Women's Museum of California
Nonprofit museum in San Diego, California
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Women's Museum of California (WMC) was a nonprofit museum in Balboa Park in San Diego, California, dedicated to women's history. It was founded in 1983.[1] It was first organized under the names the Women's History Reclamation Project and then the Women's History Museum and Educational Center.
| Abbreviation | WMC |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1983 |
| Founder | Mary Maschal |
| Founded at | Golden Hill, San Diego |
| Type | Non governmental organization |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 32.739°N 117.214°W |
| Website | https://sandiegohistory.org/womens-history/ |
Formerly called | Women's History Reclamation Project, Women's History Museum & Educational Center |
In addition to exhibits and programs offered, the WMC also co-founded and hosts the San Diego County Women's Hall of Fame; it was located at Liberty Station and had exhibit space, archives, a library, and a store that features items made exclusively by women.[2] Other museum offerings included speakers and monthly lecture series.[3]
History
The museum had its roots with the women's rights activist, Mary B. Maschal who collected items from women's history in her home.[4] The home had formally belonged to a suffragist, Veronica Burke.[5] Maschal had been collecting artifacts relating to women's history since the 1970s.[6] She finally opened her collection to the public in 1983, naming it the Women's History Reclamation Project (WHRP).[4] Maschal felt a passion for collecting artifacts because of her "own disappointment over the lack of knowledge about women's history among the younger generation."[5] Maschal also received a grant in 1984 in order to conduct and collect oral history interviews.[7]
The initial success of Mary Maschal was sparked by the Women's History Reclamation Project. In addition to taking part in UN conferences, Maschal joined the National Organization for Women as a public member while also honing the skills necessary to work well with others in business. To preserve the legacy of past-generational leaders, she started a museum educating others on second-wave feminism.[8] The Women's Museum of California continues to preserve her legacy towards the newer generation.
Maschal moved her collection to the Art Union Building in Golden Hill in 1997.[2] Maschal died in 1998, and Cindy Stankowski and Sue Gonda took over leadership of the museum.[6] In 2000, the museum sponsored a Women's History Poetry contest, which was held at the same time as an exhibit titled In Our Own Voice: women's History through Women's Poetry.[7] The museum co-created the San Diego County Women's Hall of Fame in 2001.[9] In 2003, the Project changed its name to the Women's History Museum and Educational Center (WHMEC).[6]
The Women's History Museum and Educational Center changed its name again in 2011, this time to the Women's Museum of California (WMofC).[10] They concurrently updated the museum logo.[11] WMC also moved to the Liberty Station Promenade in Point Loma in 2012.[4] The new location was three times larger than their former location at Golden Hill.[11]
In 2025 The Women's Museum of California anounced that it merged with the San Diego History Center and it is now called the Center for Women's History, a program of the San Diego History Center. As the Center for Women's History it continues the research, exhibits, and programs of the Women's Museum of California.[12]
Helen Hawkins Memorial Library and Research Archive
Part of the museum is a library and archive. The Helen Hawkins Memorial Library and Research Archive includes books and several special collections.[7] Part of the special collections is the Alice Park Archive which collects artifacts from the women's suffrage movement from the late 19th century and early 20th century.[7] The special collections also include papers documenting the career of Lucy Killea, a collection of materials relating to the UN Conference on the Status of Women and the Neff-LeClair Collection of period women's clothing dating from the 18th century on.[7]
