An unidentified Civil War soldier in a Union uniform with his wife and two daughters. Photo: Library of Congress.

February marks the annual celebration of African American History Month in the United States. The Library of Congress, National Archives, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution, and U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum joined forces to create an African American History Month website which recognizes the many contributions of African Americans.

The theme for the 2012 celebration is “Black Women in American Culture and History.” The website presents features on slavery, the Civil Rights struggle, politics, African American culture and folklife, and arts and music. A special section provides resources and primary documents that are of special interest to educators.

To mark the month, the Census Bureau also compiled population statistics about the country’s black population.