The library’s lights were dimmed to protect the ancient pages of the 50 manuscripts. The tour group – Richardson’s Girl Up club – shuffled through darkened halls and listened to the tour guide explaining in minute detail why each and every page in the exhibit was a treasure to be cherished. After centuries, the relics of these historical females are nothing short of rarities, which is what drew Girl Up to the SMU Fifty Women exhibit.
Girl Up, a foundation sponsored by the United Nations, is a worldwide program promoting the education of girls everywhere. In order to honor leaders of education in the past, the Girl Up chapter in Richardson High School visited the SMU exhibit, exploring the historical contributions of women to history.
“Girl Up’s whole mission is about education,” Girl Up president junior Emily White, said. “The Fifty Women exhibit is about women and their writings and education in history. So it kind of connects.”
The Fifty Women exhibit, in the Bridwell Library, featured manuscripts dating back as far as 1501. It showcased the writings of women, the books bound and illuminated by women, and the biographies and letters about them.
“One of my personal favorites is the Hrothsvitha von Gandersheim,” curator Dr. Eric White said. “She was a nun who discovered the writings of Terence, and translated them. She then wrote her own plays and became the first female playwright in history.”
One exhibit was a biography of Joan of Arc, the poems of Phillis Wheatley, the writings of Mary Baker Eddy, a bible translation by Julia Eveina Smith, a book dedicated by Susan B. Anthony, and another favorite of Dr. White – the pamphlets of Elizabeth Cellier.
“Cellier was interesting, to say the least,” Dr. White said.
Elizabeth Cellier was a midwife who visited inmates in prison and was framed for an assassination plot against King James II. She defended herself against the King’s attorneys by herself on the behalf of both her and the noblewoman she served, and was acquitted.
“Everyone who knew her would tell you how eccentric she was,” Dr. White said. “You could say a lot of things, but she was definitely exciting.”
The exhibition also featured the first-edition volume of “The History of Woman Suffrage,” signed by Susan B. Anthony. After the volume was discovered, the university included it in the exhibition for unlimited access to students.
“Anyone could have checked it out and never returned it.” Dr. White said. “I found it one day and saw the signature, and was quite surprised. After that we took the book from the library and placed it in the exhibit.”
The exhibit also included Helen Keller’s letters and signatures, with her autobiography and her essay “Optimism.”
Keller, who was famous for learning how to read, write and speak despite being blind and deaf, was also an ardent supporter of women’s rights and public education.
“Reading these makes you tear up,” Dr. White said. “Even now I’m kind of choked up. To know how far she came and to see the complete optimism she wrote with is inspirational – it goes to show what Girl Up stands for.”