Collections

The Smithsonian’s collections include iconic objects that tell the stories of American women, their struggles, and their accomplishments. Explore collection highlights and stories related to women and girls, or search our digital records.

Girl holds piece of starry fabric on a female sewing dress form. She has pins in her mouth, and more pins and a scissors lie on the ground next to her. There is a curtain and a painting behind her.
Collection Item
Empowering Embroidery
This postcard shows a woman sitting on the observing chair in front of a large refracting telescope
Collection Item
Maria Mitchell
Sandra Day O'Connor wears her work robes for the Supreme Court.
Collection Item
Sandra Day O'Connor
Pages from Poems on Various Subjects
Collection Item
Phillis Wheatley's Poems on Various Subjects
 Poster depicting a Red Cross nurse.
Collection Item
"Hold Up Your End!" War Fund Week Poster
A white cup and saucer depicting an abstract outdoor scene. Image is on both inside and outside of cup. The saucer has brown stripes around the rim.
Collection Item
Metropolis Cup and Saucer designed by Belle Kogan
A vibrant palette and daub-like forms commingle in a vertical stripe pattern to conjure fleeting elements of the landscape.
Collection Item
"Earth Sermon—Beauty, Love and Peace" by Alma Thomas, 1971
Betsey’s sampler includes three distinguishing features of Rhode Island samplers; trumpeting angels with embroidered faces, queen stitch flowers, and a three-story house.
Collection Item
Betsy Bucklin's Sampler
Book cover that reads "Blind Reading"
Collection Item
Solving Mail Mysteries