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Women's Museum of California
Abbreviation WMC
Formation 1983
Founder Mary Maschal
Founded at Golden Hill, San Diego
Type Non governmental organization
Purpose museum of women's history
Location
Website http://womensmuseumca.org/
Formerly called
Women's History Reclamation Project, Women's History Museum & Educational Center

The Women's Museum of California (WMC) is a nonprofit museum located in San Diego, California and dedicated to women's history. It was first organized under the names the Women's History Reclamation Project and then the Women's History Museum and Educational Center. It was founded in 1983. In addition to exhibits and programs offered, the WMofC also co-founded and hosts the San Diego County Women's Hall of Fame. The museum is located at Liberty Station and has exhibit space, archives, a library and a store that features items made exclusively by women. Other museum offerings include speakers and monthly lecture series.

History

The museum had its roots with the women's rights activist, Mary B. Maschal who collected items from women's history in her home. The home had formally belonged to a suffragist, Veronica Burke. Maschal had been collecting artifacts relating to women's history since the 1970s. She finally opened her collection to the public in 1983, naming it the Women's History Reclamation Project (WHRP). Maschal felt a passion for collecting artifacts because of her "own disappointment over the lack of knowledge about women's history among the younger generation." Maschal also received a grant in 1984 in order to conduct and collect oral history interviews.

The initial success of Mary Maschal was sparked by the Women's History Reclamation Project. In addition to taking part in UN conferences, Maschal joined the National Organization for Women as a public member while also honing the skills necessary to work well with others in business. To preserve the legacy of past-generational leaders, she started a museum educating others on second-wave feminism. The Women's Museum of California continues to preserve her legacy towards the newer generation.

Maschal moved her collection to the Art Union Building in Golden Hill in 1997. Maschal died in 1998, and Cindy Stankowski and Sue Gonda took over leadership of the museum. In 2000, the museum sponsored a Women's History Poetry contest, which was held at the same time as an exhibit titled In Our Own Voice: women's History through Women's Poetry. The museum co-created the San Diego County Women's Hall of Fame in 2001. In 2003, the Project changed its name to the Women's History Museum and Educational Center (WHMEC).

The Women's History Museum and Educational Center changed its name again in 2011, this time to the Women's Museum of California (WMofC). They concurrently updated the museum logo. WMC also moved to the Liberty Station Promenade in Point Loma in 2012. The new location was three times larger than their former location at Golden Hill.

Helen Hawkins Memorial Library and Research Archive

Part of the museum is a library and archive. The Helen Hawkins Memorial Library and Research Archive includes books and several special collections. Part of the special collections is the Alice Park Archive which collects artifacts from the women's suffrage movement from the late 19th century and early 20th century. The special collections also include papers documenting the career of Lucy Killea, a collection of materials relating to the UN Conference on the Status of Women and the Neff-LeClair Collection of period women's clothing dating from the 18th century on.

Film Festival

The Women's Museum of California offers a Film Festival that showcases women who have worked in the film industry to show their film creations and share their experiences with others. The film festival includes a panel that consists of activists and filmmakers that discuss the representation and roles of women in the film industry environment.

After eight years, the Women's Film Festival ended in 2021 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The following year, the Women's Museum began sponsoring a "Women's Series" under the umbrella of the San Diego International Film Festival.

San Diego County Women's Hall of Fame

The Hall of Fame was created in 2001, partly through the WMofC and other organizations. Some organizations that have partnered with WMofC for the hall of fame include the Girl Scouts, MANA, A National Latina Organization and Executive Women International. Co-Hosts of the HOF include the Museum, the San Diego County Commission on the Status of Women, San Diego State University's Women's Studies Department, and the Women's Center of the University of California, San Diego. Inductions into the hall of fame take place in March during Women's History Month. Each year about five women are inducted.

The San Diego County Women's Hall of Fame mission is "to acknowledge and honor women who have significantly contributed to the quality of life and who have made outstanding volunteer contributions in San Diego County."

