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Clark County Historical Museum to celebrate women’s history

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The Clark County Historical Museum will celebrate women's history and the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment with its newest exhibit, "(Her)Story: Founders, Leaders & Visionaries." (photo courtesy of Clark County Historical Museum)

The Clark County Historical Museum will present its newest exhibit, “(Her)Story: Founders, Leaders & Visionaries,” with a virtual opening reception on Facebook Live from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21. As part of the reception, CCHM is holding an online auction to raise funds to support the exhibit and future programming.

In celebration of women’s history and the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, “(Her)Story: Founders, Leaders, & Visionaries” explores the significant impact women have made on Clark County history. Women have long played a major role in the building and growth of Clark County and Southwest Washington. Today, many women in all facets of our community carry this legacy forward. “(Her)Story” showcases the history of women as change agents through a series of interpretative panels, recorded interviews, and an online companion virtual exhibit. The exhibit caps off a year-long celebration of Women’s History at the museum.

Developed by volunteer curators Tracy Reilly Kelly and Pepper Kim with support from Dee Anne Finken, the exhibit explores the lives and stories of the many women that call Clark County home from the Indigenous Nations through the Suffrage Movement and into today.

“The story of women seeking rights in Southwest Washington is an intriguing one to research and write,” Reilly Kelly said. “It is thrilling to connect stories of women in our region to the larger context of women throughout the nation. Digital research now allows access to newspapers and original sources of people at that time.”

Recorded interviews and conversations related to women’s issues accompany this history. Key conversations include a discussion of the “Indian Princess” narrative by Indigenous women of the community; “What the Vote Means to Me” featuring women business owners, politicians, and community leaders; oral histories of women collected by CCHM; and items related to local women.

The exhibit also includes a wholly digital companion exhibit, a first for the museum.

“(Her)Story: Founders, Leaders, & Visionaries” will be open through 2023. This exhibit is sponsored by Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle, the city of Vancouver, League of Women Voters of Clark County and the “Yellow Rose” sponsors.

For more information on the exhibit or to become a Yellow Rose sponsor, visit cchmuseum.org, or contact the museum at 360-993-5679 or outreach@cchmuseum.org.