President George W. Bush signs H.R. 3491, the National Museum of African American History and Culture Act, in the Oval Office Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2003. The act authorizes the creation of a Smithsonian Institution museum dedicated to the legacy of African Americans in America. White House photo by Paul Morse.

Unless otherwise noted, the attendees are members of the Presidential Commission on the Development of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. From left, they are: Dr. Robert Wright, commission Chairman; Renee Amoore; Vicky Bailey; Andrew McLemore, Jr.; Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C.; Senator Rick Santorum, R-Penn.; Michael Lomax; Congressman John Lewis, D-Ga.; Harold Skramstad, Jr.; Barbara Franco; Robert Wilkins; Senator Sam Brownback, R-Kan.; Cicely Tyson; Lerone Bennett, Jr.; Congressman John Larson, D-Conn.; Eric Sexton; Claudine Brown; Larry Small, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution; Currie Ballard

May 11, 2007,
The Glittering A-List of Black History, The New York Times
(view as pdf)

April 14, 2007,
Telling Stories Once Ignored, The Baltimore Sun

February 24, 2006,
Black History Museum Planned, Online Newshour

February 1, 2006,
A site is chosen for African-American museum, International Herald Tribune

September 10, 2005,
A clear vision of a murky past Lonnie Bunch working to tell story of his people, his nation, Fredericksburg.com

June 14, 2005,
Plans for a Smithsonian African-American Museum, National Public Radio

March 16, 2005,
Smithsonian Taps Lonnie Bunch to Be African American Museum Director, The Washington Post