A Home for Women's History

Finding a Home for Women's History
By Sara Kaplaniak
Freelance Writer, Camp Hill, Pennsylvania

Meryl Streep, a spokeswoman for the National Women's History Museum, pointed out last year that although Washington, D.C., features museums that document buildings, aviation, art, journalism, textiles, the postal system, and spies, the city doesn’t have a museum that honors the experiences of half the American population — women. But it's not for lack of trying.

This Land is Our Land, Too

Anyone who enjoys spending time at museums shouldn't miss the new exhibit at the National Women's History Museum. "Profiles in Motherhood" shares reflections from working, stay-at-home, military, surrogate, foster, adoptive, birth, and stepmothers. If you have time, make sure to check out the museum's other exhibits, including "Chinese American Women: A History of Resilience and Resistance," "Clandestine Women: Spies in American History," "First but Not the Last: Women Who Ran for President," and "Women in Industry."

These exhibits are fascinating, but the catch is that they currently only exist online.

In a speech at a September 2010 Our Nation's Daughters event in Washington, D.C., actress Meryl Streep said, "We have a wonderful virtual museum that's been up online for 10 years. Online you can access all of these fantastic stories — stories that were unknown to me, as overeducated and over-degreed as I am." ¹

Although a huge fan of the website, Streep feels strongly that an online presence isn't enough. Women need a true, physical presence in the nation's capital. In her words, "Symbols matter. Buildings and monuments stand for something in people's hearts."

A coalition of women's groups, of which AAUW is a key member, is working tirelessly in hopes that this vision will be realized sooner rather than later.

From Cyberspace to the Nation's Capital

For more than a decade, organizations like AAUW and generous private citizens have been working toward the goal of transforming the current "virtual" museum into a brick-and-mortar institution that supports research, stores information, and shares and celebrates the contributions of women to the world's social, cultural, economic, and political history.

"For the most part, women's accomplishments have been overlooked and sometimes omitted from mainstream culture and history," says AAUW Executive Director Linda D. Hallman. "The National Women's History Museum aims to fill that void and give women's history a place alongside other museums in the nation's capital."

With the goal of creating a worldclass institution, the board of the National Women's History Museum passed a policy mandating that scholars will determine all content. The vision is that this will be a highly respected museum with permanent physical and online exhibits dedicated to integrating women — all women — into our nation's history.

Challenges in Congress despite Bipartisan Support

Unfortunately, building a National Women's History Museum on or near the National Mall — essentially the nation's front yard — isn't as simple as buying land and realizing the dream. Securing a spot in such a location requires sign-off by Congress, where the effort has stalled for the past seven years even though the project won't cost taxpayers a dime. With $6 million already raised in private contributions, the financially solvent National Women's History Museum is ready to move forward without public resources once Congress approves the land purchase.

"It's unfortunate that even a museum that comes with its own funding can't make it through Congress without controversy," says Lisa M. Maatz, AAUW director of public policy and government relations. "Truthfully, I'm a bit insulted. We have museums about many worthy subjects supported by the federal government and the Smithsonian. But women have to pay for it ourselves? Fine. It's not the first and it won't be the last time that women have had to break through barriers to do what's necessary. At least give us the land on the Mall!"

Congress almost gave its blessing last year. The bipartisan legislation, introduced by Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), would have allowed the museum to pay fair market value with private funds to purchase a site near the National Mall even though other museums were awarded land at no cost in the past. According to the Congressional Budget Office, such a sale would have generated up to $60 million in revenue for the federal government. Plans began for finding a female architect, which would make the museum the first designed by a woman on the National Mall.

After sailing through the House of Representatives, the legislation faced opposition from two senators who put a hold on the bill. Sens. Jim DeMint (R-SC) and Tom Coburn (R-OK) said that they felt the museum would be redundant because of existing women's museums, such as the Quilters Hall of Fame in Indiana, the National Cowgirl Museum in Texas, and the Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens in Washington state. ² The senators also reportedly felt pressure from some who believed the museum would emphasize a pro-choice agenda. AAUW was very disappointed to see them unnecessarily politicize the museum in this way. Coburn has since come around, but DeMint remains in stubborn opposition.

According to Joan Wages, president and CEO of the museum, "Those concerns couldn't be further from the intended vision for a National Women's History Museum. As a result, I remain confident that we will create a place that all women can be proud and feel a part of."

In fact, the wheels are already in motion. In March 2011, Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) joined Collins in reintroducing the National Women's History Museum Act (S. 680/H.R. 1269). With numerous co-sponsors in both the House and the Senate, Wages and the museum's supporters are hopeful this virtual museum will become the real deal soon.

Building Museum Momentum

If Wages seems confident, it's likely due to the type of support AAUW members showcased in June, when nearly 700 attendees at the 2011 AAUW National Convention met with lawmakers from all 50 states to support the museum and other legislation during Capitol Hill Lobby Day.

"AAUW was one of the earliest organizations to join the National Women's History Museum National Coalition and has been a leader since then," says Becky L. Schergens, national adviser for the museum. "We are grateful for AAUW's consistent and loyal support."

Wages agrees, saying that thanks to partners like AAUW, she hopes to secure congressional approval this fall.

"We've spent more than a decade raising funds and building the support needed to bring these exhibits to life in a permanent home near the National Mall," says Wages. "Now it's time to get down to the business of celebrating the achievements made by women and inspiring the young women and girls visiting our nation's capital."

¹ Meryl Streep speaks out for the National Women's History Museum.

² Somander, Tanya. Coburn, DeMint block National Women's History Museum because "quilters" and "cowgirl" museums already exist.

This article was originally published in the Fall 2011 issue of AAUW Outlook.