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“THE EXPOSURE GROUP HONORS LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHERS” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1220 on June 25, 1998.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
THE EXPOSURE GROUP HONORS LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHERS
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HON. ELEANOR HOMES NORTON
of the district of columbia
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, June 24, 1998
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to three local photographers, recorders of history, who are being recognized by The Exposure Group, African American Photographers Association for their contributions to humanity and to the District of Columbia.
Robert H. McNeill was born in Washington, DC in 1917 and graduated from Dunbar High School where, in 1935, he first became interested in photography. He worked as a consultant for the Works Project Administration, and owned McNeill Photo Service and GEM Photographers. He was a staff photographer for the US Navel Gun Factory, the Pentagon, the Naval Ordinance Laboratory and the Department of State from which he retired as Chief of the Photography Branch, Audio-Visual Services. Mr. McNeill's work has been published in several books, many magazines and, mostly recently, in seven issues of the Washington Post Magazine. He has also exhibited his work in a traveling show sponsored by the Rhode Island Institute of Design, the Charles Sumner School, the Smithsonian Institution's Anacostia Museum, the National Museum of American Art and the Smithsonian's Center for African American History and Culture. Mr. McNeill will receive the Maurice Sorrell Lifetime Achievement Award.
James M. Johnson, Jr. is also a native Washingtonian and, for nineteen years, has operated a full-service photography studio in southeast Washington near the banks of the Potomac River. In 1975, he received a Master of Engineering degree from Howard University and worked as an engineer for seven years before he decided to follow his heart and study photography. Mr. Johnson is president of the Professional Photographers' Minority Network, an international affiliate of Professional Photographers of America, and an Ambassador to the International Photography Hall of Fame and Museum. Mr. Johnson will receive the Photographer of the Year Award.
Nestor Hernandez, Jr. is currently the Chief Photographer, Communications Division, District of Columbia Public Schools. He is the president of the FotoCraft Camera Club, which recently celebrated its 60 year history with an exhibit at Howard University. Mr. Hernandez has exhibited his work nationally and internationally. He was exhibited in a solo show at the Christina Cultural Art Center in Wilmington, Delaware and participated in group shows in Springfield, Massachusetts and La Habana, Cuba. Mr. Nestor will receive the Community Service Award of Merit.
Mr. Speaker, I ask that this body join me in saluting these gentlemen photographers, and applauding the magnificent work they have done.
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