A bill to designate the Mary McLeod Bethune "Council House" in Washington, D.C., as a national historic site and for other purposes.
PL 97-329 (S.2436), enacted 10/15/1982

PUBLIC LAW 97-329—OCT. 15, 1982 
96 STAT. 1615 
Public Law 97-329 
97th Congress 
An Act 
To designate the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House in Washington, District of 
Columbia, as a national historic site, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, 
CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS AND PURPOSE 
SECTION 1. (a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds and declares that— 
(1) the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House was the resi-
dence in Washington, District of Columbia, of Mary McLeod 
Bethune, renowned educator, national political leader, and 
founder of the National Council of Negro Women; 
(2) it was at this location that Mary McLeod Bethune directed 
activities that brought her national and international recogni-
tion; 
(3) this site was significant as a center for the development of 
strategies and programs which advanced the interests of black 
women and the black community; 
(4) it was at this location that Mary McLeod Bethune as the 
president of the National Council of Negro Women received 
heads of state, government officials, and leaders from across the 
world; 
(5) the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House was the first 
national headquarters of the National Council of Negro Women, 
and is the site of the Mary McLeod Bethune Memorial Museum 
and the National Archives for Black Women's History; 
(6) the archives, which houses the largest extant manuscript 
collection of materials pertaining to black women and their 
organizations, contains extensive correspondence, photographs, 
and memorabilia relating to Mary McLeod Bethune; and 
(7) the museum and archives actively collect artifacts, cloth-
ing, artwork, and other materials which document the history 
of black women and the black community. 
(b) PURPOSE.—It is the purpose of this Act— 
(1) to assure the preservation, maintenance, and interpreta-
tion of this house and site because of the historic meaning and 
prominence of the life and achievements of Mary McLeod Beth-
une, an outstanding leader in the areas of housing, employment, 
civil rights, and women's rights; and 
(2) to assure the continuation of the Mary McLeod Bethune 
Memorial Museum and the National Archives for Black 
Oct. 15, 1982 
[S. 2436] 
Mary McLeod 
Bethune 
Council House, 
DC. 
National historic 
site, designation. 
16 u s e 461 note. 
96 STAT. 1616 
PUBLIC LAW 97-329—OCT. 15, 1982 
Women's History at this site, the preservation of which is 
necessary for the continued interpretation of the history of 
black women in America. 
ESTABLISHMENT OF HISTORIC SITE 
SEC. 2. In order to further the purpose of this Act and the Act of 
August 21, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 461-7), the Mary McLeod Bethune Coun-
cil House at 1318 Vermont Avenue Northwest, in the city of Wash-
ington, District of Columbia, is hereby designated as a national 
historic site (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the "historic 
site"). 
COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT 
SEC. 3. In furtherance of the purposes of this Act and the Act of 
August 21, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 461-7), the Secretary of the Interior is 
authorized and directed to enter into cooperative agreements with 
the National Council of Negro Women. Such agreements may in-
clude provisions by which the Secretary will provide technical assist-
ance to mark, restore, interpret, operate, and maintain the historic 
site and may also include provisions by which the Secretary will 
provide financial assistance to mark, interpret, and restore the 
historic site (including the making of preservation-related capital 
improvements and repairs but not including other routine oper-
ations). Such agreement may also contain provisions that— 
(1) the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the National 
Park Service, shall have right of access at all reasonable times 
to all public portions of the property covered by such agreement 
for the purpose of conducting visitors through such properties 
and interpreting them to the public; and 
(2) no changes or alterations shall be made in such properties 
except by mutual agreement between the Secretary and the 
other parties to such agreements. 
No limitation or control of any kind over the use of such properties 
customarily used for the purposes of the National Council of Negro 
Women shall be imposed by any such agreement. 
ANNUAL REPORT 
SEC. 4. The National Council of Negro Women shall, as a condition 
of the receipt of any assistance under this Act, provide to the 
Secretary of the Interior and to the Congress of the United States an 
annual report documenting the activities and expenditures for 
which any such assistance was used during the preceding fiscal year. 
Appropriation 
SEC. 5. Beginning after September 30, 1983, there is authorized to 
aut oriza ion. 
^^ appropriated $100,000 to provide financial assistance under sec-
tion 3 of this Act. There is also authorized to be appropriated for 
purposes of making grants to the National Council of Negro Women 
PUBLIC LAW 97-329—OCT. 15, 1982 
96 STAT. 1617 
for purposes of this Act an additional $100,000 to be provided, as 
may be agreed to by the Secretary of the Interior and the National 
Council, on a fifty-fifty matching basis to the extent that funds or 
services are contributed by the National Council for such purposes. 
Sums authorized to be appropriated under this section shall remain 
available until expended. 
Approved October 15, 1982. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 2436: 
SENATE REPORT: No. 97-534 (Comm. on Energy and Natural Resources). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 128 (1982): 
Sept. 22, considered and passed Senate. 
Sept. 30, considered and passed House. 
WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS, Vol. 18, No. 41: (1982) 
Oct. 15, Presidential statement.