HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 437 Offered March 2, 2006 Commending the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia. ----------
Patrons-- McClellan, Abbitt, Albo, Alexander, Amundson, Armstrong, Athey, BaCote, Barlow, Bell, Bowling, Brink, Bulova, Byron, Callahan, Caputo, Carrico, Cline, Cole, Cosgrove, Cox, Crockett-Stark, Dance, Dudley, Ebbin, Eisenberg, Englin, Fralin, Frederick, Gear, Gilbert, Griffith, Hall, Hamilton, Hargrove, Hogan, Howell, A.T., Howell, W.J., Hugo, Hull, Hurt, Iaquinto, Ingram, Janis, Joannou, Johnson, Jones, D.C., Jones, S.C., Kilgore, Landes, Lewis, Lingamfelter, Lohr, Marsden, Marshall, D.W., Marshall, R.G., May, McEachin, McQuigg, Melvin, Moran, Morgan, Nixon, Nutter, O'Bannon, Oder, Orrock, Parrish, Peace, Phillips, Plum, Poisson, Purkey, Putney, Rapp, Reid, Rust, Saxman, Scott, E.T., Scott, J.M., Shannon, Sherwood, Shuler, Sickles, Spruill, Suit, Tata, Toscano, Tyler, Valentine, Waddell, Ward, Wardrup, Ware, O., Ware, R.L., Watts, Welch, Wittman and Wright; Senators: Lambert, Locke, Lucas, Marsh, Miller, Stosch and Watkins
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WHEREAS, the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia was founded in 1981 by Carrol Anderson, Sr., and was opened to the public in its current location in historic Jackson Ward in the City of  Richmond in 1991; and

WHEREAS, the museum building at 00 Clay Street has a rich history, beginning as a house built in 1832 by German descendant Adolph Dill, and is distinguished by its Federal and Greek architectural styles; and

WHEREAS, Maggie L. Walker, the nation’s first female, African-American bank president, supported the Council of Colored Women’s purchase of the house in 1922; and

WHEREAS, in 1932 the museum building housed the Jackson Ward branch of the Richmond Public Library and was named for Rosa D. Bowser, the first African-American, female school teacher in Richmond; and

WHEREAS, the Black History Museum and Cultural Center’s mission is to be the permanent repository for visual, oral, and written records and artifacts commemorating the immeasurable contributions and rich culture of African Americans in Virginia; and

WHEREAS, the Black History Museum and Cultural Center’s dedicated and knowledgeable staff provides a respected statewide resource on the many facets of black history through exhibitions, discussions, celebrations, and special activities; and

WHEREAS, because of the scarcity of written records of the black experience and culture, the Museum collects and preserves rare documents, limited editions, prints, art, and photographs for its prominent Black History Archives program; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly commend and congratulate the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia on its valuable work and continuing efforts to preserve the diverse history and culture of African Americans in Virginia; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia as an expression of the General Assembly’s best wishes for success in all of its endeavors in the future.