List of inductees

San Diego County Women's Hall of Fame Inductees
Name Image Birth–Death Year Area of achievement Ref(s)
Huma Ahmed-Ghosh 2023 Anthropologist
Norma Chavez-Peterson 2023 Executive director of the ACLU of San Diego and Imperial counties,
Amy Forsythe 2023 U.S. Navy Reserves as a public affairs officer; Military journalism, U.S. Marine in Iraq and Afghanistan
Juana Machado 2023 Cultural bridge builder
Patricia A. McQuater 2023 Trailblazer, community service
Mary Salas Mary Salas at Clinton Rally

(1948–

2023 Political office holder
Holly Smithson 2023 Chief executive officer of Athena advocacy group for women
Marie M. Herney 2022 First San Diego woman to practice in Federal Court, and the first local woman to practice in the Supreme Court
Tamila Ipema 2022 Judge of the California Superior Court in San Diego
Rosalia Salinas 2022 Advocate for bilingual education
Josephine Talamantez 2022 Co-founderd Chicano Park in 1970, helped develop it into a cultural National Historic Landmark
Francine Foster Williams 2022 Administrator for the San Diego Unified School District
Susan Jester 2021 Empowerer
Margaret Iwanaga Penrose 2021 Cultural Bridge Builder
Niki de Saint Phalle Niki de Saint Phalle 1984, by Erling Mandelmann (1930– 2002) 2021 Sculptor
Rosalie Schwartz 2021 Historian
Randa Trapp 2021 Court Judge
Geneviéve Jones-Wright Geneviéve Jones-Wright, American lawyer from California 2021 San Diego County as a public defender
Anderson, KathiKathi Anderson 2020 Co-founder of Survivors of Torture, International (SURVIVORS)
Buell, LupeLupe Buell 2020 Bridging the gap between Spanish speaking individuals and the English language
Byrd, Nola ButlerNola Butler Byrd 2020 Activist - SDSU's School of Education
Davis (politician), SusanSusan Davis (politician) Representative Susan Davis Official Portrait (1944– 2020 U.S. Representative for California's 53rd congressional district
Engstrand, IrisIris Engstrand FFaculty photo of Iris H. Wilson (Iris Higbie Wilson Engstrand) from the 1963 Long Beach City College Yearbook (1935– 2020 Historian
Gonda, SueSue Gonda 2020 Historian and founder of San Diego County Women's Hall of Fame
Reynolds, Olivia PuentesOlivia Puentes Reynolds 2020 Civic leader and founder of San Diego County Women's Hall of Fame
Garcia, LiliaLilia Garcia 2019 San Diego County Deputy District Attorney and co-founder of the group "Latinas in the Law."
O'Harra, ColleenColleen O'Harra 2019 Founding Executive Director of the Oceanside Women's Resource Center
Sax, Ruth GoldschmiedovaRuth Goldschmiedova Sax 2019 Survivor of three Nazi concentration camps
Smith, DorothyDorothy Smith 2019 First African American woman elected to public office in San Diego County
Wilson, BridgitBridgit Wilson 2019 LGBT military veteran worked within the Obama administration
Alpert, DedeDede Alpert State Senator Dede Alpert.jpg (1945– 2018 Served in both houses of the California legislature
Andrade, NellieNellie Andrade 2018 Community activist in the Latino community
Jeffers, FahariFahari Jeffers 2018 Labor leader, United Domestic Workers of America
Jahnkow, CarolCarol Jahnkow 2018 Bridge Builder
