Feb

AWHI becomes part of new Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum

The American Women’s History Initiative will realign with the new museum with Congressional approval.

As part of the Smithsonian’s fiscal year 2023 budget request, Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III asked Congress to approve the realignment of the American Women’s History Initiative (AWHI) into the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum (SAWHM). With the passage of the omnibus appropriations bill on December 29, the organizational changes were signed into law and the Initiative is now integrated into the Museum.

Launched in 2018, AWHI’s important work— showcasing objects and stories from the Smithsonian’s vast collections to deepen the knowledge and appreciation of American women’s contributions— will continue forward. AWHI’s educational programs, digital initiatives, and traveling exhibits form the cornerstone of content for the Museum, and its pan-institutional work will continue to ensure that women’s history is told across SI.

As we move forward and build upon AWHI’s success, there will be many opportunities to see our work on women’s history in action, including:

The AWHI Pool (AWHIP), which has funded 181 proposals totaling $9.72M across 28 units since 2018, will continue to exist as part of the Museum’s core programs. The FY23 pool application closed February 1 and is in the review process.
Through the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, the National Museum of American History and SAWHM are jointly traveling the exhibition Girlhood (It’s Complicated), which was on display at NMAH until January 2023.
A partnership between Smithsonian Libraries and Archives and the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, the AWHIP-funded exhibition Music HerStory: Women and Music of Social Change will be on display until February 2024.
In May, the Anacostia Community Museum will open To Live and Breathe: Women and Environmental Justice in Washington, D.C. The exhibition is curated by Dr. Rachel Seidman, ACM’s AWHI-funded Curator of Women’s History.
AWHI has consulted on the U.S. Mint’s American Women Quarters^TM program since January 2021, providing subject matter expertise and advising on the selection of honorees, and SAWHM is excited to continue recognition of honorees for the 2023-2025 quarters.

SAWHM’s vision to advance understanding of women’s contributions throughout American history will come to life in new ways over the next few weeks. The existing womenhistory.si.edu will shift to become the Museum’s digital home, and stay tuned for new social media channels launching this Spring. Don’t forget to sign up for our e-newsletter to get our latest updates straight to your inbox.

As AWHI evolves through its merger with SAWHM, it is important to recognize the many staff from across the Smithsonian who helped to develop the Initiative in its early years and continue to work on its growth today. Many thanks for their wisdom and support go to former AWHI Co-Chairs Kevin Gover, Under Secretary for Museums and Culture, and Stephanie Stebich, the Margaret and Terry Stent Director of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, as well as the members of the AWHI coordinating, curatorial, digital, marketing, and education/national outreach committees. Deep thanks also go to the members of the AWHI Operations Committee for their strategic guidance of the Initiative until the AWHI director could be hired: Karri Brady, Stacy Cavanagh, Effie Kapsalis, Carrie Kotcho, Dorothy Moss, Jessica Sadeq, and Jennifer Schneider. Finally, thanks to Emily Key, Camy Clough, and Adrián Aldaba for their expertise and help in creating the AWHI’s internship program.

For any questions, please reach out to:

Ellie Reynolds (she/her/hers)
Acting Head of Communications
Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum
reynoldse@si.edu
202-633-5393