A number of UK museums and archives have asked the public to donate placards, photographs, and artifacts from the recent Women’s protest march against Donald Trump, which took place last weekend.
This historic event is thought to be one of the largest global demonstrations ever to take place, the one day of events were estimated to have attracted up to five million people to more than 670 rallies around the world standing up for equality and women’s rights.
“To be able to have material in the collection from both sides of the Atlantic is really meaningful for us” – GWL’s curator Wendy Turner
The original march was planned for Washington DC to coincide with the new US president Donald Trump’s first full day in office. Sister demonstrations were held in numerous UK cities, including London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Belfast, and Cardiff.
Among the institutions collecting items in the UK is the Glasgow Women’s Library (GWL), the only Accredited museum in Britain dedicated to women’s history, which put out a call for objects on Twitter this week.
The museum has so far received several offers of items from the Glasgow march, including placards and pussy-hats (pink hats knitted by protesters to draw attention to the notorious comments caught on tape in which president Trump bragged about sexual assault). It has also been promised a pussy-hat from the Washington DC march.
A wide range of institutions in America is also collecting memorabilia from the protests, including the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington DC and the New York Historical Society.
In the immediate future, the museum will use some of the objects in an upcoming community co-curation project, Women Making an Exhibition of Themselves.
“While the inauguration of Donald Trump was a focal point for some, others chose to make their voice heard regarding women’s rights, healthcare, racial equality, LGBT equality and climate change.”
Once catalogued, the material will be made publicly available through the institute’s archive and is likely to be used in workshops and adult education classes.
Edited From Museums Association Article by Geraldine Kendal Adams