PRINTER'S NO. 1437
No. 224 Session of 2003
INTRODUCED BY J. WILLIAMS, BEBKO-JONES, BISHOP, COSTA,
CREIGHTON, CRUZ, DALEY, DeWEESE, D. EVANS, FORCIER, GEIST,
GEORGE, GRUCELA, HARHAI, HERMAN, HERSHEY, JOSEPHS, KIRKLAND,
LAUGHLIN, MANDERINO, McGILL, McNAUGHTON, PALLONE, PISTELLA,
READSHAW, ROBERTS, ROSS, RUBLEY, SHANER, THOMAS, WALKO,
WASHINGTON, WOJNAROSKI AND YOUNGBLOOD, APRIL 21, 2003
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
APRIL 21, 2003
A RESOLUTION
1 Commemorating the life of Octavius Catto and his contributions
2 to political activism and observing the week of March 17
3 through 23, 2003, as "Octavius Valentine Catto Week" in
4 Pennsylvania.
5 WHEREAS, Octavius Valentine Catto was born in Charleston,
6 South Carolina, in 1840 and died on October 10, 1871, in
7 Philadelphia; and
8 WHEREAS, Octavius Catto was a scholar, an athlete and an
9 African-American political activist; and
10 WHEREAS, Octavius Catto graduated valedictorian at the
11 Institute for Colored Youth and was immediately added to the
12 staff as assistant to the principal and teacher of English
13 Literature, Higher Mathematics and Classical Languages; and
14 WHEREAS, Octavius Catto was founder, captain and shortstop of
15 the finest baseball team in Philadelphia, the Pythian Baseball
16 Club; and
1 WHEREAS, Octavius Catto founded the Banneker Literary
2 Institute and the Equal Rights League; and
3 WHEREAS, Octavius Catto was a member of the Franklin
4 Institute, Philadelphia Library Company, 4th Ward Black
5 Political Club and the Union League Association; and
6 WHEREAS, Facing violence and intimidation, Octavius Catto
7 courageously cast his vote on October 10, 1871, in the first
8 local election after the 15th Amendment enfranchised certain
9 African Americans; and
10 WHEREAS, Octavius Catto worked to protect the voting rights
11 and safety of others before he was fatally shot on that violent
12 election day; therefore be it
13 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives commemorate the
14 life and achievements of Octavius Catto and his contributions to
15 political activism in American history; and be it further
16 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge all public
17 and private educational institutions in this Commonwealth, the
18 State Library, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
19 and the Department of Education to promote the study of Octavius
20 Catto's life and contributions to American society; and be it
21 further
22 RESOLVED, That the week of March 17 through 23, 2003, be
23 observed as "Octavius Valentine Catto Week" in Pennsylvania.
C5L82BIL/20030H0224R1437 - 2 -