History’s Paper Trail

When pondering the struggle for civil rights in America, many minds go right to the 1960s, when Martin Luther King Jr. led the cause for peace and equality. But the fight, obviously, goes back further — and it continues today. Documented Rights, an exhibit on display through March 19 at the National Archives (400 West Pershing Road, 816-268-8000), traces this country’s reluctance to acknowledge for everyone what was promised by the Declaration of Independence. The National Archives at Kansas City is one of 13 regional facilities that contributed historical court documents, photos and other artifacts to the exhibit, which covers slavery, the forced relocation of Native Americans, and the long and bloody process of desegregation. Preview the exhibition online at archives.gov/exhibits/documented-rights. See it in person between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Admission is free.— Crystal K. Wiebe

Tuesdays-Saturdays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Starts: Nov. 2. Continues through March 19, 2010