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1 HOUSE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives remember the life and work of Gwendolyn
4 Brooks, poet laureate of the State of Illinois; and
5 WHEREAS, There are buildings located around the State
6 Capitol complex that are named for prominent and influential
7 people from the State including the late Governor William G.
8 Stratton, the late Secretary of State Michael J. Howlett, and
9 the late Margaret Cross Norton, the first director of the
10 State Archives; and
11 WHEREAS, Gwendolyn Brooks honored the State of Illinois
12 as poet laureate; a chair in Black Literature and Creative
13 Writing was established for Ms. Brooks by Chicago State
14 University a decade ago; the Center for African-American
15 literature at Western Illinois University is also named for
16 Ms. Brooks; in Harvey, Illinois, a junior high school is
17 named in her honor; and
18 WHEREAS, In the final year of her life, Gwendolyn Brooks
19 was named a living legend by the Library of Congress; and
20 WHEREAS, Gwendolyn Brooks was the first African-American
21 to win the Pulitzer Prize; and
22 WHEREAS, The passing of Gwendolyn Brooks was deeply felt
23 by all who knew and loved her, especially her family,
24 friends, fellow poets, and the people of the State of
25 Illinois; therefore, be it
26 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
27 NINETY-FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
28 we urge the State of Illinois to rename the Illinois State
29 Library the Gwendolyn Brooks Illinois State Library; and be
30 it further
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1 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
2 presented to the family of Gwendolyn Brooks and Secretary of
3 State Jessie White.