PUBLIC LAW 111–19—MAY 12, 2009 

CIVIL RIGHTS HISTORY PROJECT ACT OF 2009 


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123 STAT. 1612 PUBLIC LAW 111–19—MAY 12, 2009 

Public Law 111–19 

111th Congress 

An Act 

To direct the Librarian of Congress and the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution 

to carry out a joint project at the Library of Congress and the National Museum 

of African American History and Culture to collect video and audio recordings 

of personal histories and testimonials of individuals who participated in the 

Civil Rights movement, and for other purposes. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 

the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Civil Rights History Project 

Act of 2009’’. 

SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSE. 

(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds as follows: 

(1) A fundamental principle of American democracy is that 

individuals should stand up for their rights and beliefs and 

fight for justice. 

(2) The actions of those who participated in the Civil Rights 

movement from the 1950s through the 1960s are a shining 

example of this principle in action, demonstrated in events 

as varied as the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the sit-ins, the 

Freedom Rides, the March on Washington, the drive for voting 

rights in Mississippi, and the March to Selma. 

(3) While the Civil Rights movement had many visible 

leaders, including Thurgood Marshall, Dr. Martin Luther King, 

Jr., and Rosa Parks, there were many others whose impact 

and experience were just as important to the cause but who 

are not as well known. 

(4) The participants in the Civil Rights movement possess 

an invaluable resource in their first-hand memories of the 

movement, and the recording of the retelling of their stories 

and memories will provide a rich, detailed history of our Nation 

during an important and tumultuous period. 

(5) It is in the Nation’s interest to undertake a project 

to collect oral histories of individuals from the Civil Rights 

movement so future generations will be able to learn of their 

struggle and sacrifice through primary-source, eyewitness material. A coordinated Federal project would also focus attention 

on the efforts undertaken by various public and private entities 

to collect and interpret articles in all formats relating to the 

Civil Rights movement, and serve as a model for future projects 

undertaken in museums, libraries, and universities throughout 

the Nation. 

20 USC 80s. 

20 USC 80s note. 

Civil Rights 

History 

Project Act 

of 2009. 

May 12, 2009 

[H.R. 586] 


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PUBLIC LAW 111–19—MAY 12, 2009 123 STAT. 1613 

(6) The Library of Congress and the Smithsonian Institution are appropriate repositories to collect, preserve, and make 

available to the public a collection of these oral histories. The 

Library and Smithsonian have expertise in the management 

of documentation projects, and experience in the development 

of cultural and educational programs for the public. 

(b) PURPOSE.—It is the purpose of this Act to create a new 

federally sponsored, authorized, and funded project that will coordinate at a national level the collection of video and audio recordings 

of personal histories and testimonials of individuals who participated in the American Civil Rights movement that will build upon 

and complement previous and ongoing documentary work on this 

subject, and to assist and encourage local efforts to preserve the 

memories of such individuals so that Americans of all current 

and future generations may hear from them directly and better 

appreciate the sacrifices they made. 

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF JOINT PROJECT AT LIBRARY OF CONGRESS AND NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE TO COLLECT VIDEO AND AUDIO 

RECORDINGS OF HISTORIES OF PARTICIPANTS IN AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. 

(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF PROJECT.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Within the limits of available funds, the 

Librarian of Congress (hereafter referred to as the ‘‘Librarian’’) 

and the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution (hereafter 

referred to as the ‘‘Secretary)’’, acting jointly, shall establish 

an oral history project— 

(A) to survey, during the initial phase of the project, 

collections of audio and video recordings of the 

reminiscences of participants in the Civil Rights movement 

that are housed in archives, libraries, museums, and other 

educational institutions, as well as ongoing documentary 

work, in order to augment and complement these endeavors 

and avoid duplication of effort; 

(B) to solicit, reproduce, and collect— 

(i) video and audio recordings of personal histories 

and testimonials of individuals who participated in 

the Civil Rights movement, and 

(ii) visual and written materials (such as letters, 

diaries, photographs, and ephemera) relevant to the 

personal histories of individuals; 

(C) to create a collection of the recordings and other 

materials obtained, and to catalog and index the collection 

in a manner the Librarian and the Secretary consider 

appropriate; and 

(D) to make the collection available for public use 

through the Library of Congress and the National Museum 

of African American History and Culture, as well as 

through such other methods as the Librarian and the Secretary consider appropriate. 

(2) ROLE OF DIRECTOR OF MUSEUM.—The Secretary shall 

carry out the Secretary’s duties under this Act through the 

Director of the National Museum of African American History 

and Culture. 

(b) USE OF AND CONSULTATION WITH OTHER ENTITIES.—The 

Librarian and the Secretary may carry out the activities described 

20 USC 80s–1. 


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123 STAT. 1614 PUBLIC LAW 111–19—MAY 12, 2009 

in subsection (a)(1) through agreements and partnerships entered 

into with other government and private entities, and may otherwise 

consult with interested persons (within the limits of available 

resources) and develop appropriate guidelines and arrangements 

for soliciting, acquiring, and making available recordings under 

the project under this Act. 

(c) SERVICES OF EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS; ACCEPTANCE OF

VOLUNTEER SERVICES; ADVANCE PAYMENTS.—In carrying out activities described in subsection (a)(1), the Librarian and the Secretary 

may— 

(1) procure temporary and intermittent services under section 3109 of title 5, United States Code; 

(2) accept and utilize the services of volunteers and other 

uncompensated personnel and reimburse them for travel 

expenses, including per diem, as authorized under section 5703 

of title 5, United States Code; and 

(3) make advances of money and payments in advance 

in accordance with section 3324 of title 31, United States Code. 

(d) TIMING.—As soon as practicable after the enactment of 

this Act, the Librarian and the Secretary shall begin collecting 

video and audio recordings and other materials under subsection 

(a)(1), and shall attempt to collect the first such recordings from 

the oldest individuals involved. 

(e) DEFINITION.—In this Act, the term ‘‘Civil Rights movement’’ 

means the movement to secure racial equality in the United States 

for African Americans that, focusing on the period 1954 through 

1968, challenged the practice of racial segregation in the Nation 

and achieved equal rights legislation for all American citizens. 

SEC. 4. PRIVATE SUPPORT FOR CIVIL RIGHTS HISTORY PROJECT. 

(a) ENCOURAGING SOLICITATION AND ACCEPTANCE OF DONATIONS.—The Librarian of Congress and the Secretary are encouraged to solicit and accept donations of funds and in-kind contributions to support activities under section 3. 

(b) DEDICATION OF FUNDS PROVIDED TO LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law— 

(1) any funds donated to the Librarian of Congress to 

support the activities of the Librarian under section 3 shall 

be deposited entirely into an account established for such purpose; 

(2) the funds contained in such account shall be used 

solely to support such activities; and 

(3) the Librarian of Congress may not deposit into such 

account any funds donated to the Librarian which are not 

donated for the exclusive purpose of supporting such activities. 

20 USC 80s–2. 


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PUBLIC LAW 111–19—MAY 12, 2009 123 STAT. 1615 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 586: 

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 155 (2009): 

Apr. 22, considered and passed House. 

Apr. 24, considered and passed Senate. 

Æ 

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act— 

(1) $500,000 for fiscal year 2010; and 

(2) such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal 

years 2011 through 2014. 

Approved May 12, 2009. 

20 USC 80s–3. 


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