The National Women’s History Museum Controversy

Historians and Activists Appeal for Expert involvement in the Creation of a National Women’s History Museum

There is a growing consensus that professional historians and experienced museum professionals are needed for the establishment of high quality National Women’s History Museum. Historians and activists weigh in on the legislative efforts.

Louise Knight and Sonya Michel write that if professional historians and/or museum professionals are not part of the process of creating the museum: “This means that the half of the population whose history is to be presented in the museum may end up having no voice in its creation, and the project may lose the benefit of having input from the many historians and museum professionals with expertise in the field of women’s history.” See Proposed Amendments to S. 398 and appeals by Gloria Steinem and A’Lelia Bundles for the Member of National Women’s History Museum [NWHM] Advisory Council NWHM Petition

For more information from “Historians and Friends for a National Women’s History Museum,” read about the American Historical Association (AHA)’s concerns related to the Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National Women’s History Museum Act of 2013 (H.R. 863). AHA President Jan Goldstein and Executive Director Grossman write: “We strongly believe that any project to create a new national history museum should involve professional historians from the outset. Interpreting the past is vital to democratic debate and civic life, and scholars experienced in investigating and interpreting the past should be part of that process.” Read more: AHA-Letter

Read additional appeals for the official involvement of historians and museum professionals in the creation of a National Women’s History Museum from Professors Eileen Boris, Alice Kessler-Harris, Sonya Michel, Vicki Ruiz, Kathryn Kish Sklar, among others here: Letter

At the 2014 Berkshire conference, Karen Offen argued that it is essential for the NWHM to include historians; Read her statement here on women’s history and public history.