The Women's Museum of California collections and archives is now part of the San Diego History Center.[13]
Film Festival
The Women's Museum of California offers a Film Festival[14] that showcases women who have worked in the film industry to show their film creations and share their experiences with others. The film festival includes a panel that consists of activists and filmmakers that discuss the representation and roles of women in the film industry environment.[15]
After eight years, the Women's Film Festival ended in 2021 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The following year, the Women's Museum began sponsoring a "Women's Series" under the umbrella of the San Diego International Film Festival.[16]
San Diego County Women's Hall of Fame
The Hall of Fame was created in 2001, partly through the WMofC and other organizations.[6] Some organizations that have partnered with WMofC for the hall of fame include the Girl Scouts, MANA, A National Latina Organization and Executive Women International.[17] Co-Hosts of the HOF include the Museum, the San Diego County Commission on the Status of Women, San Diego State University's Women's Studies Department, and the Women's Center of the University of California, San Diego.[18] Inductions into the hall of fame take place in March during Women's History Month.[19] Each year about five women are inducted.[20]
The San Diego County Women's Hall of Fame mission is "to acknowledge and honor women who have significantly contributed to the quality of life and who have made outstanding volunteer contributions in San Diego County."[20]
List of inductees
| Name | Image | Birth–Death | Year | Area of achievement | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anne S. Bautista | 2024 | Activist | [21] | ||
| Raye Clendening | 2024 | Empowerer | [21] | ||
| Olga Diaz | 2024 | Trailblazer | [21] | ||
| Anne L. Evans | (1932–) | 2024 | Empowerer | [21] | |
| DJ Kuttin Kandi | 2024 | Spirit of the Hall of Fame | [21] | ||
| Yolanda López | (1942–2021) | 2024 | Cultural Bridge Builder | [21] | |
| Andrea Naversen | 2024 | Historian | [21] | ||
| Huma Ahmed-Ghosh | (1956–) | 2023 | Anthropologist | [22] | |
| Norma Chávez-Peterson | (1974–) | 2023 | Executive director of the ACLU of San Diego and Imperial counties, | [22] | |
| Amy Forsythe | 2023 | U.S. Navy Reserves as a public affairs officer; Military journalism, U.S. Marine in Iraq and Afghanistan | [22] | ||
| Juana Machado | (1814–1901) | 2023 | Cultural bridge builder | [22] | |
| Patricia A. McQuater | (1951–) | 2023 | Trailblazer, community service | [22] | |
| Planned Parenthood | 2023 | Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest | [22] | ||
| Mary Salas | .jpg) |
(1948–) | 2023 | Political office holder | [23] |
| Holly Smithson | (1970–) | 2023 | Chief executive officer of Athena advocacy group for women | [24] | |
| Marie M. Herney | (1908–1984) | 2022 | First San Diego woman to practice in Federal Court, and the first local woman to practice in the Supreme Court | [25] | |
| Tamila Ipema | (1956–) | 2022 | Judge of the California Superior Court in San Diego | [26] | |
| Rosalia Salinas | (1944–) | 2022 | Advocate for bilingual education | [27] | |
| Josephine Talamantez | (1951–) | 2022 | Co-founderd Chicano Park in 1970, helped develop it into a cultural National Historic Landmark | [28] | |
| Francine Foster Williams | (1950–2021) | 2022 | Administrator for the San Diego Unified School District | [29] | |
| Susan Jester | (1943–) | 2021 | Empowerer | [30] | |
| Margaret Iwanaga Penrose | (1944–) | 2021 | Cultural Bridge Builder | [30] | |
| Niki de Saint Phalle | _by_Erling_Mandelmann.jpg) |
(1930– 2002) | 2021 | Sculptor | [30] |
| Rosalie Schwartz | (1936–2023) | 2021 | Historian | [30] | |
| Randa Trapp | (1954–) | 2021 | Court Judge | [30] | |
| Geneviéve Jones-Wright |  |
2021 | San Diego County as a public defender | [30] | |
| Kathi Anderson | 2020 | Co-founder of Survivors of Torture, International (SURVIVORS) | [31] | ||
