Interpreting Women’s History with Museum Sources: An Experience in a Nigerian Museum

Abstract

Until recently, the history of women had remained largely neglected in a male dominated society. Thanks to women like Mary Bread and Gerda Lerner who laid the foundation for women’s history to be studied and documented.  Works focusing on women gradually swelled bookshelves especially from the nineties of the last century. Some of these scholars, Marion Arnord (1997); Eva Rosander (1997); Nnaemeka and Korieh (2011) have promoted women’s history and placed their roles in correct perspective. This paper, realizing the imbalance in documenting women’s history with museum sources is an attempt at promoting, documenting, and placing in proper perspectives the history of women through the relics found in Jos Museum, Nigeria. The research concludes with an agitation for a Museum of Women’s History to inspire other women to create their own history. It also applauds women for their commitment to the economic, social and political transformation of their societies.

Key words: The history of women; Imbalance; Museum sources; Political transformation