wdw4us2
<font color=blue>Not only a DIS Vet, but a 33 year
- Joined
- Jun 13, 2000
- Messages
- 3,698
I'm so excited I don't know where to begin!
Back in October at the 999 HHE, my husband and I had the opportunity to meet and talk at length to Harriet Burns. As some of you know, she was the first female Imagineer and started her career at WED in 1955. She remained with Disney until her retirement in 1986.
Anyway, the reason I wanted to speak with her is my daughter, Meg. Some of you know that it is her ambition to work for Disney as an adult. Harriet asked if I could have Meg send her some samples of her artwork, as well as a paper Meg wrote on Disney Artist Mary Blair. Meg sent the requested items to Jason Surrell so he could forward them to Harriet.
Imagine Meg's surprise when she answered the phone an hour ago and found Harriet Burns asking to speak with her! Pretty exciting stuff for a 13 year old Disney fanatic! Harriet spent about 15 minutes speaking with Meg about her artwork, the Mary Blair paper and she told Meg what it was like working for Walt Disney.
Afterward, she asked to speak with me. She told me how great it is that younger people know about and appreciate the people who worked for Disney way back when. She is one of the most wonderful, gracious people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting and talking with.
If you'd like to know more about Harriet Burns, here is a link to the Disney Legends Gallery:
http://disney.go.com/vault/legends/main.html
Back in October at the 999 HHE, my husband and I had the opportunity to meet and talk at length to Harriet Burns. As some of you know, she was the first female Imagineer and started her career at WED in 1955. She remained with Disney until her retirement in 1986.
Anyway, the reason I wanted to speak with her is my daughter, Meg. Some of you know that it is her ambition to work for Disney as an adult. Harriet asked if I could have Meg send her some samples of her artwork, as well as a paper Meg wrote on Disney Artist Mary Blair. Meg sent the requested items to Jason Surrell so he could forward them to Harriet.
Imagine Meg's surprise when she answered the phone an hour ago and found Harriet Burns asking to speak with her! Pretty exciting stuff for a 13 year old Disney fanatic! Harriet spent about 15 minutes speaking with Meg about her artwork, the Mary Blair paper and she told Meg what it was like working for Walt Disney.
Afterward, she asked to speak with me. She told me how great it is that younger people know about and appreciate the people who worked for Disney way back when. She is one of the most wonderful, gracious people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting and talking with.
If you'd like to know more about Harriet Burns, here is a link to the Disney Legends Gallery:
http://disney.go.com/vault/legends/main.html
Someday I will be able to say I knew her when...
I was so stunned to get a phone call from one of my heroes. I still am pinching myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming. 
It was a great honor to be commened and taught by any WDI worker, let alone the first female Imagineer. To speak to Harriet Burns on the phone was a great honor I will never forget and I am so glad a "real artist" commended my work, instead of just my family or friends saying I did a good job. You know what it's like when your parents or peers say you did great work, well it just seems more incredible and plausible when one of your heroes tells you this. "no offense mom", but my mom could tell me how great my artwork was 1,000,000,000 times and it wouldn't make much of a difference whereas if I were to have a Disney Animation or Imagineering legend tell me my artwork was creative and incredible I would never forget it. If anyone is reading this who doesn't know who Harriet Burns is I suggest you read up because she is a wonderful, kind, and commending lady. She was so gracious and helpful to me I'm still smiling. It is incredible to talk to one of your heroes on the phone, maybe someday I'll get to meet her in person. Thanks also, to Mr.Jason Surrel, if it wasn't for him I would never be able to talk to my hero. I know I've thanked him many times but I just want the public to realize how greatful I am to him and how INCREDIBLE he is. I would lastly, like to thank my mom. If it weren't for her Haunted Mansion obsession (which I share) and her outgoing personality I never would have been able to speak to Mrs.Burns, let alone send her a letter and have her know who I am. Thanks a lot to all of you who have supported me and helped me further my art passion. I don't want this to sound like an Oscar speech so just Thanks to everyone. (Yes Ed, even you)
"I'm with the band"
