A HOUSE RESOLUTION expressing support for a National Women's History Museum in Washington, D.C.
Whereas, in 1987 Congress declared March to serve as "Women's History Month" to acknowledge the important role women have played in shaping America; and
Whereas, although women constitute a majority of the nation's population, their achievements and contributions are underrepresented in museums and memorials; and
Whereas, only 10% of the people identified in a recent survey of 18 history textbooks were women; and
Whereas, in 1999 the President's Commission on the Celebration of Women in American History called for a women's history museum to be established on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.; and
Whereas, the National Women's History Museum (NWHM), founded in 1996, is a nonpartisan, nonprofit, educational institution dedicated to preserving, interpreting, and celebrating the diverse historic contributions of women and integrating the heritage of women fully into this nation's history; and
Whereas, the NWHM seeks a site on or close to the National Mall and in close proximity to the White House and U.S. Capitol Building; and
Whereas, the NWHM has identified federally owned property for sale near the National Mall; and
Whereas, legislation is currently pending in Congress seeking authorization for the NWHM to be able to purchase this property at fair market value with privately raised funds, and no federal funds are being requested for the purchase of this land; and
Whereas, there are museums dedicated to flight, postage stamps, buildings, and many other important people and issues of interest but not to women, yet women comprise 51% of the nation's population; and
Whereas, the NWHM will showcase the full history of women in the United States and the contributions they have made and continue to make in the marketplace, arts and sciences, government, entertainment, education, home, and community; and
Whereas, the NWHM could present the stories of such women as Henderson, North Carolina, native Charlotte Eugenia Hawkins Brown, an African‑American civic leader and educator who founded the Palmer Institute in honor of her mentor, Alice Freeman Palmer, in 1902 in Sedalia, North Carolina; and
Whereas, the Palmer Institute began as a vocational school, but its curriculum evolved until it was a strictly academic institution and was considered one of the finest preparatory schools for African‑Americans in the United States; and
Whereas, Charlotte Hawkins Brown served as the president of Palmer Institute for 50 years, before retiring in 1952; and
Whereas, in her retirement, Charlotte Hawkins Brown continued to act as the financial director of the school and was deeply involved on its board of directors until her death in 1961; and
Whereas, in addition to running the Palmer Institute, Charlotte Hawkins Brown fought tirelessly for African‑American civil rights, lecturing in opposition to lynching and in favor of interracial cooperation; and
Whereas, Charlotte Hawkins Brown helped to found the National Council of Negro Women, the North Carolina State Federation of Negro Women's Clubs, and the North Carolina Teachers Association and was a member of the national board of the YWCA; and
Whereas, a coalition of 43 women's organizations representing 8,000,000 women, which includes the National Foundation for Women Legislators (NFWL), supports the efforts of the NWHM to establish a permanent residence near the National Mall, the most prominent location for museums to be situated in the nation's capital; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
SECTION 1.  The House of Representatives supports the National Women's History Museum's efforts to secure a permanent home in the nation's capital for a museum that will highlight the important role women have played in shaping this great nation.
SECTION 2.  The Principal Clerk shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the members of North Carolina's Congressional Delegation.
SECTION 3.  This resolution is effective upon adoption.