Voices and Votes: Democracy in America

November 1 through December 13, 2024

Just in time for Election Day, Munson will host Voices and Votes: Democracy in America in the Munson Museum of Art Root Court. Voices and Votes is a traveling adaptation of the Smithsonian National Museum of American History’s exhibition, American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith and celebrates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. 

One of 12 museums in New York to host this exhibition, Voices and Votes includes many of the same dynamic features as the Smithsonian’s exhibition, including historical and contemporary photographs; educational and archival video; engaging multimedia interactives; and historical objects like campaign souvenirs, voter memorabilia, and protest material. 

Voices and Votes exhibition themes include:

• the principles and events that inspired the writers of the Declaration of Independence and the

• Constitution;

• the struggle for voting rights and equal participation in our democracy;

• freedoms and responsibilities of citizens;

• the formal and informal processes of our political systems;

• music, performance, and visual arts as expressions of democracy;

• protest and actions beyond the ballot including civil rights movements and the struggles of historically

• marginalized people;

• and supporting new American citizens.

As a poll center for the third time for Ward 5, District 7; Ward 2, District 6; and Ward 2, District 8, Munson is expecting hundreds of voters to visit the Museum on Election Day while exercising their right to vote. 

In celebration of this exhibition, Oneida County History Center has organized a companion exhibit, “An Essential Feature of Democracy: Lucy Carlile Watson.” Watson played an active role in bringing the suffrage campaign to central New York. This exhibition showcases her life and the contributions of local women in achieving equality and enhancing the lives of those in their community.

In conjunction with their exhibit, the History Center will host a scholar lecture—“Women Voted on this Land Before Columbus”—with Sally Roesch Wagner, Ph.D., a Syracuse University professor and major scholar on the suffrage movement who has taught women’s studies for more than five decades. Roesch Wagner’s lecture will discuss how sovereign women of the Haudenosaunee in upstate New York may have shown early settlers how societies with empowered women could succeed. 

Learn more about the New York State tour of the Voices and Votes exhibition at agoranewyork.org.

Voices and Votes is a Museum on Main Street (MoMS) exhibition developed by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service. It’s based on an exhibition by the National Museum of American History. It has been made possible in New York State by the Museum Association of New York. Support for MoMS in New York State has been provided by the United States Congress and the William G. Pomeroy Foundation.

“A New Agora for New York: Museums as Spaces for Democracy” humanities discussion programs are made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

About Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service

SITES has been sharing the wealth of Smithsonian collections and research programs with millions of people outside Washington, D.C., for more than 65 years. SITES connects Americans to their shared cultural heritage through a wide range of exhibitions about art, science and history, which are shown wherever people live, work and play. For exhibition description and tour schedules, visit sites.si.edu.

About the Museum Association of New York

The Museum Association of New York is New York’s representative of the MoMS program, an outreach program of the Smithsonian institution Traveling Exhibition Service, and is the only statewide museum service organization with more than 750 member museums, historical societies, zoos, botanical gardens, and aquariums. MANY helps shape a better future for museums and museum professionals by uplifting best practices and building organizational capacity through advocacy, training, and networking opportunities. Visit www.nysmuseums.org and follow MANY on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn @nysmuseums.

About the National Endowment for the Humanities

Created in 1965 as an independent federal agency, the National Endowment for the Humanities supports research and learning in history, literature, philosophy, and other areas of the humanities by funding selected, peer-reviewed proposals from around the nation. Additional information about the National Endowment for the Humanities and its grant programs is available at: www.neh.gov.

About the William G. Pomeroy Foundation

The William G. Pomeroy Foundation® is committed to supporting the celebration and preservation of community history; and working to improve the probability of finding appropriate donor matches or other life-saving treatments for blood cancer patients. Established by Trustee Bill Pomeroy in 2005 to bring together his two greatest passions, the Pomeroy Foundation is a private, philanthropic organization located in Syracuse, N.Y. As the nation’s leading funder of historic roadside markers, the Pomeroy Foundation has awarded more than 2,100 grants for markers and bronze plaques in 48 states and Washington, D.C. To learn more about the Pomeroy Foundation, please visit wgpfoundation.org.

About Humanities New York

Using dialogue, reflection, and critical thinking, Humanities New York applies the humanities to strengthen democratic society. Established in 1975 as the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, Humanities New York is a private 501(c)(3) organization that may receive federal, state, and private funding. To learn more about Humanities New York, visit  humanitiesny.org.