Although we celebrate women’s achievements all year long, Women’s History Month is an opportunity for Historic New England to look at some of those special stories.
Women’s history is central to the stories at most Historic New England sites. From Eliza Susan Quincy at Quincy House to Jane Tucker at Castle Tucker, the women who recorded and saved their own family histories are the reason we can tell these stories. The Lyman Estate interiors we see today are largely the work of Boston interior designer and antiques dealer Nonie Davis Tupper, and the lived-in, relaxed feel of a tour at Gropius House is due to the dedication to detail from Ati Gropius. Visitors to Cogswell’s Grant come away with an appreciation of Nina Fletcher Little’s deep knowledge of “country arts,” while a tour of Sarah Orne Jewett’s house explores the personal life of the famed author.
Our collections document women at home, at work, in the studio, in the classroom, and advocating for social reform. There are photos of an early suffragist protest, photos by Katherine Taylor documenting responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and protests against systemic racism, and a colorful social diary that belonged to New England suffragist and women’s rights advocate Almira Hollander Pitman. Items of clothing include a blue and white gown worn by Deborah Sampson, who in 1782 enlisted in the Continental Army as a man, and a pair of shoes that belonged to Julia Child. Women artists are also well-documented in the collection from Elizabeth Adams, who “dared to believe that a woman might dedicate her life to a profession” to Marie Spartali Stillman, whose Hera is on loan for Pre-Raphaelites: A Modern Renaissance at Musei San Domenico in Forlì, Italy.
As we celebrate Women’s History Month, we continue to honor the women who have shaped New England’s past and present. Their stories are a testament to the strength, creativity, and determination of women throughout history. Visit Women of Historic New England to discover more stories of history-making women of New England past and present.
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