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Dunham's name might adorn East St. Louis post office

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The late Katherine Dunham (UPI photo/Bill Greenblatt)

By AP/KWMU

Washington, DC – Four lawmakers from Illinois and Missouri have introduced legislation in Washington to re-name a post office in East St. Louis after famed choreographer Katherine Dunham.

Dunham died in May at the age of 96.

U.S. senators Barack Obama and Dick Durbin joined Congressmen Jerry Costello (D-IL) and Lacy Clay (D-MO) to propose legislation. It would change the name on the post office building on Missouri Avenue.

Dunham moved to the metro-east in 1967 and helped establish a performing arts center in East St. Louis and a dance anthropology program at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville.

She was known as a choreographer, anthropologist, teacher and social activist.

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