A Legislative History of the NMAAHC

Happy October!

The nation has been buzzing all year about the opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) in Washington, DC. The museum opened on Saturday, September 24, 2016 with a grand celebration. While many people know that the museum was in construction for several years prior to its opening, most don't know that attempts to establish such an institution began more than a century ago. Until November 9, two important documents related to the establishment of NMAAHC will be on display in the museum's East Rotunda Gallery.

Details here: prologue.blogs.archives.gov/2016/09/01/on-exhibit-an-act-to-establish-the-nmaahc/

For more perspective on the building and curating process for NMAAHC, see this 2013 article from Smithsonian Magazine. It recounts how a historic train car was placed in NMAAHC before construction was completed: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/installing-an-artifact-in-a-museum-that-hasnt-even-been-built-yet-180947712/?no-ist

Happy reading!

VW

Black Women Mathematicians at NASA

Dear Gregory Staff,

Ms. Tracey King has located a feature in Smithsonian Magazine about the upcoming film, Hidden Figures, which tells the inspiring story of the Black female NASA mathematicians who helped astronauts get to space in the 1960s. Check it out below.

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/forgotten-black-women-mathematicians-who-helped-win-wars-and-send-astronauts-space-180960393/?no-ist

The movie is based on Margot Lee Shetterly's book of the same title.

For a related archival perspective, you might want to check out Executive Order 8802 from NARA's "Our Documents" online project here: https://ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=72

Hidden Figures is set to premiere in January, right in time for MLK Day. Might be a good opportunity for a team-building excursion, hmm? :-)

Have a great week!

VW

Austin Revealed - Civil Rights Stories

Dear Gregory Staff,

Ms. Ingrid Grant found this very relevant documentary about civil rights in Austin's history. It's an interesting perspective on the history of one of our neighbor cities. What are some commonalities & differences you see with Houston's civil rights history?

http://www.pbs.org/black-culture/shows/list/austin-texas-civil-rights/

VW

Preserving the Estate of Madame CJ Walker

Happy Monday!

Here is an interesting piece of preservation news that brings attention to the importance of caring for properties and artifacts related to Black History.

http://heragenda.com/the-modern-effort-to-preserve-the-legacy-estate-of-americas-first-female-self-made-millionaire-madam-cj-walker/

Have a great week, Gregory School staff!

VW