I’ve recommended Gene D. Cohen’s book The Creative Age any number of times in these Ad Summa blogs, and one of the elements that makes the book so memorable is the continuing list in the margins of significant cultural contributions older people have made to their societies over time. Here are some of my favorite examples:
Imogen Cunningham, famous American photographer, still taught at the Art Institute of San Francisco at age 90.
![An antique camera on display in a museum.](https://www.aam-us.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Imogen_Cunningham_Rolleiflex.jpg?resize=300%2C300px)
Archibald MacLeish won the Pulitzer for drama at 67.
![A Broadway playbill with the letters "JB" in white text on a black background.](https://www.aam-us.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/jb117.jpg?resize=300%2C300px)
Mahatma Gandhi was 77 when he completed negotiations to grant India independence from Britain.
![A black-and-white photograph of Gandhi posed with English royalty.](https://www.aam-us.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Gandhi_with_Lord_and_Lady_Mountbatten.jpg?resize=300%2C300px)
Michelangelo designed the dome of St. Peters at 88.
![The interior view of a light-filled dome with intricately painted designs arcing up it in columns.](https://www.aam-us.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/946705286_ed022dc4cf_b.jpg?resize=300%2C300px)
Albert Schweitzer received the Nobel Prize at 77.
![Black-and-white portrait photograph of a man in a tuxedo, with his signature underneath.](https://www.aam-us.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Albert_Schweitzer_Nobel.jpg?resize=300%2C300px)
Albert Einstein, at 74, was still “groping” with the meaning of relativity.
![A black-and-white head-and-shoulders portrait of Albert Einstein in old age.](https://www.aam-us.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/3c06042v.jpg?resize=300%2C300px)
Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes was, at 91, reading Plato. “Why?” asked FDR. “To improve my mind, Mr. President,” was his response.
![A black-and-white portrait of Oliver Wendell Holmes standing in a library and holding a book.](https://www.aam-us.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Justice_Oliver_Wendell_Holmes_standing.jpg?resize=300%2C300px)
Agatha Christie wrote until she was 86.
![A black-and-white head-and-shoulders portrait of Agatha Christie in old age.](https://www.aam-us.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/agatha-christie.jpg?resize=300%2C300px)
Frank Lloyd Wright designed the Guggenheim Museum at 91.
![Exterior shot of the spiral-shaped facade of the Guggenheim museum in New York.](https://www.aam-us.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Solomon_R._Guggenheim_Museum_-_New_York_City.jpg?resize=300%2C300px)
Mary Baker Eddy founded the Christian Science Monitor at 87.
![An exterior of an office building labeled with the name of the Christian Science Monitor](https://www.aam-us.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/16333922018_3ea63b4ad7_k.jpg?resize=300%2C300px)
Geronimo dictated his biography at 77.
![Black-and-white bust photograph of Geronimo.](https://www.aam-us.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/GeronimoRinehart.jpg?resize=300%2C300px)
Sir Isaac Newton published his second edition of Principia at 84.
![An open copy of an antique book on display, with handwritten annotations visible.](https://www.aam-us.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/1280px-Newtons_Annotated_copy_of_his_Principia_Mathematica.jpg?resize=300%2C300px)
Katharine Graham, retired publisher of the Washington Post, wrote her first book at 79.
![Book cover with a portrait of Katherine Graham and the title "Personal History."](https://www.aam-us.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/9780375701047_book_cover-1.jpg?resize=672%2C1024px)
I.M. Pei designed the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at 78.
![Facade of a modernist museum building at dusk.](https://www.aam-us.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/2328014_af23c074b2_b-1.jpg?resize=300%2C300px)
Clara Barton continued as head of the American Red Cross until the age of 83.
![Black-and-white bust portrait of Clara Barton](https://www.aam-us.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/WcbbustCBarton.jpg?resize=300%2C300px)
Walt Disney saw his second Disney theme park, Disney World, constructed at age 65.
![Photo of the castle and other buildings in Disney World.](https://www.aam-us.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/6960497677_9a8c32d370_b.jpg?resize=300%2C300px)
Robert Frost delivered “The Gift Outright” at President Kennedy’s Inauguration at age 87.
These, and many others cited in Cohen’s work, are not only inspirational examples of the contributions of older adults throughout history, but are also helpful encouragements to those of us with a passionate interest in creative aging.
Ad Summa!
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Mark Your Calendars: The American Alliance of Museums is holding a national convening on museums and creative aging at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta from November 5-6, 2020.
Our special issue of AAM’s bi-monthly Museum magazine is coming October 2020.
Also, we are seeking guest bloggers who would like to share their thoughts and experiences in creative aging efforts. Just let me know if you have something you would like to contribute. It could be anything relevant: an upcoming conference, a program you have developed, a perspective you would like to share, etc. We are greatly enjoying the conversations these blogs are engendering!
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