News Article

Speaker Pelosi Calls for Women’s Empowerment at National Archives Exhibition Launch

May 9, 2019

The National Archives Foundation celebrated new National Archives’ exhibit, Rightfully Hers: American Women and the Vote, at an event featuring House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

“That was a great moment for women across America,” said U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. “But as importantly, it was a great moment for America. Because America was honoring the vision of our country of equality for all.”

Archives Curator Corinne Porter, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Archivist of the United States David Ferriero view original 19th Amendment. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for National Archives Rightfully Hers Exhibit Grand Opening)

The National Archives’ 3,000-square-foot interactive exhibit brings to life women’s struggle for the right to participate in their democracy. Through photos, records, objects, and even rare footage, viewers will see how courageous women raised their voices against hardened opposition. Rightfully Hers opens May 10, 2019.

Women Members of Congress, community leaders and National Archives Foundation supporters also participated in the event. Women wore white outfits and sashes in honor of the Suffragists in their relentless fight to secure the right to vote.

“This exhibit will go a long way to telling people these stories and what a struggle it was,” said National Archives Foundation Vice Chair Cokie Roberts. “These were really valiant, persistent women and they did it for all of us. They did it for the women. But they also did it for the rest of the country to make this a more perfect union.”

Throughout the run of the exhibit, the 19th Amendment that granted millions of women the right to vote will be on view (on limited display, check back for dates). Though a landmark voting rights victory, the 19th Amendment did not guarantee the vote to millions of others, including women of color.

In her remarks, Pelosi emphasized that while women have made extraordinary strides over the past hundred years, the work continues. “It’s really important for women to know their power,” she said. “Because when women succeed, America succeeds.”

Photos: https://mm.gettyimages.com/v2/share/1b44def4-d498-47f1-a584-4d26a3e45711

The exhibit runs through January 3, 2021, in the Lawrence F. O’Brien Gallery at the National Archives Building in Washington, DC. Admission is free and open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Rightfully Hers is made possible in part by the National Archives Foundation through the generous support of Unilever, Pivotal Ventures, Carl M. Freeman Foundation in honor of Virginia Allen Freeman, AARP, AT&T, Ford Motor Company Fund, Facebook, Barbara Lee Family Foundation Fund at the Boston Foundation, Google, HISTORY ®, and Jacqueline B. Mars. Additional support for National Outreach and Programs provided by Denise Gwyn Ferguson, BMO Financial Group, Hearst Foundations, Maris S. Cuneo Foundation, FedEx, Bernstein Family Foundation, and The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation/Ambassador Fay-Hartog Levin (Ret.).