Actor Meryl Streep has made an unspecified seven-figure donation to the National Women’s History Museum (NWHM). Her investment in the digital-first museum, based in Washington, D.C., supports the preservation of women’s stories.
Streep’s monumental gift to the NWHM will support the museum’s digital initiatives, including a series of digital storytelling experiences surrounding women's accomplishments that can be accessed across classrooms, the home, and various digital platforms. The contribution will also support the museum’s efforts to make certain that women’s contributions to the cultural, social, economic, and political worlds will be recognized, taught, and remembered for generations to come.
“History is shaped not only by those who make it, but by those who ensure it is remembered,” said the Academy Award–winning actor in a press statement. “The National Women’s History Museum has long been a catalyst for bringing forward the stories that deepen our understanding of who we are. I am proud to continue supporting this essential work so that future generations inherit a history that is both truthful and complete.”
In celebration of her gift, the museum will establish the annual Meryl Streep Educator Award in support of an outstanding educator in the field. The inaugural honoree will be celebrated at the museum’s Women Making History Awards gala this November.
“As one of the most influential storytellers of our time, Meryl Streep has spent her career illuminating the depth, complexity, and power of women’s lives,” the museum’s board chair, Susan D. Whiting, said in a press statement. “Her extraordinary generosity, paired with her unwavering commitment to truth, equity, and education, reflects the very mission of this museum.”
Established in 1996, the NWHM was the first institution of its kind in the United States. The non-profit, nonpartisan organization has organized online exhibitions and in-person events, while also playing a key role in advancing the forthcoming Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum.
