At the Heinz History Center’s new major exhibit, “A Woman’s Place: How Women Shaped Pittsburgh,” you’ll find the inauguration dress worn by the first and only female mayor of Pittsburgh, Sophie Masloff; protest posters and buttons worn by Pittsburgh suffragists; leather gloves used by Western Pennsylvanians in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League; and the bag that pioneering journalist Nellie Bly took on her 72-day trip around the world.
Those are just a few highlights from the more than 250 artifacts and archival images in the collection that tell the stories of Pittsburgh’s “fierce and unflappable” women, from the early 1800s to the present.
Women's clothing resembling eras in Pittsburgh history. (Francesca Dabecco / City Cast Pittsburgh)
Discover more stories of entrepreneurs, activists, artists, athletes, scientists, inventors, changemakers, and barrier breakers, now through October 6.
Plus, mark your calendars for these upcoming events:
- Sunday, May 5: Women’s Journey in Journalism with Brooke Kroeger — In partnership with the Women’s Press Club of Pittsburgh, the History Center will welcome Brooke Kroeger, author, journalist, and professor emerita at New York University, for a lecture on her book “Undaunted: How Women Changed American Journalism.” The talk will be followed by a panel discussion with local journalists and members of the Women’s Press Club that will explore how women’s roles in the media have changed throughout history.
- Thursday, May 23: Leading by Example: Women’s Leadership in Law — The History Center and the Rauh Jewish History Program and Archives will reflect on the distinguished career of the Honorable Rochelle S. Friedman, and welcome leaders in the legal community to reflect on her contributions to the field.
- Sunday, June 30: Keystone Stories: Uncovering the Legacies of Pennsylvania Women — Join the History Center for a panel discussion exploring the art of uncovering women’s untold stories throughout history. The panel will include authors Kimberly Hess and Eliza Smith Brown as they share their unique investigative processes for reclaiming the narratives of overlooked women in history.
