Historical Society of Woodstock wins Engaging Communities Award
This article originally appeared in a Historical Society of Woodstock press release.
"Standing on Their Shoulders: 101 Years of Voting and Still Marching for Women's Rights," the suffrage centennial celebration produced by the Historical Society of Woodstock, will receive the Engaging Communities Award of Merit at the Museum Association of New York's 2022 conference, "Envisioning our Museums for the Seventh Generation." The Award Ceremony will take place on Monday, April 11 at 12 PM at the Hilton Garden Inn, Corning, NY. (Photo opportunities available. For further information, please contact info@nymuseums.org or 518-273-3400.)
The Historical Society's commemoration of the anniversary of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which recognized US women's right to vote, was made possible by a grant from Humanities New York with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities. It comprised virtual presentations spanning two years and culminated in a live exhibition with music at the Eames House Museum.
The award announcement from the Museum Association of New York states, "The Review Committee was impressed by how this project used the centennial of women's suffrage to create a multi-year celebration that involved public programs and a physical exhibition that celebrated the local connection to the national movement."
The exhibition highlighted the social justice work of early 20th century activists Edna Buckman Kearns and Elisabeth Freeman, whose descendants have ties to the Woodstock community. The descendants, Marguerite Kearns and Peg Johnston, the Historical Society's Board of Trustees and community volunteers worked together to bring the whole project to fruition.
Events included a video of the "Woodstock Women's March 2019" by filmmaker Tobe Carey, edited by Barton Friedman; a panel discussion, "Where Do We Go From Here" with march organizers Anula Courtis, Maria-Elena Conte and Annie Reed; a music video by Joyce J. Rouse, "Standing on the Shoulders" (@1996, @ 2015, All rights reserved, www.EarthMama.org), and presentations by Johnston ("The Roots of Activism" ) and Marguerite Kearns ("Passing the Women's Rights Torch to the Next Generation"). Kearns' virtual event included an original video based on her memoir, An Unfinished Revolution: Edna Buckman Kearns and the Struggle for Women's Rights, SUNY Press, 2021. The exhibition of vintage photographs provided by Johnston and Kearns offered a stunning finale to the women's centennial celebration.