Diversity Museum Acceptance and Difference Struggle for Women Liberation

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Diversity Museum: Acceptance and Difference: Struggle for Women Liberation

Over time women have been an object of discrimination especially when it comes to matters of politics. Even through these difficulties, there are women who have defied all odds to champion for women liberation the NWP party formed a good front and has been a vehicle for carrying and airing their views (Danilov 103). A good example of these women is Alice Paul. Through the effort to preserve the history of these outstanding women, the Sewall-Belmont House Museum has become one of the most important national historic sites for women suffragists. It was declared a national historic landmark in 1974. Although gender equality has evolved to be seen as a controversial aspect in the society, this paper gives detailed analysis concerning women suffrage in the world and the historical development of their struggle to attain equality in the society and thus, attain women liberation.

The museum has a rich history especially die to its long life. The Sewall B Elmont house and museum is housed in the Sewall-Belmont house (Washington Post 2). Being constructed in the 1799 after much of the land parcel had been taken for the construction of the white house the house is one of the oldest in Washington D.C. Its location close to the Capitol Hill made it a good avenue for women to air their grievances. The house was destroyed by British troops in 1812 from alleged claims that an attack was launched from the house. The ownership of the house has evolved around several people but in 1921 it was purchased by Parton Dale a U.S. senator who restored the house and most of the gardens (Sewall-Belmont House and Museum).

The house is jointly managed by the National Women’s Party and the National park service. Since the house was declared a national museum in 1974, great measures have been taken to ensure that it preserves history. The NWP bought the house in 1929 and renamed it Alva Belmont house in honor of its major benefactor. The house has since become the headquarters to the party. When looking at the history of women suffrage, it becomes intricate to ignore the role played by the Belmont-House Museum. The museum has several book reference works, magazines and archive holdings. Most of these reference materials include books that were written by and about the women from 1880 to the present (Sewall-Belmont House and Museum).

There are several publications about NWP. There exist cartoon drawings created by artists including NWP official cartoonist Nina Allender James Harrison Domanhey and others for inclusion in the suffragist and equal rights collection (Danilov 92). More than fifty scrapbooks created by NWP members detailing the suffragist and equal rights movement through newspapers magazines articles speeches letters pamphlets photographic and printed materials. Approximately three thousand congressional voting cards produced by NWP for lobbying in both the women suffrages and equal rights movement.

Over five thousand prints and photos document NWP events and individual members their participation in the suffrage movement and their efforts to pass equal rights amendments. A fine arts collection composed of about sixty paintings and sculptures of NWP leaders and other history including busts of women suffrage leaders including Lucretia Mott Elizabeth, Cady Stanton and Susan B. Antony’s sculptures by Adelaide Johnson (1909-10). There are about one hundred and fifty decorative arts pieces donated mostly by NWP members.

The house is a museum of its kind and this is not a mere claim. Going by the things stored in the house it rightly merits as a museum. The house contains suffrage and equal rights memorabilia and sculptures of women suffrage leaders. The Alva Belmont living room furniture and china a roll top desk once owned by Susan B. Antony Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s upholstered chair Alice Paul’s four poster bed a drop-leaf desk and paintings of Inez Mulholland on her white horse leading the 1913 suffrage parade (Robyn 15). The beatifully stained glass fan windows hall of statues pays tribute to the leaders of the women movement. The portraits commemorate militant women suffragist of the congressional union jailed in 1917. Marble and ivory statues of Joan arc complete the iconography of the female suffragists.

Architecture and furnishings are artifacts of the women rights movement and testimony to the material conditions that enabled their work. Oil paintings of NWP members and an elegantly appointed formal dining room indicate the class background of many of the NWP members. The house today is also a museum that houses the pieces of furniture and other artifacts of women suffragists and equal rights movement involved in the struggle (Robyn 16). The museum maintains an extensive collection of suffrage banners archives and artifacts documenting the continued efforts of women and men of all races religion and background to win voting rights and equality for women under the law. It also celebrates the women progress towards equality.

The Sewall-Belmont house partners with other organizations such the Women Leadership and Mentoring Alliance to build leadership skills locate support and receive encouragement and motivation and guidance from current and emerging leaders across a variety of fields. The program which includes a diverse panel of distinguished speakers and about twenty organizations looking to recruit potential new board members echoes the words of Antony as they were so many years ago. The museum therefore is a forum for different individuals to meet and air their views on various issues affecting leadership and society in general. The forums therefore offer individuals a forum to grow professionally and acquire leadership and customer relations skills.

