El Museo de la Mujer de California se muda y se convierte en un programa del Centro de Historia de San Diego
California Women's Museum Joins San Diego History Center
In recent years, San Diego residents have witnessed significant activity in the world of museums: the Museum of Photographic Arts merged with the San Diego Museum of Art; the Museum of Contemporary Art opened a renovated space and closed another; and a new Navy SEAL Museum was announced.
The California Women’s Museum, an organization dedicated to educating and inspiring about women’s issues and history, is joining these changes with a major transformation.
The museum will relocate and become a program of the San Diego History Center, a local institution for nearly 100 years. The History Center, which also operates the Junípero Serra Museum, is located in Balboa Park, a highly desired location for the leaders of the Women’s Museum.
“There’s no better space in San Diego than the one we now have at the History Center,” said Sandra Maas, president of its board of directors.
The leaders of both entities see the collaboration as mutually beneficial. Laura Mitchell, executive director of the Women’s Museum and former president of the board of the San Diego Museum Council, encourages smaller museums and nonprofits to consider collaborating with larger organizations.
“When you’re responsible for incredibly important cultural resources like the extraordinary collection of women’s history artifacts at the Women’s Museum, you have a moral responsibility to ensure those resources have a safe place,” said Mitchell. “And you have a moral responsibility to ensure they are accessible to the public. Being part of the History Center really helps guarantee that for the next 100 years.”
A Museum's Evolution
The Women’s Museum has shown its determination to survive and find its place in San Diego. Founded in 1983 as a collection in the home of archivist, historian, and activist Mary Maschal, it has relocated multiple times over the years. Most recently, the museum occupied an educational space at the Jacobs Center in Southeast San Diego in 2022.
The museum decided not to renew its lease in 2023, Mitchell explained via email, after receiving a grant from the Prebys Foundation that enabled its move to the History Center.
“What happened with our smaller organization, becoming part of this larger organization, is not unusual,” said Maas. “In this era, many small nonprofits are really struggling. There are so many now, all competing for funds to keep their organizations afloat. It’s a great benefit for us. It’s been not just a lifeline and a boost of energy for us, but something I think we’ll see happening more often.”
Collaboration Benefits
Bill Lawrence, president and CEO of the History Center, said combining resources and expanding while recovering from the pandemic also benefits the History Center.
“We haven’t completely overcome the impact of the pandemic on the nonprofit industry and the arts, culture, history, and science sector,” said Lawrence. “I don’t know if we’ll ever return to a pre-pandemic point.”
Even before the pandemic, the two organizations took steps toward a joint future when the Women’s Museum transferred its archive to the History Center for safekeeping. Lawrence believes the merger makes sense, given that the center already explores women’s issues as part of its focus on local history.
An example is the center’s current exhibit, “Advancing the Status of Women in Law and Society: San Diego Lawyers Club at 50 Years.”
However, Lawrence noted that the Women’s Museum “brings a completely different level of focus” to these efforts.
Preserving Women’s History
The museum’s physical collection spans hundreds of years, including a recent acquisition of a soccer ball signed by members of the San Diego Wave FC. It houses the San Diego County Women’s Hall of Fame, featuring members like Chicano Park co-founder Josephine Talamantez, astronaut Sally Ride, and Congresswoman Susan Davis.
Recent events hosted by the Women’s Museum include screenings of a documentary about civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer and the film “Girls Can’t Surf.”
Future Plans
Looking ahead, the museum is working on a 2025 exhibit about women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), in collaboration with Holly Smithson, CEO and president of Athena and a member of the San Diego Women’s Hall of Fame.
“If we don’t have women’s stories displayed in these historical settings, they’ll lose sight of what’s possible,” said Smithson. “They won’t have tangible, larger-than-life examples to look up to, replicate, and amplify.”
Angela Coker, board member and assistant professor of Women’s Studies at San Diego State University, emphasized the importance of physical evidence in preserving women’s history.
“With the rise of AI, information can be fabricated,” said Coker. “It’s important to have these physical and concrete proofs.”
San Diego History Center Information
- Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday to Sunday
- Location: 1649 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego
- Admission: Suggested minimum donation of $10
- Phone: 619-232-6203
- Website: sandiegohistory.org