2022 -- H 8265

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LC005994

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXTENDING DEEPEST CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF JAMES ORRIS

BARNHILL

     Introduced By: Representatives Blazejewski, Chippendale, Tanzi, Ajello, Shallcross
Smith, McGaw, Fogarty, Cortvriend, C Lima, and Donovan

     Date Introduced: May 18, 2022

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, It is with deepest sympathy that this House has learned of the passing of

Professor James Orris Barnhill, a well-respected and admired Professor of Theater Arts at Brown

University for many years, and a longtime resident of the City of Providence; and

     WHEREAS, Born in Sumner, Mississippi, Jim Barnhill was a son of the late Reverend

James and Louise Barnhill, and the brother of the late Joseph Barnhill. He served our country

with honor in the United State Navy in the Pacific Theatre during World War II as the Executive

Officer of a landing craft participating in the Okinawa campaign and in the Occupation of Japan;

and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Barnhill attended Mississippi College, earned his Bachelor’s degree

from Yale University, his Master’s degree from New York University, and a Master’s of Fine

Arts from the Yale School of Drama; and

     WHEREAS, Beginning his career in education, Professor Barnhill joined the faculty at

Dubuque University in Iowa in 1953, and in 1954, became an Instructor at Brown University. In

1958, he became an Assistant Professor of English, and in 1975, became a full Professor at

Brown. Professor Barnhill also taught at Tougaloo College in Jackson, Mississippi, was a

Fulbright Professor of English at Calicut University, Baroda, Gujarat, India, taught at RI School

of Design, and at the University of the Punjab in Lahore, Pakistan; and

     WHEREAS, In 1978, to the good fortune of many aspiring theatre majors at Brown,

Professor Barnhill was appointed Professor of Theater Arts, and was one of the founding

members of Brown's Theatre, Speech, and Dance Department, and served as its first Chairperson.

His inspiration and dedication to his students began many successful careers including, James

Naughton, Kate Burton, Aunjanue Ellis, Jobeth Williams, Laura Linney, John Lee Beatty,

Richard Foreman, to name but a few. He also helped to found the Rites and Reason Theatre of the

Africana Studies Department, and was active with the Department of Theatre Arts after his

retirement in 1987, when he was named Professor Emeritus, Theatre Arts & Performance Studies;

and

     WHEREAS, Expanding Theatre and the Arts in the City of Providence, Mr. Barnhill was

a co-founder of Trinity Square Repertory Theatre, where he worked with the company for three

seasons, serving in myriad positions. He had also directed over 200 plays, and started a cabaret

with Visiting Professor Szymon Bojko and Agnieszka Taborska from Poland at RISD; and

     WHEREAS, Professor Jim Barnhill devoted much of his life to advancement of Theater

Arts, his students, Brown University, and the enrichment of all our lives and he will be truly

missed; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

extends deepest condolences on the passing of James Orris Barnhill; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Janet Blume, Deputy Dean of the Faculty,

Interim Chair of Theatre Arts & Performance Studies, Brown University.

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