Gloria Pierce <GPierce@ransomeverglades.org> Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997
Dear Chancellor Broski:
Although I no longer live in Chicago, my heart remains there. I was born and raised in the city, attended Navy Pier branch of U of I until I transferred and graduated from the U. of Ill in Champaign in 1968. I worked at and also took classes at UIC for 12 years. While in graduate school at the Chicago Art Institute (1968) I was first introduced to the splendors of the Maxwell Street area. Over the years I developed a passion for blues music and have been actively involved with the music, musicians, and everything connected to it in one way or another.
Chicago is unique in its history with blues music. It is considered, even today, the blues capital of the world. It is the one places that people all over the world want to go to to experience this music. Maxwell Street represents a piece of that history and is the perfect place to preserve an area and add it to the historical renovation that is going on so near it at Printer's Row and the area just south of Printer's Row.
What an addition to the University of Illinois in Chicago to have that area as part of its unique location and part of its place in Chicago history. The Beale Street renovation project in Memphis is a perfect example of what could be done to make the area vital and yet a memorial to the many facets of life that passed through there for so many years.
Having worked at the University for so many years, I can hardly believe that the school is not racing to embrace this area and make it their project of preservation. This area could be make a vital link to Chicago's diverse ethnic past. It could serve to bring people together and heighten awareness of the early struggles of immigrants and the diverse people who tried to make their way through selling whatever they could and playing the music that seemed to go along with their move through society.
I love Chicago and especially love what I see happening to revitalize the city. This area must be a major part of that movement. People will come from all over to see and be a part of "Maxwell Street."
Gloria Pierce
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