From the museum’s earliest exhibitions to its latest collection endeavors, the Autry has continually focused on amplifying Women of the West voices. Its latest effort is the Revealing Women in the Archives initiative, which includes the installation of the What’s Her Story: Women in the Archives exhibition. The initiative and exhibition not only reinforce the Autry’s commitment but also complement a proliferation of online women’s history resources created by the museum’s education, programs, media, and library and archives departments.
The Revealing Women in the Archives blog stories provide a deeper dive into the figures behind the What’s Her Story exhibition, such as:
Roam From Home With Caroline Boeing Poole and Other Women Wanderers
The Red Cross Shop of Los Angeles: Community Involvement in a Time of Crisis
Other historic women’s stories, mostly featuring Autry collections, are also the focus of these blogs and include screen writer Frances Kavanaugh, women of the suffrage movement, and the cooks of Comidas Mexicanas.
Click here to the see the full list of Revealing Women in the Archives blog stories.
Women of the West Lesson — In this YouTube video, explore the ways in which women have long continued to shape the American West; explore and celebrate the contributions by women across history; and be inspired to look for women’s stories in your own life.
Women of the West Digital Tour — Be inspired to look for women’s stories in your own life and discover the ways in which women have shaped and continue to shape the West; celebrate the contributions of women weavers, painters, sculptors, musicians, cowgirls, homesteaders, sharpshooters, and activists.
Women’s Suffrage in the West Lesson — Includes a Student Packet, accompanying Teacher Guide, and State Suffrage Cards that focus on where women won the right to vote in the West; when and how women won the right to vote in the West; and how equality for women beyond the right to vote was not guaranteed.
In October 2020, the What’s Her Story exhibition inspired Versos y Besos: The Anthrophony of Manuela Garcia, a collaborative project between scholars, artists, and activists. Manuela Garcia was a local Los Angeles resident and musician. Her life and work are further discussed in an Autry Artist Salon and an Artist Conversation with the Verso y Besos group. Other recorded events at the Autry include conversations with Native artists, community groups, and scholars. Some highlights include:
More Autry Programs that examine the lives of women throughout the West can be seen on the Autry’s YouTube channel.
Through a series of videos, the Autry’s Head of Research Services and Archives, Liza Posas, unpacks the archives and highlights the behind-the-scenes (and often unseen) work of those who process the primary sources that lead to the heart of every story.
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.
The Autry Museum of the 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.
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