Malana, JerrilynJerrilyn Malana 2018 Past president of the San Diego County bar association and Pan Asian Lawyers of San Diego
Martinelli, JaniceJanice Martinelli 2018 Historic preservationist
Ahmed, DilkhwazDilkhwaz Ahmed 2017 Bridge Builder
Rowell Council, CarolCarol Rowell Council (1948– 2017 Empowerer
Davies, DarleneDarlene Davies 2017 Historian
Gonzalez, IrmaIrma Gonzalez Judge Irma Gonzalez (1948– 2017 Trailblazer
Nower, JoyceJoyce Nower (1932–2010) 2017 Empowerer
Valasquez, LiliaLilia Valasquez 2017 Activist
Avery, Sally WongSally Wong Avery 2016 Cultural Competent Bridge Builder
Garcia, MariaMaria Garcia 2016 Historian
Kehoe, ChristineChristine Kehoe Christine T. Kehoe (1950– 2016 Trailblazer
Lou, ElizabethElizabeth Lou 2016 Empowerer
Schulze, Evonne SeronEvonne Seron Schulze 2016 Activist
Acosta, Viviana EnriqueViviana Enrique Acosta 2015 Historian
Figueredo, AnitaAnita Figueredo (1916–2010) 2015 Trailblazer
Josefowitz, NatashaNatasha Josefowitz 2015 Empowerment
Kim, Lee AnnLee Ann Kim Lee Ann Kim at White Sands, New Mexico 2015 Spirit Of The Women's Hall Of Fame
Lewis, StarlaStarla Lewis 2015 Cultural Competent Bridge Builder
Moser, SarahSarah Moser 2015 Activist
Aker, Dianne (Dee)Dianne (Dee) Aker 2014 Trailblazer
Boyce, LorraineLorraine Boyce 2014 Empowerer
Lopez, SoniaSonia Lopez 2014 Cultural guardian
Ortiz, RachaelRachael Ortiz 2014 Activist
Szekely, DeborahDeborah Szekely Deborah Szekely (1922– 2014 Cultural Competent Bridge Builder
Walker, BreeBree Walker Bree Walker.jpg (1953– 2014 Spirit Of The Women's Hall Of Fame
Boone, Betty EvansBetty Evans Boone 2013 Empowerer
Carroll, ConstanceConstance Carroll 2013 Trailblazer
Castro, IrmaIrma Castro 2013 Activist
Cudal, Aurora SorianoAurora Soriano Cudal 2013 Cultural Competent Bridge Builder
Hom, DorothyDorothy Hom 2013 Cultural guardian
Booth, JaneJane Booth 2012 Historian
Bry, BarbaraBarbara Bry San Diego City Councilmember Barbara Bry (1949– 2012 Empowerer
Cheatom, Makeda DreadMakeda Dread Cheatom (1942– 2012 Cultural Competent Bridge Builder.
Croce, IngridIngrid Croce (1947– 2012 Spirit Of The Women's Hall Of Fame
Hoiberg, AnneAnne Hoiberg 2012 Activist
Schenk, LynnLynn Schenk Lynn Schenk, former Congresswoman from California (1945– 2012 Trailblazer
Costanza, MargaretMargaret Costanza Margaret Constanza - NARA - 173904.tif (1932–2010) 2011 Trailblazer
Forman, JudyJudy Forman 2011 Empowerer
Frye, DonnaDonna Frye Donna Frye City Council.jpg (1952– 2011 Spirit Of The Women's Hall Of Fame
Harris, Clara M.Clara M. Harris 2011 Cultural Competent Bridge Builder
Longenecker, MarthaMartha Longenecker (1920–2013) 2011 Historian
Sanchez, RitaRita Sanchez (1937– 2011 Activist
Harris, GloriaGloria Harris 2010 Empowerer
McConnell, JudithJudith McConnell 2010 Trailblazer
Reznik, VivianVivian Reznik 2010 Activist
Rodriguez, LauraLaura Rodriguez ( –1994) 2010 Cultural Competent Bridge Builder
Sandoval, AnnaAnna Sandoval 2010 Historian
Baker, CharlotteCharlotte Baker Charlotte Johnson Baker from American Women, 1897.jpg (1855–1937) 2009 Empowerer
Cheng, Li-RongLi-Rong Cheng 2009 Historian
