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The Censoring of the Army Women's Museum

  • 1.  The Censoring of the Army Women's Museum

    Posted 02-05-2025 07:00 PM
    Edited by Micaela Knox 02-07-2025 04:23 PM

    --UPDATED 2/7/2025--

    The censorship of the Army Women's Museum's exhibits continues to escalate. On 2/5/2025, staff had to cover parts of interpretive texts in a display about sexual assault and suicide prevention in the military. On 2/7/2025, the DOD and CMH has advised staff to the closure  completely cover the exhibit stating that is is "temporarily under construction." [Note: I was mistaken about the extent that the exhibit was covered.]

    SEND THIS STORY to your colleagues and everyone that will listen. LinkedIn posts: Army Women's Museum Website Offline, Closure of the Exhibit, and How to Archive Websites/Social Media. Copy and paste wherever you see fit. Make sure that everyone knows.

    HELP ARCHIVE WEBSITES IN DANGER OF CENSORSHIP 

    If you are concerned about a website or social media post is at risk of being removed or edited, please take the time to archive it in its current state AND after you notice changes happen by using the Internet Archive Wayback Machine. On website pages, It is especially helpful to check "Save outlinks" before hitting "Save page," as this saves all of the related pages linked to it. It never hurts to have several archives of the same page!

    IF THE WAYBACK MACHINE DOES NOT WORK take screenshots to save them and submit them using THIS FORM.

    --ORIGINAL POST--

    If you have seen the Netflix original move "The Six Triple Eight" or are otherwise interested in women's history in male-dominated spaces like the military, I want to make you aware of what is happening right now.

    The movie's incredible story about over 800 women in the military during WWII is preserved by the Army Women's Museum, which is a military-owned museum in Virginia and the only museum that is entirely dedicated to educating about the history of women and trans stories in the military. Right now, this museum is in danger of censorship, personnel cuts, and potentially more threats directed from the Department of Defense and the Center of Military History. Currently, the Army Women's Museum website is currently offline while "undergoing additional content review," their socials are quiet, and they have been removed from the Center of Military History's listing of military museums (the museum was previously on the list as recently as January 24). They are actively covering up interpretation on display in the galleries. Other military museums are not experiencing this level of control over their means of communication.

    I wanted to share this to make people aware of this museum which houses such inspiring history. If you are also alarmed and feel the need to make your voice heard, please send an email to francis.l.reynolds.civ@army.mil" rel="noopener nofollow ugc" target="_blank">francis.l.reynolds.civ@army.mil to let him know about your concern for the safety of the Army Women's Museum collections and educational resources.



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    Micaela Knox
    Program Coordinator
    Great American Songbook Foundation
    Carmel IN
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  • 2.  RE: The Censoring of the Army Women's Museum

    Posted 02-06-2025 09:10 AM

    Thanks for this, I've sent him a note. The Army Women's Museum is one of only a handful of AAM-accredited military museums, and the only museum in the world dedicated to army women.



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    Meredith Peruzzi (she/they)
    Museum Accessibility Specialist
    Echo Spark Consulting, LLC
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  • 3.  RE: The Censoring of the Army Women's Museum

    Posted 02-06-2025 09:12 AM
    Hi, Micaela (and all) - First let me say that there is also a Public Broadcasting (still operating as usual, as I understand it) about the 6888, which features interviews with some of the actual members of the Battalion, including Major Adams, who became a Colonel.

    Also - as I heard yesterday from NPR, the NSA museum was instructed to paper over displays of exhibit components reflecting the achievements of women and people of color.  Can you imagine if the public can't learn about the contributions of Native American code breakers during WWII?  This is where we are headed.

    I am retired, so it will affect me less than many of you still working in the field and hoping for those crumbs of federal program funds (let alone operating support).  I believe we need to find ways to fight back.  Don't let this happen to what used to be our country.  Since Reagan, we have lost so much; freedoms, transparency, honor and self respect.  I shudder to think (know) what's next.

    Vivian





  • 4.  RE: The Censoring of the Army Women's Museum

    Posted 02-06-2025 09:28 AM

    I also sent a message to him. This is alarming.

    May I have your permission please to copy your post and share it on LinkedIn (Giving you full credit for it)? I would like my followers there to see it.

    Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

    Claudia



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    Claudia Ocello
    President & CEO
    Museum Partners Consulting, LLC
    Maplewood NJ
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  • 5.  RE: The Censoring of the Army Women's Museum

    Posted 02-06-2025 11:42 PM

    Please do share this as far and wide as you can! I made a post on LinkedIn if that would be helpful. Links are listed in the comments section.

    https://www.linkedin.com/posts/knoxmicaela_the-censorship-of-the-army-womens-museum-activity-7293486476930027520-Tys-?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android&rcm=ACoAACpfFdMBP_8xWeI6YwnEh4YJzoml2k7E8_4



    ------------------------------
    Micaela Knox
    Program Coordinator
    Great American Songbook Foundation
    Carmel IN
    ------------------------------



  • 6.  RE: The Censoring of the Army Women's Museum

    Posted 02-06-2025 09:59 AM

    Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

    I am a (nearly) 20 year military spouse and museum professional who's had to reinvent myself every 1-3 years with our moves. I've sent an inquiry, and depending on the results, I will activate my network to send emails, get boots-on-the-ground feedback, and help bring some light into what actually happens to content.  I hope everyone on this thread keeps sharing what they see - whether you have images of exhibits being covered, responses, or otherwise.

    Stay vigilant and care for yourselves my museum friends...



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    --

    Mandy Kirchgessner, Ed.D. (she/her)

    Cofounder and Mentor
    Nonprofit GrowthGen, LLC
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  • 7.  RE: The Censoring of the Army Women's Museum

    Posted 02-06-2025 10:02 AM
    I, too, sent an email to Mr. Reynolds asking for detailed information.  Let's keep the pressure on.  Is this Soviet Russia?  Nazi Germany?





  • 8.  RE: The Censoring of the Army Women's Museum

    Posted 02-06-2025 01:09 PM

    Dear Micaela

    Thank you for bring this to everyones attention. I agree that all stories should be told and that we all benefit from the whole historical story belong told. I will pass the word. I am an emerging museum professional after completing my masters at San Francisco State in museum studies. 

    Thank you,

    Rachel Alschuler



    ------------------------------
    Rachel Alschuler
    Museum Education/ Visitor Experience
    San Francisco CA
    ------------------------------



  • 9.  RE: The Censoring of the Army Women's Museum

    Posted 02-06-2025 04:26 PM

    Thank you very much for bringing this to our attention. I wrote to Francis Reynolds and received the response below. This is incredibly concerning.

    Hi Kelly,

    The removal of the Army Women's Museum website is temporary, we are reviewing content based on the new guidance from the Department of Defense and the Presidents Executive Order. Once we are certain the site meets the guidance it will go live again.

    We do have a new landing page that provides information about the museum. The museum remains open under normal operating hours and has never closed.

    Thanks!

    v/r,
    -Lee
     
    F. Lee Reynolds

    Kelly Cahn

    Kelly Cahn LLC Art Advisory and Appraisals



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    Kelly Cahn
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  • 10.  RE: The Censoring of the Army Women's Museum

    Posted 02-06-2025 05:26 PM

    I received the same response.

    I did follow-up and request a copy of any report detailing what changes are made as a result of this review. 



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    --

    Mandy Kirchgessner, Ed.D. (she/her)

    Cofounder and Mentor
    Nonprofit GrowthGen, LLC
    ------------------------------



  • 11.  RE: The Censoring of the Army Women's Museum

    Posted 02-06-2025 05:44 PM

    Dear All

    I got response as well. Seems like the official line.

    Thanks,

    Rachel



    ------------------------------
    Rachel Alschuler
    Museum Education/ Visitor Experience
    San Francisco CA
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  • 12.  RE: The Censoring of the Army Women's Museum

    Posted 02-07-2025 12:08 AM

    @Meredith Peruzzi @Claudia Ocello @Amanda Kirchgessner  @Vivian Zoe @Rachel Alschuler @Kelly Cahn

    Thank you all for speaking up for our friends at the Army Women's Museum. I agree with Amanda's recent comment. We should continue to put on pressure for public transparency about the changes made to the museum's website and its galleries, initiatives, and policies. They need to be held accountable. We cannot accept a lazy email response from them and nothing else.

    I appreciate each of you. Please share this information with your colleagues and keep up the good work!



    ------------------------------
    Micaela Knox
    Program Coordinator
    Great American Songbook Foundation
    Carmel IN
    ------------------------------



  • 13.  RE: The Censoring of the Army Women's Museum

    Posted 02-07-2025 10:28 AM

    Thank you for sharing!

    As a museum professional, a former soldier and, more importantly, the spouse of a former female soldier, I sent an email both to Mr. Reynolds and to the base PAO. (response below) 

    Bringing public attention to matters like this will bring change faster than just sending emails. To this end, I also shared the issue to several interest groups that could generate some heat. Public attention is what led the NSA to walk back the steps taken in response to the DEI orders. They had covered exhibit materials related to women and people of color. This was corrected after their constituency rose up.

