LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION mourning the death and celebrating the life of
John Hope Franklin, a distinguished American historian

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
citizens of the United States whose lifework and civic endeavor served
to enhance the quality of life for their fellow men; and
WHEREAS, With deep remorse, this Legislative Body is moved to mourn
the death of noted historian and pioneering university professor John
Hope Franklin; and
WHEREAS, John Hope Franklin died on March 25, 2009 at the age of 94;
and
WHEREAS, John Hope Franklin distinguished himself as an educator,
historian and civil rights leader due to the conviction that his life's
challenge was "to weave into the fabric of American history enough of
the presence of blacks so that the story of the United States could be
told adequately and fairly"; and
WHEREAS, From 1956 until 1964, John Hope Franklin served as chair of
the history department at Brooklyn College in Brooklyn, New York, making
him the first person of color to head a major history department in a
predominantly white institute of higher learning as well as the first
black historian to assume full professorship at a traditionally white
institution; and
WHEREAS, John Hope Franklin is remembered by former students and
colleagues at Brooklyn College with affection and respect for his
outstanding dedication; and
WHEREAS, Upon the death of John Hope Franklin, David Troyansky, chair
of the Brooklyn College History Department, hailed him as "a giant among
historians in a heroic era of American and African-American historiogra-
phy"; and
WHEREAS, John Hope Franklin's commitment to excellence and spirit of
humanity carried over into all fields of enterprise earning him, among
other awards, a Presidential Medal of Freedom, our nation's highest
civilian honor; and
WHEREAS, Armed with an indefatigable spirit and imbued with a sense of
compassion and justice, John Hope Franklin leaves behind a legacy which
will long endure the passage of time; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death and celebrate the life of John Hope Franklin; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the family of John Hope Franklin and to the History Depart-
ment of Brooklyn College.