The museum celebrates women towards equality and explores the evolving role of women towards equality and their contribution to society through educational programs tours exhibits research and publications (Boston 3). Both the museum and the public are committed towards preserving the legacy of Alice Paul founder and author of equal rights amendments and telling the untold stories for the benefits of scholars’ current and future generations of Americans and all the citizens of the world. When looking at the history of women suffrage it becomes difficult to ignore the role played by Belmont house. Women have seldom had the economic resources of historical self consciousness to create monuments for women right’s organizations.

The Sewall-Belmont House Museum is the head quarters of NWP since 1929. The exhibits have the characteristic narrowness of internal institutional history. Even as it is, it’s so inspiring and worth of praise for preserving a history that is manifestly not represented elsewhere for public audiences (Danilov 78). The museum challenges the canons of historical greats but shares the conventional definition of history as politics and public life. It represents the significant chapter of women’s self organization and affirms feminist struggle by celebrating the heroines who resisted the limits of this patriarchal society.

From the social point of view museums are usually established with a view to creating a place of convergence between all and sundry to share and appreciate our rich history. Being accessible to all the public people with varied interests come to the museum to satisfy their interests. For instance scholars and researchers get to satisfy their academic needs from various books journals and magazines that forms the bulk of reference materials. Photographers are usually treated to a rare view of photographic materials and paintings that help recap history. The house gardens are a good meeting point especially for family get-together (Boston 4). Being a public place artists especially painters and sculptors get an opportunity to their pieces in the annual gala. The internship opportunities offered to the public regardless of gender nationality or physical ability has been a good breeding ground for professional careers

In the fight for justice women activists have demonstrated that justice should be awarded to all regardless of there affiliations and not only men can make good leaders. The Sewall Belmont house has therefore embarked on a mission to liberate the society by coming up with various programs and projects that are aimed at improving both economic and social standards of individuals by empowering women (New York Times 3). The museum has contributed greatly to various projects such as fund raising educational communication and other programs that have been received positively by all.

From the research conducted it is evident that museums collect and store diverse sources of information ranging from portrays to documents. These are often accessed by a diverse group of people with varied interests. By conducting forums these groups converge at appoint they get to appreciate the role played by women in the liberation struggles. By looking at the history artistic position and mission we are in apposition to actually appreciate the role played by the museum in recollecting and preserving history (National Council of Women Organizations).

From my own experience at the museum I was thrilled at how much information such a quiet small place has to offer. I got so inspired that I have resolved to start collecting art pieces especially the one commemorating and advocating for social equality. I want to honestly make a call to my friends and urge them to make the Sewall Belmont house and museum one of their holiday destinations since they will learn and discover so many things about the history of women that they are not aware of (Goldstein 19). On the part of the government, there is the need for it to enact laws that will see an increase in the number as well as protection of national historic sites. This will not only be a move to preserve our heritage but will help conserve the environment as well as being a good source of revenue and employment to the locals affected.

Finally, it can be comprehended that the path has not been smooth for women liberation strugglers as they had to be exposed to harsh treatment such as jail terms. This is a wakeup call for aspiring women leaders to be prepared for the worse but never give up in their quest for justice. The government should also put in measures to support women programs especially ones related political awareness and equal leadership opportunities (Boston 5).

Works Cited

Danilov, J. Women and Museums: A comprehensive guide. Victoria. Rowman, Littlefield Publishers Inc., 2005.

Sewall-Belmont House and Museum. Celebrating the History of Women’s Progress towards Equality. Retrieved from http://www.sewallbelmont.org/

National Council of Women Organizations. Sewall-Belmont House. Retrieved from http://www.womensorganizations.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=204&Itemid=82

Washington Post. Sewall Belmont house and museum: Jessica Goldstein. 08/08/2011

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New York Times: ‘‘Sewall Belmont house and Museum reopens May 18th’’: Ferm Team 10/05 2011.

Goldstein, J. Headquarters for women’s equality. Washington Post, The, 08/12/2011.

Boston, G. Home of Suffragist movement. Washington Times, The DC, 02/05/2006.

Robyn, M. Monuments and Museums in Washington. OAH Newsletter, Feb 2006, Vol.34 Issue 1, pA11, 1p.