Photograph of the march from Seneca Falls to the National Women’s Conference in Houston, 1977.

Join us in Austin for two great opportunities to delve into women’s history and get to know more about the Women’s History Affinity Group (WHAG) as we convene around the 2017 conference theme “I AM History.”  On Thursday, September 7th, from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m., WHAG is hosting a luncheon and we want to hear from you. What are the challenges for presenting women’s history at your site? What works? What doesn’t? As the Affinity Group grows, what resources can it provide and topics can it cover for professional development that would be most helpful for you?

We hope you can join your colleagues for this networking lunch of round table discussions to share experiences, discuss the state of women’s history in the field, and help shape the growth of the AASLH Women’s History Affinity Group as we move into our third year.

Museum visitors and exhibit community collaborators participate in a dialogue program as part of the Kikehtahsuwiw: It Heals exhibit with exhibit curator Geo Soctomah Neptune, 2015. Photo courtesy of the Abbe Museum.

Second, we’re presenting a panel discussion “Moving Women to the Foreground through Community Partnerships” on Friday, September 8th, from 4-5:15 p.m. which will critically assess the challenges navigating the intersections between internal and external constituents and stakeholders of institutions.  This session will showcase a Native American exhibit and a suffrage education program that have proved to be extremely successful at both strengthening their communities and providing more relevant content to their audiences.

There are also many other sessions that focus on promoting diversity, discourse,and inclusion at museums and historical sites at the conference this year. They include: a panel discussion on “The State of Inclusion” on (Thursday, September 7th, 11a.m.-12:15 p.m.); “From Storefront to Monument: Tracing the Public History of the Black Museum Movement” (September 7th from 1:45 p.m.-3 pm.); and“Workplace Confidential: Museum Women Talk Gender Equity” (also on September 7th from 1:45 p.m.-3 p.m.).  

The Women’s History Affinity Group is excited to be a central part of this ongoing conversation and we look forward to seeing both old and new friends in Austin next month!

Not a member yet?  Sign up for the Women’s History Affinity Group and stay in touch via our “Remember the Ladies” blog.