Scope and Content
The Inauguration 2009 Sermons and Orations Project collection consists of submissions by over 300 individuals, religious and secular organizations, and cultural groups documenting programs and celebrations of Barack Obama's presidential inauguration. These events occurred across the United States and in Nairobi, Kenya and Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. Each participant determined the nature of the materials submitted, resulting in a diverse collection of materials that includes, but is not limited to, the following: digital documents and files (including text-based documents, audio recordings, PowerPoint presentations, and image files); audio recordings (primarily audio cassettes and CD-R); video recordings (Hi-8, VHS, and DVD-R); manuscripts; and photographs (including physical and digital files). The specific topics and formats of each submission are unique, ranging from public speeches in varying formats (both religious and secular in nature), to creative writings and performances. In addition to the topic of the inauguration, many submissions referenced or discussed the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., which occurred Monday, January 19, 2009, the day before the inauguration. Included in this collection is a recording of the sermon that President and Mrs. Obama attended on January 18, 2009, at Nineteenth Street Baptist Church (Washington, D.C.) [Submission 0141]; as well as a video of the January 18, 2009, service from Ebenezer Baptist Church (Atlanta, Ga.) [Submission 0290], where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., served as pastor. In addition, this collection includes submissions from the Washington National Cathedral (Washington, D.C.) [Submission 0295], as well as the Harvard University Memorial Church (Cambridge, Mass.) [Submission 0104] and the Yale University Divinity School [Submission 0143]. This collection also includes submissions from a variety of cultural and religious groups, including: atheists, Christians, Hindus, Humanists, Jews, Muslims, Quakers, and secular groups and organizations. See the index for an alphabetical list of people and organization names.