The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“REMEMBERING HELEN EUGENIA HAGAN” mentioning Richard Blumenthal was published in the Senate section on page S91 on Jan. 21.
Of the 100 senators in 117th Congress, 24 percent were women, and 76 percent were men, according to the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
Senators' salaries are historically higher than the median US income.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
REMEMBERING HELEN EUGENIA HAGAN
Mr. BLUMENTHAL. Madam President, today I rise to recognize Ms. Helen Eugenia Hagan, a remarkable pianist and pioneer for BIPOC women in music.
Her passion for performing began at a young age, and Ms. Hagan became the organist for the Dixwell Avenue Congregational Church when she was around 11 years old. Ms. Hagan's talents earned her a spot at the Yale School of Music. In 1912, she was the first African-American woman to graduate from Yale University.
At the request of General John J. Pershing, Ms. Hagan traveled to France during World War I as part of a group led by preacher Henry H. Proctor. Ms. Hagan was the only Black performing artist sent to France during the war. Continuing to break barriers, she was also the first Black pianist to perform a recital at a New York concert venue. Ms. Hagan's compositions and concert work received outstanding praise. The then-Dean of the Yale School of Music credited Ms. Hagan with ``rare promise,'' and critics commended her creativity and originality.
Struggling to find work during the Great Depression, she took graduate-level courses at Columbia University's Teachers College while still giving performances. In 1933, Ms. Hagan took a teaching position at Bishop College in Texas and gave private music lessons in New York. She remained committed to musical composition, performance, and education until her passing in 1964.
On February 6, 2021, the New Haven Symphony Orchestra will honor Ms. Hagan with a History Award. Alongside Yale University, the symphony has been dedicated to sharing the life story of this incredible woman, who performed her ``Piano Concerto in C minor'' with them in 1916. This award is a tribute to Ms. Hagan's extraordinary legacy, which will be enduring.
I applaud her many accomplishments and hope my colleagues will join me in remembering Ms. Helen Eugenia Hagan.
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