Craigwell, JoanJoan Craigwell 2009 Trailblazer
Dabbs, EdithEdith Dabbs ( –2009) 2009 Cultural Competent Bridge Builder.
Henderson, MoniqueMonique Henderson (1983– 2009 Spirit Of The Women's Hall Of Fame
Ugarte, MarisaMarisa Ugarte 2009 Activist
Yavenditti, KateKate Yavenditti 2009 Activist
Dumanis, BonnieBonnie Dumanis (1951– 2008 Spirit Of The Women's Hall Of Fame
Hampton, SylviaSylvia Hampton 2008 Activist
McDonald, MarianneMarianne McDonald Marianne-McDonald-Music.jpg (1937– 2008 Empowerer
Munk, JudithJudith Munk (1925–2006) 2008 Historian
Riggs, ElizabethElizabeth Riggs 2008 Trailblazer
Vigneault, KarenKaren Vigneault 2008 Cultural Competent Bridge Builder.
Benchley, BelleBelle Benchley (1882–1972) 2007 Trailblazer
Breed, ClaraClara Breed Clara Breed.jpg (1906–1994) 2007 Cultural Competent Bridge Builder
Embrey, JoanJoan Embrey (1949– 2007 Spirit Of The Women's Hall Of Fame
Scripps, EllenEllen Scripps (1836–1932) 2007 Empowerer
Shaffer, PatriciaPatricia Shaffer 2007 Empowerer
Vasquez, SaraSara Vasquez 2007 Historian
Winter, TanjaTanja Winter 2007 Activist
Canon, NonaNona Canon 2006 Trailblazer
Dilno, JeriJeri Dilno 2006 Activist
Gonzales, LucyLucy Gonzales 2006 Cultural Competent Bridge Builder
Lindholm, DeborahDeborah Lindholm 2006 Empowerer
Ride, SallySally Ride Sally Ride (1984).jpg (1951–2012) 2006 Spirit Of The Women's Hall Of Fame
Sessions, KateKate Sessions Kate Sessions.jpg (1857–1940) 2006 Trailblazer
Walker, AshleyAshley Walker 2006 Cultural Competent Bridge Builder
Clarke, EvelynEvelyn Clarke 2005 Historian
Smith-Cooper, AlyceAlyce Smith-Cooper 2005 Cultural Competent Bridge Builder
Ewing, AnneAnne Ewing (1930–2011) 2005 Activist
Hawkins, Helen S.Helen S. Hawkins 2005 Empowerer
Heifetz, RuthRuth Heifetz 2005 Trailblazer
Hohlmayer, AliceAlice Hohlmayer (1925– 2005 Spirit Of The Women's Hall Of Fame
Armstead, RuletteRulette Armstead 2004 Activist
Enrique, HerminiaHerminia Enrique 2004 Historian
Howell, DorisDoris Howell 2004 Trailblazer
Kroc, JoanJoan Kroc (1928–2003) 2004 Cultural Competent Bridge Builder
Maschal, MaryMary Maschal (1924–1998) 2004 Historian
McClellan, GloriaGloria McClellan 2004 Activist
Stern, JeanJean Stern 2004 Trailblazer
Barnes, AliceAlice Barnes 2003 Activist
Burbidge, E. MargaretE. Margaret Burbidge (1919– 2003 Trailblazer
Johnson, GloriaGloria Johnson (1937–2013) 2003 Activist
McClure, ArdeliaArdelia McClure 2003 Cultural Competent Bridge Builder
Moreno de Lopez, LiliaLilia Moreno de Lopez 2003 Empowerer
Neff-LeClair, MidgeMidge Neff-LeClair 2003 History
Reeves, NancyNancy Reeves 2003 Trailblazer
Yip, BeverlyBeverly Yip (d.1991) 2003 Activist
Bradley, MadgeMadge Bradley (1904–2000) 2002 Trailblazer
Daba, AlemiAlemi Daba 2002 Empowerer
Dumas, JaneJane Dumas 2002 Historian
Killea, LucyLucy Killea Portrait of San Diego City Council member Lucy Killea (1922–2017) 2002 Activist
Molina de Pick, GraciaGracia Molina de Pick (1928–2019) 2002 Cultural Competent Bridge Builder. Founder of IMPACT, a grass-roots civil rights organization, and of Comision Femenil Mexicana Nacional
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