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Author:
Margaret M. Wood, Senior Legal Reference Librarian, Law Library of Congress
Editors:
Andrew Winston, Chief of Public Services Division, Law Library of Congress
Barbara Bavis, Bibliographic and Research Instruction Librarian, Law Library of Congress
Anna Price, Senior Legal Reference Librarian, Law Library of Congress
Joanne Ferguson, Content Management Intern, Law Library of Congress
Note: This guide was originally published on the Law Library's Commemorative Observances page in 2008.
Created: August 9, 2020
Last Updated: January 11, 2022
National Black History Month in February celebrates the contributions that Black Americans have made to American history in their struggles for freedom and equality, and deepens our understanding of our nation's history.
The Law Library of Congress has prepared materials with commentary and recommended resources for selected national observances and commemorative months. This guide provides a brief history of the laws and presidential proclamations that established Black History Month.
For more information on Black History Month see:
The Law Library of Congress contains the world’s largest collection of law books and legal resources. It is a repository for the complete record of American law and holds foreign law materials covering all major national, state, and equivalent jurisdictions. In 1832, the Law Library was officially established to provide the United States Congress and Supreme Court with access to current and accurate legal research materials. Over time, our mission was expanded to include other branches of the U.S. Government, the public, and the global legal community. This evolving mission is supported by a collection of around three million volumes and brings together the expertise of approximately 100 lawyers, librarians, other professionals, and support staff who provide legal reference, research, and analysis using the Law Library’s collection. We also draw upon the collections and expertise of our colleagues throughout the Library of Congress.