| Lupe Buell | 2020 | Bridging the gap between Spanish speaking individuals and the English language | [31] | ||
| Nola Butler Byrd | (1956–) | 2020 | Activist - SDSU's School of Education | [31] | |
| Susan Davis | .jpg) |
(1944–) | 2020 | U.S. Representative for California's 53rd congressional district | [31] |
| Iris Engstrand |  |
(1935–) | 2020 | Historian | [31] |
| Sue Gonda | 2020 | Historian and founder of San Diego County Women's Hall of Fame | [31] | ||
| Olivia Puentes Reynolds | (1949–) | 2020 | Civic leader and founder of San Diego County Women's Hall of Fame | [31] | |
| Lilia Garcia | 2019 | San Diego County Deputy District Attorney and co-founder of the group "Latinas in the Law." | [32] | ||
| Colleen O'Harra | 2019 | Founding Executive Director of the Oceanside Women's Resource Center | [32] | ||
| Ruth Goldschmiedova Sax | (1928–2018) | 2019 | Survivor of three Nazi concentration camps | [32] | |
| Dorothy Smith | (1939–2022) | 2019 | First African American woman elected to public office in San Diego County | [32] | |
| Bridget Wilson | 2019 | LGBT military veteran worked within the Obama administration | [32] | ||
| Dede Alpert |  |
(1945–) | 2018 | Served in both houses of the California legislature | [33] |
| Nellie Andrade | (1942–) | 2018 | Community activist in the Latino community | [33] | |
| Fahari Jeffers | (1954–2019) | 2018 | Labor leader, United Domestic Workers of America | [33] | |
| Carol Jahnkow | (1948–) | 2018 | Bridge Builder | [33] | |
| Jerrilyn Malana | (1963–) | 2018 | Past president of the San Diego County bar association and Pan Asian Lawyers of San Diego | [33] | |
| Janice Martinelli | (1952–) | 2018 | Historic preservationist | [33] | |
| Dilkhwaz Ahmed | 2017 | Bridge Builder | [34] | ||
| Carol Rowell Council | (1948–) | 2017 | Empowerer | [34] | |
| Darlene Davies | (1939–2022) | 2017 | Historian | [34] | |
| Irma Gonzalez | .jpg) |
(1948–) | 2017 | Trailblazer | [34] |
| Joyce Nower | (1932–2010) | 2017 | Empowerer | [34] | |
| Lilia Velasquez | (1953–) | 2017 | Activist | [34] | |
| Sally Wong Avery | (1952–) | 2016 | Cultural Competent Bridge Builder | [35] | |
| Maria Garcia | 2016 | Historian | [35] | ||
| Christine Kehoe |  |
(1950–) | 2016 | Trailblazer | [35] |
| Elizabeth Lou | 2016 | Empowerer | [35] | ||
| Evonne Seron Schulze | (1934–) | 2016 | Activist | [35] | |
| Viviana Enrique Acosta | 2015 | Historian | [36] | ||
| Anita Figueredo | (1916–2010) | 2015 | Trailblazer | [36] | |
| Natasha Josefowitz | (1926–2023) | 2015 | Empowerment | [36] | |
| Lee Ann Kim |  |
(1970–) | 2015 | Spirit Of The Women's Hall Of Fame | [36] |
| Starla Lewis | 2015 | Cultural Competent Bridge Builder | [36] | ||
| Sarah Moser | 2015 | Activist | [36] | ||
| Dianne (Dee) Aker | 2014 | Trailblazer | [37] | ||
| Lorraine Boyce | (1927–) | 2014 | Empowerer | [37] | |
| Sonia Lopez | 2014 | Cultural guardian | [37] | ||
| Rachael Ortiz | 2014 | Activist | [37] | ||
| Deborah Szekely | .jpg) |
(1922–) | 2014 | Cultural Competent Bridge Builder | [37] |
| Bree Walker |  |
(1953–) | 2014 | Spirit Of The Women's Hall Of Fame | [38] |
| Betty Evans Boone | (1928–2023) | 2013 | Empowerer | [39] | |
| Constance Carroll | (1945–) | 2013 | Trailblazer | [39] | |
| Irma Castro | 2013 | Activist | [39] | ||
| Aurora Soriano Cudal | 2013 | Cultural Competent Bridge Builder | [39] | ||
| Dorothy Hom | (1932–1999) | 2013 | Cultural guardian | [39] | |
| Jane Booth | (1912–2008) | 2012 | Historian | [40] | |
| Barbara Bry |  |
(1949–) | 2012 | Empowerer | [41] |
| Makeda Dread Cheatom | (1942–) | 2012 | Cultural Competent Bridge Builder. | [42] | |
| Ingrid Croce | (1947–) | 2012 | Spirit Of The Women's Hall Of Fame | [43] | |
| Anne Hoiberg | (1937–) | 2012 | Activist | [44] | |
| Lynn Schenk |  |
(1945–) | 2012 | Trailblazer | [45] |
| Margaret Costanza |  |
(1932–2010) | 2011 | Trailblazer | [46] |
| Judy Forman | 2011 | Empowerer | [47] | ||
| Donna Frye |  |
(1952–) | 2011 | Spirit Of The Women's Hall Of Fame | [48] |
