NWHM in the News

As a girl, she broke down a racial barrier. An elementary in the Northshore district is named in her honor.

"In November 1960, escorted by four federal marshals past an angry mob, Ruby Nell Bridges became the first African-American student enrolled in what had been an all-white New Orleans school. Her walk into William Frantz Elementary was a brave step in ending racial segregation in the South’s public schools."

August 26 marked the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, and the National Women’s History Museum launched Women Vote, Women Win — a non-partisan initiative designed to honor the legacy of suffragists and all of the women since who have worked to secure voting rights for women.

The National Women’s History Museum is ensuring that women and girls’ unique voices and experiences are not left out of the telling of the COVID-19 story.

While women's right to vote in the U.S. largely dates back to 1920, women in the West were voting more than 50 years before the 19th Amendment.

On August 21, a new, virtual campaign marking the centennial of women’s suffrage kicked off, encouraging women across the U.S. to share their stories of the first woman voter in their families, or a woman who most influenced them to vote.

In the century since the 19th Amendment was ratified, women have shattered glass ceilings at every level of American government with the glaring exception of president and vice president. And in many cases, women had to beat two opponents to win office – the other candidate and sexism.

“I chose to participate in the campaign because it gave me an opportunity to share my great-grandmother’s first voting experience. And I believe it’s important as a Black woman in today’s society to acknowledge the role that we did play and continue to play in securing the right to the franchise,” said Brock."

DC woman shares stories marching on the front lines of the Civil Rights Movement

Nettie Hailes remembers attending the 1963 March on Washington.

On Wednesday, August 26 the National Women’s History Museum will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment with a full day of virtual programming and the launch of its new non-partisan voter engagement initiative, Women Vote, Women Win.

National Women's History Museum President and CEO Holly Hotchner celebrates Suffragist Ruth Hanna McCormick and the centennial of the 19th Amendment.