Students at library tables examining archival materials

The Age of Discovery

In January 2020, the Autry embarked on a year-long Revealing Women in the Archives initiative that includes programming, a social media campaign, and the exhibition, What’s Her Story: Women in the Archives.  

The initiative also includes a "Discovery Fellow” workshop series with WriteGirl, a Los Angeles-based creative writing and mentoring organization for young women. The first two of the three workshops were held at the Autry’s Resources Center and the WriteGirl participants were introduced to archive work and the role it plays in recording women’s stories. The hands-on workshops also encouraged the nine participants to engage physically and intellectually with the woman-focused archives and to develop their own reflections about women’s stories from the past. The last workshop was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but prompted the participants to archive their own experiences during this time.

Regardless being in-person or virtual, a zine was to be the capstone project of the Discovery Fellow and Write Girl collaborative experience. The zine, titled WriteGirl in the Archives, reflects their voices, these contemporary times, and the power of documenting.

What's Her Story: Women in the Archives Sponsors

This project was made possible with support from California Humanities, a nonprofit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Visit calhum.org

Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this exhibition do not necessarily represent those of California Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Land Acknowledgment

The Autry Museum of American West acknowledges the Gabrielino/Tongva peoples as the traditional land caretakers of Tovaangar (the Los Angeles basin and So. Channel Islands). We recognize that the Autry Museum and its campuses are located on the traditional lands of Gabrielino/Tongva peoples and we pay our respects to the Honuukvetam (Ancestors), ‘Ahiihirom (Elders) and ‘Eyoohiinkem (our relatives/relations) past, present and emerging.

The Autry Museum in Griffith Park

4700 Western Heritage Way

Los Angeles, CA 90027-1462
Located northeast of downtown, across from the Los Angeles Zoo.
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Free parking for Autry visitors.


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