110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 998 
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 Representa-
tives 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 2008’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSE. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds as follows: 
(1) A fundamental principle of American de-
mocracy 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 1950’s through the 
1960’s are a shining example of this principle in ac-
tion, demonstrated in events as varied as the Mont-
gomery 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 move-
ment 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 co-
ordinated Federal project would also focus attention 
on the efforts undertaken by various public and pri-
vate 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. 
(6) The Library of Congress and the Smithso-
nian Institution are appropriate repositories to col-
lect, preserve, and make available to the public a col-
lection of these oral histories. The Library and 
Smithsonian have expertise in the management of 
documentation projects, and experience in the devel-
opment 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 Amer-
ican Civil Rights movement that will build upon and com-
plement previous and ongoing documentary work on this 
subject, and to assist and encourage local efforts to pre-
serve 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 AMER-
ICAN CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF PROJECT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Within the limits of avail-
able funds, the Librarian of Congress (hereafter re-
ferred 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 re-
cordings of the reminiscences of participants in 
the Civil Rights movement that are housed in 
archives, libraries, museums, and other edu-
cational institutions, as well as ongoing docu-
mentary work, in order to augment and com-
plement these endeavors and avoid duplication 
of effort; 
(B) to solicit, reproduce, and collect— 
(i) video and audio recordings of per-
sonal histories and testimonials of individ-
uals who participated in the Civil Rights 
movement, and 
(ii) visual and written materials (such 
as 
letters, 
diaries, 
photographs, 
and 
ephemera) relevant to the personal his-
tories 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 Li-
brarian 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 His-
tory 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 ENTI-
TIES.—The Librarian and the Secretary may carry out the 
activities described in subsection (a)(1) through agree-
ments and partnerships entered into with other govern-
ment and private entities, and may otherwise consult with 
interested persons (within the limits of available re-
sources) and develop appropriate guidelines and arrange-
ments for soliciting, acquiring, and making available re-
cordings under the project under this Act. 
(c) SERVICES OF EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS; AC-
CEPTANCE
OF VOLUNTEER SERVICES; ADVANCE PAY-
MENTS.—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 au-
thorized 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 enact-
ment of this Act, the Librarian and the Secretary shall 
begin collecting video and audio recordings and other ma-
terials under subsection (a)(1), and shall attempt to collect 
the first such recordings from the oldest individuals in-
volved. 
(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 Sec-
retary 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 Con-
gress 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 Librar-
ian which are not donated for the exclusive purpose 
of supporting such activities. 
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this Act— 
(1) $500,000 for fiscal year 2009; and 
(2) such sums as may be necessary for each of 
the fiscal years 2010 through 2013. 
Passed the House of Representatives September 17, 
2008. 
Attest: 
Clerk.
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 998 
AN ACT 
To direct the Librarian of Congress and the Sec-
retary 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.