Extraordinary Women exhibit preview
Speakers Annette Atkins, Kate Roberts, and Kent Whitworth
Minnesota Historical Society director Kent Whitworth welcomed approximately 900 participants to a webinar with historian Annette Atkins and exhibit developer Kate Roberts discussing MNHS’ upcoming exhibit Extraordinary Women. Kate described the excruciating process of winnowing the list of women profiled from 100 to 43 to the 22 that are featured in the final exhibit. Both Kate and Annette discussed the characteristics of some of their favorite women in the exhibit, and Annette talked about how ordinary lives often are extraordinary. ”We all deserve serious study,” she said.
Clara Ueland’s suffrage convention badge 1916, is on display in the exhibit.
Note her name at top “Mrs. Andreas Ueland.”
Kate talked about some of the artifacts in the exhibit, such as suffragist Clara Ueland’s convention badge from 1916, and what they tell us about the times. Clara was always referred to as Mrs. Andreas Ueland, never her own name. A researcher seeking Clara’s name in newspapers of her day would need to search her husband’s name.
Tips for saving contemporary history include labeling photographs with names, dates, and locations “in your very best, most legible, handwriting.”
Accompanying the exhibit is an extensive website, mnhs.org/votesforwomen. Our Dames appreciated the invitation and several attended.
