Mission The United States Capitol Historical Society ( USCHS ), founded in 1962, is chartered by Congress to educate the public on the history and heritage of the U.S. Capitol building, its institutions and the people who have served therein. The U.S. Capitol Historical Society derives its funds from individual and corporate memberships, gifts, grants and the sale of educational items such as the book, We, the People: The Story of the U.S. Capitol, calendars, tourist memorabilia, videos and books of general interest and academic research. With the formal approval of Congress, the Society continues exploring and instituting new and creative ways to bring the fascinating story of the Capitol, its institutions and our national history to people around the world. Society activities include educational tours, scholarly symposia, observances of historic events, enhancement and preservation of the Capitol's collection of art and artifacts, sponsorship of research on the public careers of those who have served in the Capitol, the sale of publications and mementos of historical nature and assistance to Congressional and other Capitol offices. Governed by an executive committee drawn from the 50 active board of trustees members, many of whom have been involved with the Capitol, the Society also receives advice and support from its honorary board of 50. Past board members assist the Society through our Emeritus Board. The U.S. Capitol Historical Society is a nonpartisan, private, nonprofit, tax-exempt, educational 501 ( c ) Active in the founding of the Society in 1962 were the bi-partisan leadership of the Congress, respected historians, other interested citizens and the catalyst and first Society President, Fred Schwengel, then a Congressman from Iowa. All incumbent Members of Congress are honorary members of the Society. In 1978, the responsibilities of the Society were greatly expanded when it was chartered by Congress. Another important duty that emanated from the 1968 Visitor Center Act was the operation of the visitor center in the Capitol where the Society provides information and historical literature and other items for sale to visitors to the Capitol. The Society, with the support of the National Geographic Society, originated early in its history its first and most successful historical publication: We the People, the Story of the United States Capitol. Now in its 15th edition, more than five million copies of this informative and popular history have been sold in six languages. Soon after, in 1968, the Society published its first "We the People" historical calendar. In recent years the Society's calendar has been seen in every part of the world and its distribution reached one million copies annually. As the Society conceived additional projects and programs to further research the history of the Capitol and Congress, its publication program grew to include a guidebook to the Capital city, Washington Past and Present. Symposia are held that contribute to its nationally respected academic series of scholarly publications.
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