Administrative History
In anticipation of the January 20, 2009, inauguration of President Barack Obama, the American Folklife Center solicited audio and video recordings of sermons and orations that commented on the 2009 inauguration. These materials, solicited from the public through the American Folklife Center website as well as various press releases and other forms of communication, now form the Inauguration 2009 Sermons and Orations Project collection. The American Folklife Center requested that recordings must be of sermons and orations that were delivered to congregations and other audiences between Friday, January 16 and Sunday, January 25, 2009. In addition to audio and video recordings, the Center also requested written texts of sermons and orations (submitted in the form of print or electronic media), as well as printed programs from the events during which the sermons and orations were delivered. When materials were damaged during delivery to the American Folklife Center, replacement materials were requested. Participants were required to submit both an information form and a release form with their collection materials.