The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) was formed under the General Services Administration (GSA) in 1934. The purpose of the institution is to collect and preserve pieces of American history. Most notably, the National Archives building in Washington, D.C. is home to the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and Bill of Rights, and thousands of other documents and artifacts that tell the story of the United States. The NARA separated itself from the GSA in 1984 with the Records Administration Act.

While exploring this online exhibit, keep in mind a central theme that defines public memories and histories: there are stories we do not get to hear. The United States has a long, long history of silencing marginalized voices, in this case, the voices of women, but in the past, the voices of immigrants, Native Americans, the enslaved, and countless others. This results in a lack of representation in history textbooks, public monuments and memorials, and in the halls of academia, including in museums. As you read, watch, and listen to this exhibit, ask yourself what other examples of silencing and censorship exist in the history of the U.S. Ask yourself what people you haven't heard from in their own words. How can we lift up these voices? How can we enter a new era of our history, one in which we all have a voice?