Union College News

Haley S. Bowling as Anna Mac Clarke, Military Pioneer.

Union College to Host Kentucky
Chautauqua Performance

Union College graduate Haley Bowling will return to her alma mater next week as military pioneer Anna Mac Clarke.

Ms. Bowling will portray Anna Mac Clarke, Military Pioneer on Thursday, September 13, at 7:00 p.m. in the upstairs conference room of Union College’s student center. The event is sponsored by Phi Delta Kappa, Union College chapter, and admission is free.

Anna Mac Clarke was the first black Women’s Army Corps officer to command a white unit. A Lawrenceburg, Kentucky native, Clarke graduated from college in 1941 and left for New York shortly thereafter. She enlisted in the Women’s Army Corp after the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

Though Clarke died at the young age of 24, she made bold strides for racial equality in her short life. Clarke made history when she assumed command of an all-white unit and drew national attention by protesting segregated seating in her army base theater, a practice which her base commander then banned.

Haley S. Bowling grew up in Jackson County. She became Kentucky Chautauqua’s youngest-ever performer when she began her portrayal of Clarke. Ms. Bowling graduated from Union College in May, 2007.

Anna Mac Clarke, Military Pioneer is a presentation of Kentucky Chautauqua, a program of the Kentucky Humanities Council. Kentucky Chautauqua receives statewide support from the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels and regional funding from Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America, Inc., People’s Bank & Trust Company of Hazard, National City banks in Lexington and London, the Brown-Forman Corporation, and Union College in Barbourville.

For more information or for directions, call Union College at 606-546-4151 or visit www.unionky.edu.

September 7, 2007

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