Civil Rights History Project Act of 2009
PL 111-19 (H.R.586), enacted 05/12/2009

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 mate-
rial. 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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123 STAT. 1613 
PUBLIC LAW 111–19—MAY 12, 2009 
(6) The Library of Congress and the Smithsonian Institu-
tion 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 coordi-
nate at a national level the collection of video and audio recordings 
of personal histories and testimonials of individuals who partici-
pated 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 CON-
GRESS AND NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HIS-
TORY 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 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 Sec-
retary 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 activi-
ties described in subsection (a)(1), the Librarian and the Secretary 
may— 
(1) procure temporary and intermittent services under sec-
tion 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 DONA-
TIONS.—The Librarian of Congress and the Secretary are encour-
aged to solicit and accept donations of funds and in-kind contribu-
tions to support activities under section 3. 
(b) DEDICATION
OF FUNDS PROVIDED
TO LIBRARY
OF CON-
GRESS.—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 pur-
pose; 
(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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123 STAT. 1615 
PUBLIC LAW 111–19—MAY 12, 2009 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 586: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 155 (2009): 
Apr. 22, considered and passed House. 
Apr. 24, considered and passed Senate. 
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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