During summer 2023, the Frances Willard House Museum and WCTU Archives highlighted stories of women’s mobility and travel on tours and social media. Many artifacts, documents, and photographs in our collection provide insight into the ways in which women crossed borders, transcended boundaries, and formed wide-ranging coalitions. The first collection item we shared was Frances … Read more
This summer, the Frances Willard House Museum is highlighting stories of women’s mobility and travel. Many items on display at the Museum provide insight into the ways in which women crossed borders, transcended boundaries, and formed wide-ranging coalitions. The research and initial draft for this blogpost were done by Britt Fagerstrom, Luke Eberts, and Jessica … Read more
This summer, the Frances Willard House Museum is highlighting stories of women’s mobility and travel. Many items on display at the Museum provide insight into the ways in which women crossed borders, transcended boundaries, and formed wide-ranging coalitions. The research and initial writing for this blogpost was conducted by Ali Schultz, Hana Ross, and Natalie … Read more
Happy Women’s History Month! This year we are featuring items in our collection where a closer look reveals a hidden story. For Women’s History Month 2023, our theme is Women At Work, and the stories that the desks in the Willard House reveal will be our focus. Mary Thompson Hill Willard’s desk Found in her … Read more
One of the objects we often like to highlight in our collection is the music box in the parlor. It was given to Frances Willard as a memorial gift when Mother Willard passed away in 1892. It was made in Geneva, Switzerland and has a “double mandolin effect”. It was given to Miss Willard by … Read more
The Frances Willard House Museum (FWHM) is temporarily exhibiting Hanna Dausch’s piece, I Hear You Sing To Me As You Sway. Below is the story and inspiration behind this work, as told by the artist herself. My name is Hanna Dausch and I am currently a senior at The School of the Art Institute of … Read more
When Frances Willard’s health began to decline later in life, her doctor recommended that she get exercise and fresh air on a regular basis. So Willard traveled to England to visit her colleague and friend, Lady Henry Somerset, who purchased a bicycle for her and had people on hand to teach Willard how to ride. … Read more