1-1 By: Coleman (Senate Sponsor - Ellis) H.C.R. No. 81 1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House April 18, 1995; 1-3 April 19, 1995, read first time and referred to Committee on 1-4 Administration; May 4, 1995, reported favorably by the following 1-5 vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 4, 1995, sent to printer.) 1-6 HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-7 WHEREAS, African Americans have contributed significantly to 1-8 the greatness that is Texas, enriching the diverse cultural 1-9 heritage on which our state prospers and thrives; and 1-10 WHEREAS, The Capitol grounds are adorned by numerous shrines 1-11 that pay homage to the people, ideals, and events that Texans hold 1-12 dear; these displays are poignant reminders of the struggles that 1-13 Texans have endured in the past and the challenges that we face 1-14 today; and 1-15 WHEREAS, As Texas enters the 21st century, it is appropriate 1-16 to offer a tribute to the African-American political leaders who 1-17 have helped to shape our past and will continue to mold our future; 1-18 and 1-19 WHEREAS, One hundred years ago, the first era of such 1-20 leadership closed with the departure from the stage of a select 1-21 group of African-American legislators; serving from 1870 to 1895, 1-22 they paved the way for their modern counterparts who sit today in 1-23 the Texas House of Representatives and Senate; and 1-24 WHEREAS, It is fitting to honor these distinguished forebears 1-25 through centennial projects that will convey to African-American 1-26 children the grandeur of their heritage and simultaneously 1-27 acknowledge the important and valuable resource that Texas has in 1-28 its African-American citizens; now, therefore, be it 1-29 RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas 1-30 hereby recognize Black History Month, February 1995, and provide 1-31 for the publication of a volume and the assembly of an exhibit on 1-32 the history of 19th-century African-American Texas legislators; 1-33 and, be it further 1-34 RESOLVED, That the State Preservation Board, in conjunction 1-35 with the Institute of Texan Cultures, the Texas State Library and 1-36 Archives Commission, and state universities, cooperatively research 1-37 and catalog the contributions of those legislators; and, be it 1-38 further 1-39 RESOLVED, That they make their findings available to the 1-40 public in the form of a published volume on the subject and the 1-41 preparation of an exhibit to open in the Capitol February 1, 1996, 1-42 coinciding with next year's celebration of Black History Month; 1-43 and, be it further 1-44 RESOLVED, That the State Preservation Board establish an 1-45 advisory committee of 10 Texans to assist in the project, plan the 1-46 historical volume, design the exhibit, and raise required funds; 1-47 and, be it further 1-48 RESOLVED, That the advisory committee be composed of two 1-49 members of the Texas Senate, two members of the Texas House of 1-50 Representatives, and six cultural and business leaders of the state 1-51 with expertise in African-American history, with a staff member or 1-52 representative of the State Preservation Board to serve as 1-53 committee liaison; and, be it further 1-54 RESOLVED, That the publication and exhibit be funded by 1-55 private donations raised by the advisory committee, and that 1-56 requisite funds be transferred to the State Preservation Board when 1-57 full funding has been achieved; and, be it further 1-58 RESOLVED, That the State Preservation Board review and 1-59 approve the historical volume and exhibit, and that the board 1-60 select and manage an appropriate exhibit site in the Capitol; and, 1-61 be it further 1-62 RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward official copies 1-63 of this resolution to the chief executives of the State 1-64 Preservation Board, the Institute of Texan Cultures, the Texas 1-65 State Library and Archives Commission, and the Texas Higher 1-66 Education Coordinating Board. 1-67 * * * * *