03/24/2021
By Sara Marks

The library has a brand new Women’s History LibGuide to help you learn more about the role women have and continue to play in the history of the world and our country. Two Smithsonian exhibits are included: Votes for Women and Picturing Women Inventors.

The story of women's suffrage is a story of voting rights, of inclusion in and exclusion from the franchise, and of our civic development as a nation. Votes for Women: A Portrait of Persistence, a poster exhibition from the Smithsonian, celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Nineteenth Amendment and explores the complexity of the women's suffrage movement and the relevance of this history to Americans' lives today.

Throughout American history, women with diverse backgrounds and interests created inventions that changed lives every day. But women haven’t always had equal opportunities to be inventors or received as much recognition. The Smithsonian and the United States Patent and Trademark Office present “Picturing Women Inventors,” a poster exhibition that explores the inventions of 19 highly accomplished American women. Astronauts, computer pioneers, and businesswomen join athletes, engineers, and even teenagers in this remarkable group of inventors.

Both poster collections were provided, free to charge, by the Institution Traveling Exhibition Service to schools, libraries, museums, and community organizations. The library staff has identified amazing sources, videos, books, articles, and biographies that will help you learn more about the women featured in the posters.

The guide will continue to evolve over the month, and we welcome suggestions!