Rep. Heise offered the following resolution:

House Resolution No. 130.

A resolution to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Michigan Historical Commission.

            Whereas, The Michigan Historical Commission was created on May 8, 1913, with passage by the Michigan Legislature of House Bill No. 327 and signing by Governor Woodbridge Ferris. This began for the purposes of collecting and preserving material, including records, archives, paintings, and statuary illustrative of and relating to the history of Michigan, the old Northwest Territory, the early pioneers, and the Indian tribes in Michigan, displaying it in the Michigan Historical Museum, and publishing source materials and historical studies on the history of the state; and

            Whereas, The succeeding years have resulted in additions to the Commission’s responsibilities. These additions have included: enactment in 1955 of Public Act 10 giving it authority over the Michigan Historical Marker program now encompassing some 1,700 sites and stories, and in 2007 under Executive Order 52 directing it to lead Michigan’s commemoration of the Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War. After various executive reorganizations it today provides counsel to the Department of Natural Resources on the state’s history programs; and

            Whereas, Since 1913 the Commission has continuously championed Michigan’s unique, rich heritage, most recently seeking to aid the City of Detroit with renovation and promotion of Capitol Park, seat of Michigan’s territorial government and its first Capitol, and of the Ulysses S. and Julia D. Grant Home, the state’s only publicly owned presidential residence; and

            Whereas, The Commission has long been characterized by diversity, its longest serving member being Elizabeth S. Adams, appointed in 1941 and served until 1995. It has received contributions of such celebrated African-Americans as Esther Edwards and Samuel Logan, Jr., as well as distinguished public servants such as John B. Swainson, in whose name the Commission created an award to honor those who make significant contributions to preserving Michigan history, and currently being served by the largest number of female members in its history; and

            Whereas, The Commission’s leadership has been and will continue to be essential in preserving and promoting Michigan’s history, connecting it to tourism initiatives that aid the economy and quality of life, and educating our youth on their state’s heritage; now,

therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body

commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Michigan Historical Commission; and be it further

            Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to John M. Dempsey, president of the Michigan Historical Commission, to Keith Creagh, director of the Department of Natural Resources, and to the members of this greatly respected commission as evidence of the high regard and esteem held for them by the Michigan Legislature and the people they serve.