New-York Historical Society Exhibition Reveals Untold Stories of Revolutionary Women

The New-York Historical Society has opened 'Revolutionary Women,' an exhibition running through October 25 that highlights the diverse roles women played during the American Revolution. Co-curated by Anna K. Danziger Halperin, Tessa Bangs, Isabelle Held, Rachel Pitkin, and Lauren Cain, the show draws on the institution's collections to feature lesser-known figures such as Rebecca Gomez, a Jewish merchant who manufactured chocolate and supplied George Washington's Culper Spy Ring, and Mary Alexander, a dry goods merchant who helped found the New York Society Library. The exhibition also includes Elizabeth Freeman, who sued for her freedom in 1781, and Mohawk leader Molly Brant, who allied with the British. A love poem from patriot Aquila Giles to loyalist Elizabeth Shipton illustrates blurred political allegiances. The show aims to shift understanding of the Revolution by centering women's labor and expertise, moving beyond symbolic figures like Molly Pitcher.