| Clara M. Harris | (1931–) | 2011 | Cultural Competent Bridge Builder | [49] | |
| Martha Longenecker | (1920–2013) | 2011 | Historian | [50] | |
| Rita Sanchez | (1937–) | 2011 | Activist | [51] | |
| Gloria Harris | (1938–) | 2010 | Empowerer | [52] | |
| Judith McConnell | (1944–) | 2010 | Trailblazer | [53] | |
| Vivian Reznik | (1950–) | 2010 | Activist | [54] | |
| Laura Rodriguez | (1909–1994) | 2010 | Cultural Competent Bridge Builder | [55] | |
| Anna Prieto Sandoval | (1934–2010) | 2010 | Historian | [56] | |
| Charlotte Baker |  |
(1855–1937) | 2009 | Empowerer | [57] |
| Li-Rong Cheng | 2009 | Historian | [58] | ||
| Joan Craigwell | (1937–) | 2009 | Trailblazer | [59] | |
| Edith Dabbs | (1918–2009) | 2009 | Cultural Competent Bridge Builder. | [60] | |
| Monique Henderson | (1983–) | 2009 | Spirit Of The Women's Hall Of Fame | [61] | |
| Marisa Ugarte | (1947–) | 2009 | Activist | [62] | |
| Kate Yavenditti | (1945–) | 2009 | Activist | [63] | |
| Bonnie Dumanis | (1951–) | 2008 | Spirit Of The Women's Hall Of Fame | [64] | |
| Sylvia Hampton | 2008 | Activist | [65] | ||
| Marianne McDonald |  |
(1937–) | 2008 | Empowerer | [66] |
| Judith Munk | (1925–2006) | 2008 | Historian | [67] | |
| Elizabeth Riggs | (1941–) | 2008 | Trailblazer | [68] | |
| Karen Vigneault | (1958–2019) | 2008 | Cultural Competent Bridge Builder. | [69] | |
| Belle Benchley | (1882–1972) | 2007 | Trailblazer | [70] | |
| Clara Breed |  |
(1906–1994) | 2007 | Cultural Competent Bridge Builder | [71] |
| Joan Embrey | (1949–) | 2007 | Spirit Of The Women's Hall Of Fame | [72] | |
| Ellen Scripps |  |
(1836–1932) | 2007 | Empowerer | [73] |
| Patricia Shaffer | (1928–) | 2007 | Empowerer | [74] | |
| Sara Vasquez | (1910–2008) | 2007 | Historian | [75] | |
| Tanja Winter | (1927–2014) | 2007 | Activist | [76] | |
| Nona Canon | 2006 | Trailblazer | [77] | ||
| Jeri Dilno | (1936–2024) | 2006 | Activist | [78] | |
| Lucy Gonzales | 2006 | Cultural Competent Bridge Builder | [79] | ||
| Deborah Lindholm | (1949–) | 2006 | Empowerer | [80] | |
| Sally Ride | .jpg) |
(1951–2012) | 2006 | Spirit Of The Women's Hall Of Fame | [81] |
| Kate Sessions |  |
(1857–1940) | 2006 | Trailblazer | [82] |
| Ashley Walker | (1948–) | 2006 | Cultural Competent Bridge Builder | [83] | |
| Evelyn Clarke | (1917–2008) | 2005 | Historian | [84] | |
| Alyce Smith-Cooper | (1940–) | 2005 | Cultural Competent Bridge Builder | [85] | |
| Anne Ewing | (1930–2011) | 2005 | Activist | [86] | |
| Helen S. Hawkins | (1930–1989) | 2005 | Empowerer | [87] | |
| Ruth Heifetz | (1934–) | 2005 | Trailblazer | [88] | |
| Alice Hohlmayer | (1925–2017) | 2005 | Spirit Of The Women's Hall Of Fame | [89] | |
| Rulette Armstead | (1950–2020) | 2004 | Activist | [90] | |
| Herminia Enrique | (1919–2009) | 2004 | Historian | [91] | |
| Doris Howell |  |
(1923–2019) | 2004 | Trailblazer | [92] |
| Joan Kroc | (1928–2003) | 2004 | Cultural Competent Bridge Builder | [93] | |
| Mary Maschal | (1924–1998) | 2004 | Historian | [94] | |
| Gloria McClellan | (1925–2002) | 2004 | Activist | [95] | |
| Jean Stern | (1918–2011) | 2004 | Trailblazer | [96] | |
| Alice Barnes | (1907–2003) | 2003 | Activist | [97] | |
| E. Margaret Burbidge |  |
(1919–2020) | 2003 | Trailblazer | [98] |
| Gloria Johnson | (1937–2013) | 2003 | Activist | [99] | |
| Ardelia McClure | (1933–2013) | 2003 | Cultural Competent Bridge Builder | [100] | |
| Lilia Moreno de Lopez | (1928–) | 2003 | Empowerer | [101] | |
| Midge Neff-LeClair | (1926–2020) | 2003 | History | [102] | |
| Nancy Reeves | 2003 | Trailblazer | [103] | ||
| Beverly Yip | (1932–1991) | 2003 | Activist | [104] | |
| Madge Bradley | (1904–2000) | 2002 | Trailblazer | [105] | |
| Alemi Daba | (1953–) | 2002 | Empowerer | [106] | |
| Jane Dumas | (1924–2014) | 2002 | Historian | [107] | |
| Lucy Killea |  |
(1922–2017) | 2002 | Activist | [108] |
| Gracia Molina de Pick | (1928–2019) | 2002 | Cultural Competent Bridge Builder. Founder of IMPACT, a grass-roots civil rights organization, and of Comision Femenil Mexicana Nacional | [109][110] | |
