‘Nevertheless, She Persisted!’ on Display at UH
In a city as big and ever-changing as Houston, it’s easy for its history to get lost in the pursuit of progress. Thanks to graduate student Claire Keck, a new collection at the University of Houston brings to light the stories of the city’s 20th century feminist movement and the rise of modern-day influencers.
In October, the “Nevertheless, She Persisted!” exhibition opened to the public on the second floor of MD Anderson Library. It is one of just a few exhibitions to be featured throughout the school year. Claire Keck, who is a graduate assistant curator for the Carey Shuart Women’s Research Collection, handpicked materials for the exhibit that depict key moments in the lives of influential women in Houston.
Kecks’ goal was to engage Gen Z students in the discussion of historical activism, women’s suffrage and the pro-choice movement.
“This collection is important because it showcases the role women have played throughout the 20th century,” Keck said. “They fought for their rights to suffrage, integration and equality, and bodily autonomy. Even their organizations demonstrated that women were asking for a seat at the table.”
The project, funded by Houston business woman and arts patron Carey C. Shuart, helps promote the Carey Shuart Women’s Research Collection and centers the diverse histories of women’s organizations in Houston. Thanks to her generous support, the library launched two year-long exhibits aimed at engaging students and faculty in curricular and co-curricular pursuits.
“These materials document a range of women’s issues, the ways in which women have come together to achieve their collective goals, and the impact that they have had on the world around them,” said Christina H. Gola, interim dean of UH Libraries.
During the planning of the exhibition, Keck wanted to bring a new meaning to the term “influencer” and reshape it, after all, the effect of female influencers is found throughout society. And Keck wants visitors to understand that the term influencer isn’t new social media jargon — there is history of power and results behind the word.
The collection includes artifacts chronologically spread out representing the 20th to the 21st century. It is an inspiring collection of source materials, including artwork, scrapbooks, photos, certificates, banners and video footage that tell the story of the people so deeply woven into the history of the feminist movement. There are pieces from the Gorilla Girls, the 1977 National Women’s Conference, the River Oaks Rose Club and much more.
“I was most surprised by the Gorilla Girls collection! There were a lot of items that were very intriguing, but I loved combing through it and reading the articles,” Keck said.
“I was most surprised by the Gorilla Girls collection! There were a lot of items that were very intriguing, but I loved combing through it and reading the articles.”
— Claire Keck, graduate assistant curator
While Keck has a deep fascination with many of the pieces in the collection, what captivated her attention was the “Mignon Weisinger Papers,” which feature the love story of UH alums, Pat Gustavson and Mignon Weisinger. Their art and love letters pull back the curtain on what it was like for LGBTQ+ couples to navigate a relationship in a world where they were not accepted by most.
“The wood art drew my eye when I first saw it and was the first item I saw,” Keck said. “Within the context of Mignon Weisinger and her partner, it represents an ongoing fight that women — and especially LGBTQ+ women — have fought.”
“These materials document a range of women’s issues, the ways in which women have come together to achieve their collective goals and the impact that they have had on the world around them,” explained Gola. “The archive creates opportunities for students, scholars and the community to explore local history and discover compelling stories and themes, develop unique research ideas, and further advance and disseminate our understanding of history.”
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