American Women's History Initiative

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Exploring Women Innovators with USA Today

Learn stories of pioneering innovators and their life-changing innovations through puzzles and activities for all ages.

Black and white photo of Margaret W. Moodey sitting at a desk with a microscope and gemstones

Using Data Science to Uncover the Work of Women in Science

Scientists' personal papers often offer key insights into a scientist's goals and character. Without them, digital curator Dr. Elizabeth Harmon must act as a detective.

Sixteen college students and one Smithsonian staff member meet on Zoom

Because of Her Story Interns Become Changemakers

Last summer 16 students joined the Smithsonian from home to amplify women's voices and tell a more complete American story.

Ophthalmologist Dr. Patricia Bath poses with students at the National Museum of American History in 2000. (National Museum of American History, Archives Center.)

Hear Voices of Women Leaders in Science, Technology, and Innovation

Ophthalmologist Dr. Patricia Bath worked to bring healthcare to underserved communities and teach girls about STEM.

PhotoQuest/Getty Images

Women of Apollo

Though the "public face" of the U.S. space program in the 1960s was male, many women played essential roles in building the Apollo program and making the Moon landing a success. As we mark the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11, here are a few women whose stories deserve to be celebrated.

Firooz Zahedi, Ellen DeGeneres, 1997. Gift of Time magazine, National Portrait Gallery (NPG.99.TC23.1) ©Firooz Zahedi

LGBTQ Women Who Made History

In celebration of Pride Month, we honor LGBTQ women who have made remarkable contributions to the nation and helped advance equality in fields as diverse as medicine and the dramatic arts. Here are a few of their stories, represented by objects in the Smithsonian collections.

Effie Kapsalis is the Senior Digital Program Officer for the Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative.

A Conversation with Effie Kapsalis

Effie Kapsalis has a cool job. As the Senior Digital Program Officer for the Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative, she works with curators and researchers to uncover girls' and women's stories embedded deep within the Smithsonian and give them a new life—and long-deserved recognition—online. Recently, we talked with her about the Smithsonian's "digital-first" approach to women's history, correcting the Wikipedia gender imbalance and finding inspiration from an early 20th century museum elevator operator who became an expert on insects.

Participants at a 1971 whale biology conference. Sheila Minor is pictured in the second row, center left. Photo via @mycandacejean

Uncovering Hidden Stories

When an illustrator recently posted a blurry, black and white photo (below) of a group of scientists attending a 1971 whale biology conference, the question reverberated across Twitter. Who was the sole unidentified figure and only woman in the picture, partially hidden behind a male colleague?

Ariana Curtis

Ariana Curtis: Museums and the Everyday Woman

When Débora Nazareno, an Afro-Indian woman who lived in remote Ecuador in the early 20th century, sat in her hand-carved boat seat to tell stories to her grandson, little did she know the seat would be the first object donated to a new Smithsonian museum nearly a century later.

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