Exhibit: A woman’s place is in the woods, and on water, and with the wildlife

The Michigan Women’s Historical Center in Lansing is going green with a new history exhibit entitled “Resourceful Women: 30 Who Worked to Preserve Michigan’s Water, Woods, and Wildlife” on display through February 19.

“Resourceful Women” will examine the contributions of 30 females who served as protectors and promoters of our state’s natural resources and the environment in the 20th century.

Two of the women are connected with MEC: Former President Lana Pollack and Board Member Mary Brown. Several other women are or were affiliated with MEC’s member groups.

The women honored at the Center include:

Activists Bertha Daubendiek, Verna Courtemanche , Mary Beth Doyle, and Virginia Prentice

Artists Emily Butterfield and Gwen Frostic

Communicators Margaret Drake Elliott, Mary Sinclair, and Barbara Stanton

Educators Edith Munger and Mae Woldt

Environmentalists Caroline Bartlett Crane, Elizabeth Harris, Dorothy Leonard Judd, and Joan Luedders Wolfe

Lobbyists Olga Madar, Ella Merriman Sharp, and Anna Reed Woodcock

Naturalists E. Genevieve Gillette, Rebecca Humphries, Huldah Neal and Sylvia Taylor

Political figures Connie Binsfeld, Mary Brown, Helen Milliken and Lana Pollack

Scientists Emma Cole, Helen Martin, Lucille Stickel and Sandra Jacobson

Visitors will be able to view personal artifacts associated with these women, including a sculpture of cattails by artist Gwen Frostic and a mounted American Robin representing Edith Munger, who spearheaded the campaign to name a state bird.

The exhibit will additionally feature hands-on activities that encourage young visitors to design a state park and decorate a take-home butterfly. The exhibit was inspired by the book Ruin & Recovery: Michigan’s Rise as a Conservation Leader by noted environmentalist and former MEC staffer Dave Dempsey.