Freedmen's Bureau Records Preservation Act of 2000
Latest Action
Became Public Law No: 106-444.
Official Summary
Freedmen's Bureau Records Preservation Act of 2000 - Directs the Archivist to preserve the records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands by using: (1) microfilm technology; and (2) the results of the pilot project with the University of Florida to create future partnerships with Howard University and other institutions for indexing these records and making them more easily accessible to the public, including historians, genealogists, and students.Authorizes appropriations.
GovScope Watchdog™
AI Government Intelligence™The Freedmen's Bureau Records Preservation Act of 2000 directs the Archivist of the United States to preserve the historical records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. The preservation efforts include using microfilm technology and building on a pilot project with the University of Florida to create partnerships with institutions such as Howard University. These efforts aim to index the records and improve public accessibility for historians, genealogists, students, and other interested parties. The Act authorizes funding to support these preservation and accessibility initiatives.
This law mandates the preservation and improved accessibility of Freedmen's Bureau records through technological means and institutional partnerships, supported by authorized appropriations.
- Directs the Archivist to preserve Freedmen's Bureau records using microfilm technology.
- Builds on a pilot project with the University of Florida to develop partnerships for indexing and accessibility.
- Authorizes appropriations to support preservation and public access efforts.
['Archivist of the United States', 'Historians', 'Genealogists', 'Students', 'Academic institutions such as Howard University and the University of Florida', 'General public interested in historical records']
['Implementation challenges related to coordinating partnerships between multiple institutions.', 'Costs associated with microfilming, indexing, and maintaining accessibility of records.', 'Oversight mechanisms for ensuring authorized appropriations are effectively used.', 'Potential limitations in technology choice or updates beyond microfilm.']
The bill was introduced and passed during the 106th Congress and was signed into law on November 6, 2000. It reflects a legislative effort to preserve important historical records related to the Freedmen's Bureau, an agency established after the Civil War. The law builds on existing pilot projects and emphasizes collaboration with academic institutions to enhance public access to these records.
Hidden impact flags detected: 2
GovScope reviewed 2 policy-risk categories. Hover for a quick definition. Click detected flags for bill-specific details.
['Improved public access to historical records may enhance research and education in social sciences and history.', 'Partnerships with academic institutions could foster further collaborative projects and innovations in archival technology.', 'Preservation efforts may set a precedent for similar initiatives involving other historical records.']
The bill authorizes funding but does not specify appropriation amounts, which requires oversight to ensure funds are used effectively. Coordination among multiple institutions may require monitoring to prevent delays or inefficiencies. Transparency in reporting progress on preservation and accessibility efforts will be important for public accountability.
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