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National Women's History Museum
National Women's History Museum logo
Established1996
WebsiteNational Women's History Museum Website

The National Women’s History Museum (NWHM) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to unearthing women’s history and bringing it into mainstream culture. Currently operating as a virtual museum, the NWHM is petitioning Congress for a place on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. to build the Museum. The mission “affirms the value of knowing Women's History, illuminates the role of women in transforming society and encourages all people, women and men, to participate in democratic dialogue about our future.” [1] The Museum currently has over twenty virtual exhibits and hosts a variety of educational events and lectures annually.


History[edit]

The NWHM was first conceptualized by Karen Staser in 1995.[2] Realizing the need for an institution that celebrated women’s place in history, she began establishing a non-profit entity and raising public awareness. In 1996 the Museum was officially founded.

Portrait Monument of Woman Suffrage Leaders

From 1995-1997, the NWHM led an effort, along with a coalition of other women’s organizations, to raise funds and support to move the Portrait Monument out of the U.S. Capitol crypt. The statue had been confined to the crypt for 76 years since its installation in 1921.[3] In September 1996, House Concurrent Resolution 216 was passed by Congress and the sculpture was then relocated to the Capitol Rotunda in May 1997, where it still stands today.[4] During this time, Staser recruited members for the NWHM’s board, academic committees, and staff.[2] In 2007, Joan Bradley Wages became President and CEO of the NWHM.

In 1998 the Museum launched a “Cyber Museum.” The first virtual exhibit was entitled Motherhood, Social Service, and Political Reform: Political Culture and Imagery of American Women Suffrage and broke new ground in educational outreach.[5]

In 1999, President Bill Clinton’s Commission on the Celebration of Women in American History called for a women’s history museum to be created on the Mall in Washington, D.C. and specifically cited the NWHM in that role.[5]

“The National Women’s History Museum Act”[edit]

The NWHM has been actively involved in presenting legislation before Congress for a plot of land on or adjacent to the National Mall on which to build the Museum.

In 2003 a congressional resolution was first introduced by Senator Olympia Snowe and Representative Carolyn Maloney in Washington, D.C. for the National Women’s History Museum.[5] Later that year, two senators placed a hold on the National Women’s History Museum bill that would sell the Museum land adjacent to the Mall. [6]

The bill passed through Senate twice in 2003 and 2005 with unanimous support for the museum to lease space in the Old Post Office Building. [7]

In 2008, the NWHM launched the Right Here. Right Now. campaign to promote the need for the Museum on or near the National Mall. The campaign allows the public to write letters to their Members of Congress in support of the NWHM. It also endeavors to educate the public on women’s history and further promote the museum.[5]

In 2009 Senator Susan Collins and Representative Carolyn Maloney reintroduced the Museum’s legislation for a site across the street from the Mall.[5]

In 2011, the Museum’s fifth bill was reintroduced in both the Senate and the House and is still being decided upon.[8]

Representation[edit]

Regional Councils[edit]

The NWHM has established regional councils in Houston, Los Angles, and New Jersey that support the Museum through fundraising. These councils also work with scholars and curators to gather historical information on women from these regions, such as through oral histories or artifacts, that may be incorporated within the NWHM.[9]

Celebrity Ambassadors[edit]

To further promote the Museum, the NWHM has been endorsed by several celebrities. Sally Ride (recently deceased), Laura Dern and Meryl Streep have continuously supported the Museum. In 2012, the NWHM added Geena Davis, Kate Walsh, Amy Brenneman, Nora Ephron (recently deceased), Frances Fisher, and Catherine Hardwick to the bevy of celebrity Ambassadors.[10] Hardwick, part of the Los Angles Regional Council, also produced several short public service announcements entitled, "Don't Tell Me I Can't," that feature young girls portraying female historical figures as well as actress Alfre Woodard.

