THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY WATERS, V. BROWN, BISHOP, EVERETT, GEIST, BRENNAN, BROWNLEE, CALTAGIRONE, DALEY, DiGIROLAMO, FABRIZIO, FLECK, FREEMAN, GEORGE, KIRKLAND, KORTZ, MAHONEY, MANN, MILLARD, MIRABITO, PASHINSKI, SAINATO, SANTONI, STABACK, SWANGER, VEREB, YOUNGBLOOD AND MURT, AUGUST 22, 2011

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, AUGUST 22, 2011  

A RESOLUTION

Honoring the life and legacy of Mrs. Edythe Scott Bagley and

extending condolences to her family and many colleagues.

WHEREAS, Serving as a source of strength and wisdom to her

family and the civil rights movement, Mrs. Edythe Scott Bagley

played an integral role in advocating on the behalf of social

equality and academic excellence; and

WHEREAS, Edythe Scott was born on December 13, 1924, in

Marion, Alabama; and

WHEREAS, A graduate of Lincoln High School in 1943, Ms. Scott

was crowned the school's valedictorian during her senior year

and earned a scholarship to Antioch College, located in Yellow

Springs, Ohio; and

WHEREAS, She was recruited through the college's Interracial

Education Scholarship, thus becoming the school's first African-

American student during the modern era; and

WHEREAS, The integrated collegiate experience had an

overwhelming impact upon Edythe, both as a student and as a

human being, which encouraged her to persuade her younger

sister, Mrs. Coretta Scott King, to also attend college; and

WHEREAS, During her senior year Edythe Scott transferred to

Ohio State University and went on to earn her bachelor's degree;

and

WHEREAS, She attended Columbia University where she earned

her master's degree in English; and

WHEREAS, Soon thereafter, Ms. Scott landed a teaching

position at the Elizabeth City State Teachers College, located

in Elizabeth City, North Carolina; and

WHEREAS, During her tenure with the college she met and wed

her husband, Arthur M. Bagley, on June 5, 1954; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Scott Bagley went on to instruct at various

colleges and universities, including Albany State College, North

Carolina A&T University and Norfolk State University; and

WHEREAS, Her insatiable thirst for knowledge led her back to

graduate school where she became the first African-American

woman to earn her master of fine arts degree from Boston

University in 1965; and

WHEREAS, Following the assassination of her brother-in-law,

Martin Luther King, Jr., she actively served as a member of the

board of directors for the Atlanta-based King Center; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Scott Bagley was a key figure in implementing

the King Center's Cultural Affairs program; and

WHEREAS, From 1970 through 1972, she was instrumental in

developing the major of black drama for Michigan State

University; and

WHEREAS, In 1971, she joined Cheyney University's faculty and

undertook the task of developing a theater arts major for the

school, which Pennsylvania's Department of Education eventually

approved in 1980; and

WHEREAS, In addition to teaching, Mrs. Scott Bagley excelled

in directing both Cheyney University's student repertory group

as well as several other major classical and modern literature

productions; and

WHEREAS, In 1994, she and her sister, Coretta Scott King,

were featured in the New York Time's best-selling book

"Sisters," which highlights notable sets of sisters that have

made strides in life despite adverse circumstances and life's

invariable setbacks; and

WHEREAS, In 1996, her vision became realized with the

completed construction of Cheyney University's modern theater

arts facility; and

WHEREAS, During that same year she retired from Cheyney

University after 26 years of dutiful service; and

WHEREAS, Throughout her illustrious career and during her

retirement, Mrs. Scott Bagley was an active member in several

national organizations, such as the American Association of

University Women, the National Association for the Advancement

of Colored People, the National Council for Negro Women and

Link, Incorporated; and

WHEREAS, In honor of her closest confidante and beloved

sister, Edythe Scott Bagley recently completed a biography of

Coretta Scott King; and

WHEREAS, For all of her accomplishments in the realm of

academia, she was just as passionate about her faith and

religion; and

WHEREAS, She was a pious and active member of St. Paul's

Baptist Church, located in West Chester; and

WHEREAS, On June 11, 2011, Mrs. Edythe Scott Bagley died at

the age of 86 years, leaving behind a legacy of academic

excellence and social empowerment that shall live on for many

years to come; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives express its

profound sorrow over the passing of Mrs. Edythe Scott Bagley and

extend its heartfelt condolences to her family, friends and

innumerable colleagues.