National Women's History Project

National Women's History Project
Name	National Women's History Project
Formation	1980
Founders	Women's History Project founders
Type	Nonprofit
Headquarters	Santa Rosa, California
Region served	United States

National Women's History Project is an American nonprofit organization focused on promoting the study and recognition of women's contributions through public events, curricula, and advocacy. Founded in 1980, the organization played a central role in the establishment of an annual observance that elevates women’s historical achievements across the United States. Its work intersects with museums, archives, schools, and legislative bodies to integrate women's histories into public consciousness.

History and founding

The organization was founded in 1980 by a coalition of activists and historians including Martha Ackmann, Bess Furman, Maria C. Lamm, and other regional advocates who had collaborated with institutions such as the National Organization for Women, American Association of University Women, and local historical societies. The founders drew on precedents set by the Women’s Rights Convention of 1848, the historiography advanced by scholars like Gerda Lerner and Linda Kerber, and organizing tactics used in campaigns surrounding the Seneca Falls Convention commemoration. Early partnerships included the Smithsonian Institution and the Library of Congress to develop exhibits and curricula, and the group coordinated with state legislators influenced by efforts in California and New York to gain broader recognition.

Mission and programs

The group's stated mission emphasizes researching, preserving, and disseminating information about women’s history, collaborating with institutions such as the National Archives, the American Historical Association, and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Programs include thematic annual initiatives, educational materials developed for the U.S. Department of Education and state departments, and exhibit support for museums like the National Museum of American History and local historical centers. The organization has also partnered with civil society groups including League of Women Voters, YWCA, and university programs at institutions such as Harvard University, University of California, Berkeley, and Columbia University.

National Women's History Month campaign

The group led the campaign that resulted in the recognition of an annual observance, working alongside members of Congress including representatives from California's congressional delegation and senators who sponsored resolutions in the United States Congress. Their advocacy culminated in presidential proclamations and resolutions by lawmakers, echoing previous commemorations tied to anniversaries like the 19th Amendment centennial and linked to observances such as International Women's Day and state-level Women's History Weeks in places like California, Texas, and New York. The campaign coordinated with media outlets, educational organizations, and state historical commissions to promote annual themes and observances.

Education and outreach initiatives

Educational outreach has included teacher workshops, lesson plans, documentary exhibits, and traveling displays in collaboration with archives and institutions such as the National Women's Hall of Fame, the Schlesinger Library, and the Women’s Rights National Historical Park. The organization produced curriculum guides referencing primary sources from the Library of Congress and oral histories housed at institutions like Smith College and UCLA. Outreach extended to community events with partners including the American Federation of Teachers, local school districts, and cultural institutions such as the Kennedy Center to reach diverse audiences.

Organizational structure and funding

Structured as a nonprofit with a board of directors and advisory committees, the organization has solicited funding from philanthropic foundations including the Ford Foundation, the Carnegie Corporation, and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, as well as grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities and corporate sponsors. Staffing has included executive directors with backgrounds in public history and nonprofit management who liaised with academic advisors from universities such as Rutgers University and University of Michigan. The group maintained partnerships with state historical societies and relied on membership dues, donations, and project-specific grants to sustain programs.

Impact and recognition

The organization’s advocacy influenced proclamations by presidents and resolutions in state legislatures, contributing to broader public recognition of women such as Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, Eleanor Roosevelt, Rosa Parks, Dolores Huerta, Shirley Chisholm, Margaret Sanger, Ida B. Wells, Alice Paul, Betty Friedan, Simone de Beauvoir, Gloria Steinem, bell hooks, Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou, Zora Neale Hurston, Jane Addams, Julia Ward Howe, Lucy Stone, Madeleine Albright, Sonia Sotomayor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sandra Day O'Connor, Hillary Clinton, Condoleezza Rice, Michelle Obama, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Malala Yousafzai, Suffrage movement leaders, and countless regional figures. Museums, schools, and legislatures cited its materials in exhibits, curricula, and proclamations; scholars in journals such as those published by the American Historical Association acknowledged its role in public history initiatives.

Controversies and criticisms

Critiques have come from scholars and activists concerned about selection and representation, including debates over emphasis on prominent national figures versus grassroots leaders, regional diversity, intersectionality, and the balance between celebratory commemoration and critical historical analysis. Commentators from institutions like Radcliffe College affiliates and scholars influenced by bell hooks and Kimberlé Crenshaw raised questions about inclusivity of narratives for women of color, Indigenous women, and LGBTQ+ figures. Funding sources and partnerships with corporate sponsors occasionally prompted scrutiny from labor organizations such as the AFL-CIO and civil rights advocates regarding influence on program content.

Category:History organizations in the United States