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.

Two busts of self-portrait of artist Janine Antoni - one made of white soap, one made of chocolate. Her features have been worn down by bathing the soap and licking the chocolate.
Collection Item
"Lick and Lather" by Janine Antoni, 1993–1994
Papier-mache version of the Statue of Liberty. Liberty is Latina and carries a cornucopia of tomatoes instead of a tablet. Instead of a torch, she holds a tomato aloft in her hand.
Collection Item
Immokalee Statue of Liberty by Kat Rodriguez
Green book cover and white text reading "SILENT SPRING."
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Rachel Carson
Teal electric corn grinder.
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Concepción “Concha” Sanchez's Molino
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.
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Empowering Embroidery
Sylvia Rivera sits flanked by her partner Julia Murray (right) and activist Christina Hayworth at the Saturday Rally before New York’s Gay Pride Parade
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Sylvia Rivera
Ruby Hirose sits at a lab station. She wears a white lab coat and holds a pipette.
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Ruby Hirose
Queen Lili‘uokalani poses for a royal portrait. She wears a sash.
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Queen Liliʻuokalani
Draped sumptuous pink fabric frames rows of black-and-white photos and an arrangement of found objects including a fan, bracelets, painted fruit, dried flowers, and lace, all set in a niche.
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A Latina Star and Hollywood Success