Public Law 98-144 established Martin Luther King, Jr's Birthday as a national holiday. It is observed on the third Monday in January.

     External Resoures:

• Martin Luther King, Jr. Papers Project
• The King Center

Black History Month was established by Presidential Proclamation in February 1976.

     External Resources:

• The African American Journey
• The Black Press: Soldiers Without Swords

Women's History Month

In 1987, Public Law 100-9 established Women's History Month.

     External Resources:

• National Women's History Project
• Women's History Month - History Channel
• Celebrating Women's History Month
• National Women's History Museum
• Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton - PBS

"Days of Remembrance" for Holocaust Victims

Holocaust Remembrance Day is a day set aside for remembering the victims of the Holocaust and for reminding Americans what can happen to civilized people when bigotry, hatred and indifference reign. The United States Holocaust Memorial Council, created by act of Congress in 1980 (Public Law 96-388), was mandated to lead the nation in civic commemorations and to encourage appropriate Remembrance observances throughout the country.

     External Resources:

• U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum Learning Center
• Voices of the Holocaust
• Yad Vashem
• Internet Resources on the Holocaust
• Holocaust Survivors

Asian Pacific Heritage Month

In May 1979, President Carter signed a joint resolution declaring the first Asian Pacific American Heritage Week. In 1990, President Bush signed an extension making the weeklong celebration into a month-long event. Public Law 102-450, approved October 1992, designated May of each year Asian Pacific American Heritage Month..

     External Resources:

• Asian Pacific American Heritage Month 

Women's Equality Day

The U.S. Congress designated August 26 as "Women's Equality Day" in 1971 to honor women's continuing efforts toward equality.

     External Resources:

     See the links under Women's History Month

National Hispanic Heritage Month

Public Law 100-402, approved August 1988, designated the period between September 15 and October 15 as National Hispanic Heritage Month.

     External Resources:

• Census Facts for Hispanic Heritage Month

National Native American Indian Heritage Month

The Congress, by Public Law 101-343, designated November 1990 as National Native American Indian Heritage Month.

     External Resources:

• American Indians of the Pacific Northwest
• American Indian Science and Engineering Society