Recently, a celebration was held at the Clinton 1st Home Museum for the first anniversary of the passing of Congressional legislation for the Clinton Birthplace Foundation to give the site at 117 S. Hervey St. to the National Parks Service.
The NPS Omnibus Acquisitions Bill was passed in March, 2009, thanks to the efforts of Congressmen Mike Ross, D-Ar. and Vic Snyder,D- Ar., as well as U.S. Senators Blanche Lincoln, D- Ar., Mark Pryor, D-Ar., and U.S. Senator Jeff Bingham, according to Museum Director Martha Berryman.
On March 30, President Obama sent a personal congratulatory note to George Frazier and Congressman Ross, commending the dedication of 20 years’ work by the community toward the President William Jefferson Clinton Home National Historic Site.
To mark the anniversary, the newly formed Clinton Museum Advisory Council welcomed its first members.
“The non-governing counsel will be a resource of advice and information during transition months ahead. The National Parks’ team will continue the advisory counsel and the CBF board as important partners into the future,” Berryman said.
The Clinton Birthplace Board of Directors and the museum director were joined with the Museum Advisory Council in a verbal declaration of dedication and commitment.
Those who have made the required commitments include Myra Grisham Reese, Clinton’s cousin; Carolyn Huber, the Clintons’ personal archivist; Justice William C. Bowen, former advisor to Clinton as governor and president; Jennifer Methvin, vice-chancellor of academics at the University of Arkansas Community College at Hope; Bonnie Routon, childhood and family friend; Molly Beth Malcolm, former CBF board president and current Texas College Board member; Elaine Johnson, former board member and participant in the Arkansas Travelers and FOBs (Friends of Bill); Nikola Knez, a Croatian filmmaker for PBS and media expert. Others members are pending, according to Berryman.
“The Clinton Museum Advisory Council will build slowly to involve at least fifty individuals whose talents and knowledge will be available to the museum and the NPS to help provide the best possible resources in presenting an accurate and meaningful history of young Billy’s formative first ten years with grandparents, family, friends and places in Hope, Arkansas, the place where the seeds of ideas were first planted which now influence the whole world,” Berryman said.
Berryman welcome's inquiries from individuals interested in the work of the advisory council. There will be a second inaugural in early June, to celebrate Virginia Cassidy Blythe Clinton Kelley’s birthday in her memorial garden, and a third coinciding with President Clinton’s 64th birthday event on August 19 at the museum.
