About the Museum

Our mission is to share organizing materials so that those hoping to make a change can find inspiration and guidance. We feature items that reflect activist efforts or symbolize aspects of their world that they sought to change.

These materials can improve understanding, challenge strategy, and even build empathy. We want today's pro-choice organizers to learn from yesterday's pro-life and pro-choice materials. We want environmental activists to find inspiration in civil rights materials.

About the Collection

Our collection contains thousands of photos, pamphlets, speeches, letters, posters, flyers, and more.

It has been curated with the intention to explore questions such as:

Why is protest and activism essential? What gives rise to protest? What is the impact that one person can make?What are potential personal costs of activism? Why do movements grow or fade? How might the language of protest get co-opted? How do social movements intersect?

Notable Holdings

The collection is actively growing in a number of areas. It is especially strong in 1960s student activism; the debate between communism and capitalism; and organizing around the Vietnam War.

Some of the most important pieces in the museum collection have been sourced through direct donations. Donors are sometimes those who have faced repression firsthand and understand the critical importance of freedom of speech and freedom of assembly.

As one example, a student in Russia was designated as a terrorist for posting antiwar flyers in her hometown and sentenced to life in prison. She fled the country and, after being connected to the project, donated her court paperwork as well as her escape disguise.

A number of contemporary newsmakers have asked to defer involvement until the political environment in their home countries is no longer is a risk to themselves or to their families.

Take Your Stand

Want to contribute your items related to protest or activism? Please reach out to [email protected] for guidance on next steps.

Have ideas for how to work together to expand the reach of the museum? Send your thoughts to [email protected].

Have other feedback? You can reach our team at [email protected].