laws. launching his professional photography served on the Rules Committee and the career. Later the name changed to GGG Pearl Bailey began her show business House Education and Labor Committee. Studio, and his customers included the career working the clubs of the coal re- great and not-so-great of Harlem for the In 1972, Chisholm conducted a gions of Pennsylvania for $15 a week and next 50 years. Marcus Garvey, heavy- nationwide campaign for the Democratic tips. Moving on to the nightclubs of New weight champion Jack Johnson, Bill Party nomination for president, the first York, she made her legitimate stage "Bojangles" Robinson, Florence Mills and http://dh.howard.edu/newdirections/vol11/iss1/4 NEW DIRECTIONS JULY/OCTOBER 19B23 - Staff: Commencement '83 26 Published by Digital Howard @ Howard University, 3 NEW DIRECTIONS JULY/OCTOBER 19B3 New Directions, Vol. 11 [], Iss. 1, Art. 4 2 Adam C. I?owell Sr. were among his cus- He served on the Howard University earned the Ph.D. degree from the Uni- tomers. The result of his life's work was a Board of Trustees and was a trustee versity of Chicago in 1951, the M.BA collection of photographs which, begin- emeritus at the time of his death. He was a from Harvard in 1936, and bachelor's ning in 1969 with the Metropolitan life member of both the NAACP and the degrees from Virginia State and Museum of Art exhibition called "Harlem Washington Urban League; he was a Hampton Institute in 1932 and 1934, on My Mind," was finally recognized na- member of the board of directors of the respectively. tionally and internationally as some of the United Black Fund and a charter member He holds numerous honorary degrees finest art in the field of photography. of the Pigskin Club. from universities throughhout the country Subsequently, the James Van DerZee A native of Jefferson County, Ala., he and Africa, and has served on the Institute in Harlem was founded to pre- grew up in Oklahoma. He was an active boards of several organizations in both serve the Van DerZee collection, and ex- member and held several positions in the the corporate and public sectors.He is a hibits of Van DerZee photos have Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity and the Chi member of the Overseas Development traveled throughout the country. A num- Delta Mu Medical fraternity. As an alum- Council, and a director or trustee of the ber of books of Van DerZee photos have nus of Howard, he was involved in numer- United Negro College Fund, Norton Si- been published since 1968. Van DerZee ous alumni organizational and fundraising mon, Inc., Sears Roebuck & Co., and the received the honorary degree of doctor efforts and helped to establish schol- March of Dimes/Birth Defects Founda- of humane letters. [Van DerZee died after arship funds and loan programs at the tion. He received the honorary degree of a heart attack less than 24 hours fo//ow- University. He received the honorary de- doctor of humane letters. 0 ing the ceremony]. gree of Doctor of Humanities. William Henry Greene, who died in Sep- Luther H. Foster is currently the chair- tember 1983, practiced medicine in man of the board and chief executive Washington, D. C., since his graduation officer of the Robert R. Moton Memorial from Howard's College of Medicine in Institute. He was president of Tuskegee 1924. In addition to his long and distin- Institute from 1953 to 1981. A life-long guished career in medicine, a commit- career in education started at Howard ment to public service was evidenced University where he was budget officer through his membership in many civic, re- from 1936 to 1940. From 1941 to 1953 he ligious and other service organizations. was business manager at Tuskegee. He http://dh.howard.edu/newdirections/vol11/iss1/4 NEW DIRECTIONS JULY/OCTOBER 19834 Staff: Commencement '83 28 Published by Digital Howard @ Howard University, 5 NEW OIRECTIONSJULY/OCTOBER 19B3 New Directions, Vol. 11 [], Iss. 1, Art. 4 29 http://dh.howard.edu/newdirections/vol11/iss1/4 6 NEW DIRECTIONS JULY/OCTOBER 1983.