Music HerStory: Women and Music of Social Change

Music HerStory

Women and Music of Social Change

From our earliest musical encounters to the formation of complex social identities, the American musical landscape wouldn’t be what it is today without the countless contributions of women changemakers, groundbreakers, and tradition-bearers. Women’s leadership in music and social change is central to the American story. Music HerStory explores these contributions through unique media collections from across the Smithsonian.

Black and white photograph of Mahalia Jackson performing beside a church altar.

Mahalia Jackson, around 1960
Courtesy of the National Museum of African American History and Culture
© Estate of Lloyd W. Yearwood

Visit the Exhibition

Through March 24, 2025
Hours: 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
(summer hours may vary)

Smithsonian Libraries Gallery
Smithsonian National Museum of American History, 1 West
14th St and Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001

Organized by

Smithsonian Libraries & Archives Smithsonian Center for Folklife & Cultural Heritage

Curated by

Meredith Holmgren
Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage

Designed, edited, and produced by

Smithsonian Exhibits

ack and white photograph of Jean Ritchie outdoors with dulcimers, from Ritchie’s book Dulcimer People, 1975.

Jean Ritchie’s Dulcimer People
Jean Ritchie
New York, 1975

Black and white photograph of the Fisk Jubilee Singers from The Story of the Jubilee Singers: With Their Songs, 1880.

Tradition-Bearers

Explore
Photograph of Big Mama Thornton singing and Buddy Guy playing guitar, taken by Chris Strachwitz, 1960. © Arhoolie Foundation.

Groundbreakers

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Black and white photograph of Barbara Dane with her guitar in 1965, taken by Diana Jo Davies.

Changemakers

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Photograph of Cris Williamson singing and playing guitar at the Newport Folk Festival in 1992, taken by Diana Jo Davies.

Industry Professionals

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Music HerStory Playlist

Black and white photograph of Sister Rosetta Tharpe singing and holding a guitar.

This project received support from the Smithsonian American Women’s History Initiative.

https://womenshistory.si.edu/donors

Special thanks to:
The Arhoolie Foundation
DC Public Library
Smithsonian Music

All objects are from the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives and the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections of the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, unless otherwise noted.

About Our Exhibitions Program

The Smithsonian Libraries and Archives is a vital resource for research and education communities within the Smithsonian Institution and around the world. Through our exhibitions, we invite curators to turn their discerning eyes on our rich and varied collections, uncovering stories to share with you.

Photo: Sister Rosetta Tharpe performs at the 1967 Newport Folk Festival / Photo by Diana Jo Davies / Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections

What's New

Join us for “Music HerStory: Women, Zines, and Punk”

February 8, 2023

February 28th, 7 pm ETRegister via Zoom Zines are celebrations of self-expression. These unique documents often combine first-person narratives and frank opinion pieces with interviews, reviews, and musings on art, music, and culture. Popular today, zine use was propelled by the riot grrrl movement in the early 1990s. They connected like-minded readers and musicians through writing about women’s issues, perspectives, and experiences. Zines continue to promote community-building and creativity, especially among young women. In this virtual panel discussion, we’ll explore the history of zines as a grassroots medium, the impact of the riot grrl movement on modern zine creators, and the role libraries and archives play in preserving this material. Featuring:

New Comic Honors Civil Rights Singer Bernice Johnson Reagon on Her 80th Birthday

October 3, 2022

Smithsonian Libraries and Archives, together with the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, are excited to announce the publication of a new comic mini-zine about the work of musician and activist Bernice Johnson Reagon. Photographic portrait of Bernice Johnson Reagon, taken by Dane Penland, 1981. Smithsonian Institution  Archives.