New York State Museum Celebrates Women’s History Month by Honoring Women’s Contributions to State History With Special Programs, Events, and Exhibits

To commemorate Women’s History Month, the New York State Museum (NYSM) will honor the significant roles of women in New York State history. Throughout March, there will be numerous special programs, events, educational resources, and exhibits to honor and celebrate the diverse achievements of women, both past and present. From engaging in-person experiences to helpful online resources, visitors of all ages are invited to learn about the pivotal role women have played in shaping our State heritage.

Board of Regents Chancellor Lester W. Young, Jr. said, "Throughout the history of the United States, women and girls have made significant contributions despite facing discrimination and adversity. During Women's History Month, we recognize the brave women who fought for and earned the right to vote, advocated against injustice, broke numerous barriers, and expanded opportunities for all women and girls. Our history is also filled with inspiring examples of women who have paved the way in the recent and distant past, working tirelessly to open doors of opportunity for everyone."

State Education Commissioner Betty A. Rosa said, “Women's History Month is an opportunity to celebrate the insurmountable spirit, resilience, and invaluable contributions of women throughout history, while also serving as an inspiration to the women of today to script their own narrative in the ongoing story of women’s history. This rich selection of important programs and events serve as a platform to foster a society that celebrates the achievements of women, highlights their diverse stories, and paves the way for a future where every woman’s potential is realized and celebrated.” 

In recognition of Women’s History Month, learn more about these significant contributions by exploring the following educational resources and programs for classroom teachers, educators, and the public from the State Education Department’s Office of Cultural Education’s collections, exhibits, and research.

New York State Museum:

• A comprehensive list of in-person and virtual Women's History Month programs happening across the state is available on the Museum’s website.
• The Museum will host Women’s History Month Family History Day on Sunday, March 10, 2024, from 12 p.m. until 3 p.m. This event, for all ages, is an opportunity to celebrate the dynamic role women play in New York’s history. There will be hands-on history activities, curator-led exhibit tours, and a short-film series, Change-Makers Along the Women’s Rights Corridor, Virtual Video Visits, presented by 1st Amendment-1st Vote, Incorporated at 2 p.m. in the Huxley Theater.
• The New York State Museum presents its annual Women of Science program. Learn more about these talented current and past scientists and their research through online presentations.
• As an approved provider of Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE), the New York State Museum is offering Women's History Month Online CTLE Credits for educators this month. Explore the 360 Gallery Tour of the NYSM's exhibition, Votes for Women: Celebrating New York’s Suffrage Centennial, and earn one CTLE credit hour.

New York State Library:

• A webinar entitled, “Fearless Women: Feminist Patriots from Abigail Adams to Beyoncé,” with Dr. Elizabeth Cobbs, historian, novelist, and documentary filmmaker, will be held from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5, 2024. To learn more about the program and how to register, visit the New York State Library’s calendar of events.
• A webinar entitled, “Eleanor Roosevelt After 1945,” with Dr. Sandra Opdycke, historian, and author, will be held from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Wednesday, March 20, 2024. To learn more about the program and how to register, visit the New York State Library’s calendar of events.
• A webinar entitled, “Celebrating the 19th Amendment: Women's Suffrage and Anti-Suffrage Documents for Educators,” with Marisa Gitto, New York State Library Senior Reference Librarian, will be held from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Monday, March 25, 2024. To learn more about the program and how to register, visit the New York State Library’s calendar of events.

New York State Archives/ New York State Archives Partnership Trust:

• Tune in on Tuesday, March 12, at 12:30 p.m. for A Woman’s Place: The History of the New York State Women’s Division, A New York Archives Magazine Online Speaker Series Program. Register for the free Zoom program on the Archives Partnership Trust website. The New York State Archives presents, “A Woman’s Place: The History of the New York State Women’s Division.” This display highlights records created by the Women’s Division, a unit within the Executive Chamber that promoted equal status for women and worked with state government agencies on issues affecting women. The material highlighted during the Zoom program will be on display in the 11th floor lobby of the Cultural Education Center throughout March.
• During Women’s History Month, hundreds of ready-to-use primary sources and standards-aligned, teacher-created learning activities can be accessed on ConsidertheSourceNY.org. Historical records spanning from the Dutch colonial period through the preset day offer students an opportunity to practice their document-analysis skills and discover the role of women in New York State history.

New York State Public Broadcasting:

• Toolkits for the classroom. Learn more about Women’s History Month with these free, ready-to-use multimedia resources for the classroom. This folder features videos, lesson plans, media galleries, and more, all focused on Women’s History and culture. All of these resources are educator-created and standards-aligned from PBS stations.

The State Museum is a program of the New York State Education Department’s Office of Cultural Education. Located at 222 Madison Avenue in Albany, the Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Admission is free. For additional information, visit the New York State Museum website. 

The New York State Library is part of the Office of Cultural Education within the New York State Education Department. Visit the New York State Library website for a complete list of upcoming programs. To receive news, resources, and other updates, please subscribe to the quarterly newsletter. 

The New York State Archives holds many of the oldest and most important archival treasures in the nation. The Archives preserves and makes accessible over 250 million records of New York’s State and colonial governments dating from 1630 to the present. The State Archives provides free access to photographs, artifacts, documents, manuscripts, and other materials that tell the story of New York’s history via its Digital Collections on the Archives website. 

The Archives Partnership Trust was founded in 1992 to build an endowment and provide project support to enhance humanities programs, increase access to these outstanding treasures, and continue the preservation of New York's historical records. Since its founding, the Partnership Trust, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has supported exceptional projects and programs. These include the Research Residency Program, the Student Research Awards Program, history conferences, special exhibitions, public education programs, book signings and lectures, publications, teacher training institutes, preservation projects, and more. 

The State Museum, State Library, and State Archives are programs of the New York State Education Department’s Office of Cultural Education. Further information about programs and events can be obtained by calling (518) 474-5877 or by visiting the Office of Cultural Education website.