[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 277 Introduced in House (IH)]







109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 277

Designating the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, 
          as America's National Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 26, 2005

 Mr. Cleaver submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
                 referred to the Committee on Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Designating the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, 
          as America's National Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.

Whereas the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, was founded 
        in 1990, in honor of those individuals who played in the Negro Baseball 
        Leagues as a result of segregation in America;
Whereas the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is the only public museum in the 
        Nation that exists for the exclusive purpose of interpreting the 
        experiences of the players in the Negro Leagues from 1920 through 1970;
Whereas the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum project began in the 1980s, through a 
        large scale, grass roots, civic and fundraising effort by citizens and 
        baseball fans in the Kansas City metropolitan area;
Whereas the first Negro Leagues Baseball Museum was located at 1615 East 18th 
        Street in the historic ``18th and Vine District'', which was designated 
        by the city of Kansas City, Missouri, in 1988, as historic in nature and 
        the birthplace of the Negro Leagues;
Whereas the current Negro Leagues Baseball Museum was opened at 1616 East 18th 
        Street in 1997, with a dramatic expansion of core exhibition and gallery 
        space and over 10,000 square feet of new interpretive and educational 
        exhibits;
Whereas the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum continues to receive strong support 
        from the residents of the Kansas City metropolitan area and annually 
        entertains over 60,000 visitors from all 50 States, and numerous foreign 
        countries;
Whereas there remains a need to preserve the evidence of honor, courage, 
        sacrifice, and triumph in the face of segregation of those African 
        Americans who played in the Negro Leagues;
Whereas the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum seeks to educate a diverse audience 
        through its comprehensive collection of historical materials, important 
        artifacts, and oral histories of the participants in the Negro Leagues 
        and the impact that segregation played in the lives of these individuals 
        and their fans; and
Whereas a great opportunity exists to use the invaluable resources of the Negro 
        Leagues Baseball Museum to teach the Nation's school children, through 
        on-site visits, traveling exhibits, classroom curriculum, distance 
        learning, and other educational initiatives: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) designates the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas 
        City, Missouri, including the museums future and expanded 
        exhibits, collections library, archives, artifacts and 
        education programs as ``America's National Negro Leagues 
        Baseball Museum'';
            (2) supports the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in their 
        efforts to recognize and preserve the history of the Negro 
        Leagues and the impact of segregation on our Nation;
            (3) recognizes that the continued collection, preservation, 
        and interpretation of the historical objects and other 
        historical materials held by the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum 
        enhances our knowledge and understanding of the experience of 
        African Americans during legal segregation;
            (4) commends the ongoing development and visibility of the 
        ``Power Alley'' educational outreach program for teachers and 
        students throughout the Nation sponsored by the Negro Leagues 
        Baseball Museum;
            (5) asks all Americans to join in celebrating the Negro 
        Leagues Baseball Museum and its mission of preserving and 
        interpreting the legacy of the Negro Leagues; and
            (6) encourages present and future generations to understand 
        the sensitive issues surrounding the Negro Leagues, how they 
        helped shape our Nation and Major League Baseball, and how the 
        sacrifices made by Negro League players helped make baseball 
        America's national pastime.
                                 <all>