    The response from I received from Mr. Reynolds: 

    Hi David,


    The removal of the Army Women's Museum website is temporary, we are reviewing content based on the new guidance from the Department of Defense and the Presidents Executive Order. Once we are certain the site meets the guidance it will go live again.

    We do have a new landing page that provides information about the museum. The museum remains open under normal operating hours and has never closed.

    Thanks!

    v/r,
    -Lee

    F. Lee Reynolds
    Chief, Engagements Division
    Strategic Communications Officer (PAO)
    U.S. Army Center of Military History



    ------------------------------
    David Kennedy ()
    Curator of Collections and Exhibits
    US Marshals Museum
    Fort Smith, AR
    dkennedy@usmmuseum.org
    (479) 709-3766
    ------------------------------



  • 14.  RE: The Censoring of the Army Women's Museum

    Posted 02-07-2025 12:51 PM

    I am currently researching the roles women played in WWII and it is incredibly disheartening to see a valuable resource like this be stripped away. You can still access archived versions of the site by using the Wayback Machine (Internet Archive: Digital Library of Free & Borrowable Texts, Movies, Music & Wayback Machine) but the fact that this is the only way to access this information is shocking and horrifying. I hope the website can come back in its true form and continue the mission of the AWA's mission to conserve and preserve a repository of artifacts and archives pertaining to the service of women in the U.S. Army.

    Kat Davis
    she/her/hers, they/them/theirs
    Supervisor, Guest Experiences
    Griffin Museum of Science and Industry



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    Kat Davis
    Guest Experience Supervisor
    Griffin Museum of Science and Industry
    Chicago IL
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  • 15.  RE: The Censoring of the Army Women's Museum

    Posted 02-07-2025 01:15 PM

    Dear All

    I am liking this as both an emerging museum professional and someone who enjoys discussions. Lets's continue to spreed the word.

    Thanks,

    Rachel



    ------------------------------
    Rachel Alschuler
    Museum Education/ Visitor Experience
    San Francisco CA
    ------------------------------



  • 16.  RE: The Censoring of the Army Women's Museum

    Posted 02-07-2025 02:05 PM

    Thank you again everyone for your help.

    The censorship continues to escalate in the Army Women's Museum exhibits. I updated the original post, but to review:

    On 2/5/2025, staff had to cover interpretive texts in a display about sexual assault and harassment in the military. On 2/7/2025, the DOD and CMH has forced the closure of the exhibit, stating that is is "temporarily under construction."



    ------------------------------
    Micaela Knox
    Program Coordinator
    Great American Songbook Foundation
    Carmel IN
    ------------------------------



  • 17.  RE: The Censoring of the Army Women's Museum

    Posted 02-07-2025 02:54 PM
    Edited by Micaela Knox 02-07-2025 02:56 PM

    HELP ARCHIVE WEBSITES IN DANGER OF CENSORSHIP 

    If you are concerned about a website or social media post is at risk of being removed or edited, please take the time to archive it in its current state AND after you notice changes happen by using the Internet Archive Wayback Machine. On website pages, It is especially helpful to check "Save outlinks" before hitting "Save page," as this saves all of the related pages linked to it. It never hurts to have several archives of the same page!

    IF THE WAYBACK MACHINE DOES NOT WORK take screenshots to save them and submit them using THIS FORM.



    ------------------------------
    Micaela Knox
    Program Coordinator
    Great American Songbook Foundation
    Carmel IN
    ------------------------------



  • 18.  RE: The Censoring of the Army Women's Museum

    Posted 02-07-2025 07:44 PM

    I live in Illinois, home of Senator Tammy Duckworth. She is a veteran, and she cares very passionately about veteran's issues. As her constituent, I just wrote her to make her aware of the situation and suggested that in honor of her own service record, and to protect the records of other women with whom she served, she needs to do what she can to STOP this outrage.  

    You can write to Senator Duckworth through her webpage, https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/connect/email-tammy   Even if you are not from Illinois, you can still write to her. Her Washington DC phone number is 202-224-2854.

    Here is a list of representatives who are veterans. Especially if you are a constituent, please write - or call - your representative. Flooding our elected officials with complaints is a way to get their attention. https://veterans.house.gov/resources-for-veterans/veterans-in-congress.htm



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    Jeanette Watts
    Dance Historian
    History is My Playground
    www.DancingThruHistory.com
    ------------------------------