Popup Exhibits Celebrate Women's Suffrage Centennial
Press Release · Tuesday, March 24, 2020

Washington, DC

The National Archives, in partnership with the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission (WSCC), is sharing the story of women’s fight for their right to vote with Americans across the country. The National Archives is providing 2,500 free popup displays, titled Rightfully Hers, to cultural institutions nationwide in honor of the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment and women’s constitutional right to vote. 

Rightfully Hers explores the history of the ratification of the 19th Amendment and the state of voting rights before and after the women’s suffrage movement. In 2019, the National Archives delivered 1,600 of these popups to numerous venues. This partnership between the National Archives and WSCC will make the information available to many more communities in 2020. 

Debra Steidel Wall, Deputy Archivist of the United States, represents the National Archives on the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission. She praised the partnership between the two organizations in this effort to tell the story of women’s suffrage to a larger audience. 

“I am thrilled that these two institutions are able to work together to amplify women’s stories and share far and wide one of the most important moments of American history,” Wall said. “The National Archives is home to the nation’s official records of the women’s suffrage movement, including the 19th Amendment itself. Through the Rightfully Hers popup displays, we can bring engaging and invaluable content from these materials to communities across the country.” 

Corinne Porter, curator of the National Archives’ suffrage centennial exhibit Rightfully Hers: American Women and the Vote, on which the popup displays are based, noted the importance of this educational outreach effort. 

“Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment provides an unparalleled opportunity to elevate the untold stories of women’s history,” Porter said. “The exhibit at the National Archives and the Rightfully Hers popups are part of our nationwide initiative to share the story of the relentless struggle of diverse activists throughout U.S. history to secure voting rights for all American women.”

Jennifer Johnson, Rightfully Hers popup co-curator, added: "The ratification of the 19th Amendment was a landmark moment in American history that dramatically changed the electorate. Although it enshrined in the U.S. Constitution fuller citizenship for women, many remained unable to vote."

Lightweight and versatile, the Rightfully Hers displays are easy to assemble and are anticipated to be delivered to venues in July 2020 to display leading up to the official centennial in August and beyond. Participating venues will receive digital educational and press materials, and can keep and re-use the display. Organizations or venues interested in ordering a popup display can sign up here or send questions to popup@nara.gov.

The National Archives is an independent federal agency that serves American democracy by safeguarding and preserving the records of our Government, so people can discover, use, and learn from this documentary heritage. The National Archives ensures continuing access to the essential documentation of the rights of American citizens and the actions of their government.  From the Declaration of Independence to accounts of ordinary Americans, the holdings of the National Archives directly touch the lives of millions of people. These holdings include extensive documentation of the struggle for Women’s Suffrage. 

The Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission (WSCC) was formed by the U.S. Congress to coordinate the nationwide commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the passage and ratification of the 19th Amendment, which was officially ratified and signed into the Constitution on August 26, 1920. Led by a bipartisan group of 14 women leaders, the WSCC has a nonpartisan mission to ensure that Americans in every state across the country have the chance to participate in the centennial and to learn about this important but often overlooked history. For more information about the WSCC, its initiatives, and commemorative events across the country throughout 2020, visit www.womensvote100.org. 

The National Archives’ Rightfully Hers popup display is presented by the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission, Unilever, Pivotal Ventures, Carl M. Freeman Foundation in honor of Virginia Allen Freeman, AARP, Denise Gwyn Ferguson, and the National Archives Foundation.