February is Black History Month The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the generations of African Americans who struggled with adversity to
achieve full citizenship in American society.
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Uncovering America: Civil Rights
What role did artists and artwork play in the civil rights movement? In this unit of the Uncovering America resource, explore how artists of the civil rights era captured and communicated a people's movement, and played a pivotal role in shaping the public's understanding of the civil rights movement and inspiring citizens to action.
View the lesson plan »
Image credit: Create: Danny Lyon, Magnum Photos, John Lewis and Colleagues, Prayer Demonstration at a Segregated Swimming Pool, Cairo, Illinois, 1962, printed 1969, gelatin silver print, National Gallery of Art, Washington, Corcoran Collection (Museum Purchase), 2015.19.4466
The National Park Service Celebrates Black History Month
The National Park Service and our partners share stories, rich culture, and an invitation for all Americans to reflect on Black history in parks and communities across the country. More than 400 years of Black history and heritage—including achievements, contributions, and historical journeys—are remembered and commemorated in places preserved for current and future generations.
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Image credit: Every year, students take turns reading Dr. King's "I Have a Dream Speech" on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial where Dr. King stood. NPS Photo
African American Women in the Military and at War
The Library of Congress has a rich collection of materials related to the early service of African American women in the military that includes newspaper articles, books, dissertations, technical reports, photographs, and first person accounts. Explore the research guide African American Women in the Military and at War to discover biographical and autobiographical materials, as well as learn about the cultural and social aspects of African American women's participation in the United States war effort.
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Image credit: First African American nurses land in England, August 1944. Photograph by the U.S. Signal Corps from the Visual Materials of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Records. Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.
National Museum of African American History and Culture
The National Museum of African American History and Culture is the only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life, history, and culture. It was established by an Act of Congress in 2003, following decades of efforts to promote and highlight the contributions of African Americans. To date, the Museum has collected more than 36,000 artifacts. Nearly 100,000 individuals have become charter members. The Museum opened to the public on September 24, 2016, as the 19th and newest museum of the Smithsonian Institution.
Explore the Museum »
Image credit: Photograph by Alan Karchmer for the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
For Teachers
Put the power of primary sources to work in the classroom. Browse ready-to-use lesson plans, student activities, collection guides and research aids.
Educational Resources »
Image credit: “Frederick Douglass appealing to President Lincoln and his cabinet to enlist Negroes,” mural by William Edouard Scott, at the Recorder of Deeds building, built in 1943. 515 D St., NW, Washington, D.C. (Library of Congress)
2022 Event Highlights
Online Panel Discussion
February 4
A Seat at the Table: The Triumphs and Challenges of Black Education
African Access to higher education and formal schooling were new opportunities for African Americans during the Reconstruction era. Education advocates helped foster the founding of several HBCUs, which educated generations of educators, lawyers,
medical professionals, and some of the greatest minds of the 20th century.
(Smithsonian Institution)
Photo Research—Online Orientation
February 8
Finding Pictures: African Americans in the Military
This orientation session will include a brief introduction to images in the collections that relate to the history of African
American participation in the U.S. military from the Civil War through the Vietnam War, with a focus on photography. Instruction will cover library search tools, online resources, and how to prepare for a future visit to the reading room. Registration required
(Library of Congress)
Online Event
February 9
Repatriates, Recaptives and African Abolitionists: The Untold Story of Liberia's Founding in 1822
C. Patrick Burrowes, Ph. D. was born in Liberia and he is called “the people's professor” because of his willingness to share his deep knowledge of Liberian history freely with others. Before returning to Liberia in
2017, he was a tenured professor of communications and humanities at Penn State University. Recently, in August 2021, he uncovered a handwritten document missing since 1835, that sheds light on the 1821 purchase of land that became Monrovia, the capital city for the only United States colony in Africa. Dr. Burrowes says that this is the most significant discovery of his career.
(Library of Congress)
Online Book Talk
February 23
Online Panel Discussion
February 23
The Maritime Underground Railroad
A panel discussing how enslaved people achieved their freedom and what the journey by sea looked like for many African Americans. Featuring Timothy D. Walker, Cheryl Janifer LaRoche, and Cassandra Newby-Alexander, and moderated by Kluge Center Director John Haskell.
(Library of Congress)