Senate Resolution No. 3558

BY: Senator MARCHIONE

HONORING Edmonia Lewis posthumously for special
recognition in observance of Black History Month

WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon the people of the State of New York to
recognize and acknowledge those within our midst who have made
significant contributions to the quality of life therein; and

WHEREAS, From time to time this Legislative Body takes note of
certain extraordinary individuals it wishes to recognize for their
valued contributions to the success and progress of society and publicly
acknowledge their endeavors which have enhanced the basic humanity among
us all; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Edmonia
Lewis posthumously for special recognition in observance of Black
History Month; and

WHEREAS, Edmonia Lewis persevered through racial and gender
discrimination to become a world-renowned sculptor; and

WHEREAS, Born Mary Edmonia Lewis on July 4, 1844, in Greenbush, New
York, she was the daughter of a Native American mother (full blooded
Chippewa) and an African-American father; she was raised on a
reservation, known by her Indian name, Wildfire; by the time she was
eight years-old, both her parents had died and young Edmonia was raised
by her two aunts on the reservation; and

WHEREAS, Her older brother, Samuel, insisted on Edmonia getting an
education, so he paid her tuition and she enrolled at a boarding day
school in Albany, New York; and

WHEREAS, After four years, she went on to attend New York College
from 1856 until 1858 before enrolling in Oberlin College in Ohio, which
she attended from 1859 until 1862; it was at Oberlin, Edmonia found her
talent and love of art; and

WHEREAS, After Edmonia was falsely accused of first poisoning two of
her friends and again of stealing, Oberlin, fearing bad publicity, did
not expel her but simply did not renew her enrollment for the next
semester; and

WHEREAS, Humiliated, Chippewa tradition calls for revenge for
humiliation; Edmonia Lewis vowed to show Oberlin they had misjudged and
mistreated her, and she would do this through her art; and

WHEREAS, Edmonia Lewis headed to Boston and sought out sculptor,
Edward A. Brackett, who sculpted the bust of John Brown; he began
teaching her the art of sculpting; and

WHEREAS, On May 28, 1863, Edmonia Lewis stood on a curb in Boston
and watched the famous all black 54th Massachusetts Regiment march by,
led by Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, who was from a prominent white family;

six weeks later, Colonel Shaw, along with most of the 54th Regiment were
killed in battle when they charged Fort Wagner in South Carolina; and

WHEREAS, Emotionally moved by Colonel Shaw, a white man who chose to
lead a black regiment and by his death in battle, Edmonia Lewis created
a bust of Colonel Shaw, her first major well received work; today, the
sculpture can be found in the Museum of African American History in
Boston; and

WHEREAS, Edmonia Lewis then traveled to Rome, Italy, to further her
training in the Neoclassicism style of the time; she produced major
pieces of internationally recognized and critically acclaimed work; and

WHEREAS, Edmonia Lewis' most famous work was the Death of Cleopatra
which was carved in 1876 and brought over from Rome to the 1876
Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia; after being moved around to
several places, today, it can be found in the Smithsonian American Art
Museum; and

WHEREAS, During the late 1800s, Edmonia Lewis visited the United
States numerous times; her work was presented in major galleries and
exhibitions and sold for large sums of money; her new-found popularity
made her studio a tourist attraction; and

WHEREAS, Edmonia Lewis rose above the meanness and violence she
experienced; in the courage of those who fought against slavery,
struggled against the oppression of women, and in the spirituality of
native Americans, and ultimately her religious faith, she found her
great themes; and

WHEREAS, Edmonia Lewis died on September 17, 1907, and is buried in
St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, in London, England; her death notice was
published in the Tablet, and upon her request, it simple states "Edmonia
Lewis, Spinster and Sculptor"; and

WHEREAS, Black History Month is a time to reflect on the struggles
and victories of African Americans throughout our country's history and
to recognize their numerous valuable contributions to the protection of
our democratic society in times of war and in peace; now, therefore, be
it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Edmonia Lewis posthumously for special recognition in observance
of Black History Month; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the Town of East Greenbush, New York.