Exhibitions[edit]

On-Line Exhibitions[edit]

In 2008, the NWHM launched its "preview" exhibit entitled, “This Isn’t Right!: Women Reform Leaders.” The exhibit includes items from over 20 different female reform leaders currently on display in the Museum’s administrative office. To correspond with the collection, the Museum also unveiled a new Online exhibit under the same title.[11] The NWHM currently hosts 21 Online exhibitions.


List of Current Online Exhibitions:

Exhibition Collaborations[edit]

In 1998, the NWHM and the World Financial Center’s Arts and Events Program in New York City coordinated a traveling exhibit together called Rights for Women.[12]

In March 2002, the NWHM opened the exhibition Clandestine Women: The Untold Stories of Women in Espionage at the Women In Military Service For America Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery. The exhibit received attention in the national and international press and its run was extended due to its popularity.[13]

The NWHM and the Smithsonian Institution’s National Portrait Gallery collaborated on events held in conjunction with the exhibition American Women: A Selection from the National Portrait Gallery in October 2002.[14]

The NWHM, together with the Sewall-Belmont House and the division of the United States Studies of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, sponsored Off the Wall, a presentation of the life of Charlotte Perkins Gilman in March 2003.[15]

The NWHM helped sponsor the exhibition, Enterprising Women, which was shown at the National Museum of Women in the Arts.[16]

In March 2004, the Museum opened the exhibition, Partners in Winning the War – American Women in World War II, at Women In Military Service For America Memorial in Arlington National Cemetery. The opening coincided with the dedication of the World War II Memorial.[17]

Educational Outreach[edit]

Lesson Plans[edit]

The Museum provides lesson plans for teachers that are specific to the virtual exhibits. NWHM also offers women's history guides for teachers from elementary to high school.

Lecture Series[edit]

Since 2011, the NWHM has held a lecture series, The Past, Present, and Future of U.S. Women's History, with the Woodrow Wilson Center for Scholars.

De Pizan Honors[edit]

2011 marked the first year that the NWHM held the now annual de Pizan Honors gala in Washington, DC. The awards, named for Christine de Pizan who was the first Western woman to write of women in history, honor and recognize women both past and present. [18]

Online Video Series[edit]

The Museum produces documentary videos that explore various topics in women's history. Currently, the NWHM has over ten videos.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "About NWHM". NWHM Official Website. Retrieved 27 Aug 2012.
  2. ^ a b "Karen Staser". NWHM Official Website. Retrieved 20 Jun 2012.
  3. ^ "Architect of the Capitol". Architect of the Capitol. Retrieved 27 Aug 2012.
  4. ^ "Portrait Monument to Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony". Architect of the Capitol. Retrieved 27 Aug 2012.
  5. ^ a b c d e "NWHM Accomplishments". NWHM Official Website. Retrieved 20 Jun 2012.
  6. ^ http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2010-09-29-museum_N.htm
  7. ^ http://www.nwhm.org/html/involved/promote/FactSheet.pdf
  8. ^ http://maloney.house.gov/issue/national-womens-history-museum
  9. ^ http://www.nwhm.org/blog/houston-celebrates-the-national-womens-history-museum/
  10. ^ http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/arts-post/post/geena-davis-and-kate-walsh-join-effort-for-a-national-womens-history-museum/2012/06/13/gJQAJEM4ZV_blog.html
  11. ^ http://nwhm.org/about-nwhm/mission/nwhm-accomplishments
  12. ^ http://midchix.com/2010/08/11/national-womens-history-museum/
  13. ^ http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2002-04-10/features/0204100045_1_operative-women-in-military-service-america-memorial
  14. ^ http://nwhm.org/about-nwhm/mission/nwhm-accomplishments
  15. ^ http://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/presentation-the-wall-the-life-and-works-charlotte-perkins-gilman
  16. ^ http://www.nwhm.org/about-nwhm/press/press-publicity/forbes-american-heritage
  17. ^ http://nwhm.org/about-nwhm/mission/nwhm-accomplishments
  18. ^ http://nwhm.org/about-nwhm/mission/nwhm-accomplishments

External Links[edit]

National Women's History Museum Official Site

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