The idea for the Museum of Motherhood was conceived by Martha Joy Rose in 2003. The first exhibits were located in the Mommy Girl Go-Go Store at 82 Main Street in Dobbs Ferry, NY and comprised a small library, some ephemera, and music made by mom bands. The idea was trademarked in 2005 and followed by the creation of the Motherhood Foundation Inc (MFI)., a 501c3 non-profit with the aid of a team of local volunteers.
During this time, Joy also founded the MaMaPaLooZa Festival series which promoted the idea of the museum and the non-profit MFI, which worked closely with the Westchester Office of Women and New York Parks Department to create women-empowered and mom-branded events that were educational and performance-oriented. Traveling exhibits, arts and academic conferences, and an online presence were part of the MaMaPaLooZa presentations in twenty-five cities and four countries over the span of ten years. The festival reached millions.
In 2010, a MOMS ROCK exhibit was organized on Fall Street in Seneca Falls, NY, featuring Joy and her band Housewives On Prozac after they had been awarded the key to the city.
The MoM space in NYC at 401 East 84th St. in Manhattan (2011-2014) was donated by Gymboree franchise owners Deb Whitefield and Barry Hanson. This first semi-permanent location comprised approximately 2,500 square feet. Within that were a variety of stations (exhibits) that featured science, art, and history; The Womb Room with RealCareTM Babies, and Pregnancy Simulator Vests; The Suffragette Sitting Room, featuring a large “Write Out Loud” wall, encouraging people to share Grief-itti and their stories while raising their voices, The Seneca Falls Room, Moms of Rock, Global Perspectives, Caregiving perspectives, a stage, a play area, a rotating gallery, a reading area (for children), and an adult library.
Travelers from Angola, Mexico, and the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, England, Scotland, Italy, Israel (to name a few) made the museum a destination. Interns from local colleges and high schools constituted approximately 60 volunteer and research participants per annum with a total of 40,000 visitors over 29 months. An active board oversaw many of MoM’s initiatives including acquisitions, the Motherhood Hall of Fame, art auctions, social outreach, and a multitude of programming activities.
After the initial experiment on the Upper East Side completed its tenure, university exhibits were launched. Joy earned her Master’s at CUNY, The Graduate Center in Mother Studies and began teaching in the Sociology Department at Manhattan College. Successive rotating presentations were forthcoming on behalf of MoM at the O’Malley Library on campus (2015 & 2019). The Annual Academic & Arts MoM Conference continued its activities (since 2005) with the launch of the Journal of Mother Studies (JourMS) in 2015, and the help of the Academic Advisory Board each year in partnership with multiple institutions including the Women’s Media Center, MSU, Mankato, Marymount Manhattan College, Manhattan College, and USF to name a few.
Relocation to St. Petersburg, Florida in 2016-17 saw the inception of the MoM Art Annex in the Historic District of Kenwood. Annual Studio Tours as part of Artist Enclave of St. Pete launched in 2017- which Martha JOY Rose participated in. The MoM Art Annex 501c3 Florida non-profit was formed in 2019. Currently, the MoM Art Annex Project, which serves as an incubator for the expansion of the Museum of Motherhood, has been registered with the State of Florida. Local team-building efforts in Florida and internationally have ensued with relationship building, team building, and participation by MoM in several large-scale local events including Localtopia, Winter in the Wood, and Saturday Morning Market and in 2023, a move to The Factory in the Arts District of St. Pete.
The MoM Art Annex has been made possible by Martha Joy Rose. It has served as her personal live/work space, in collaboration with community members and artists since her move South. Joy won an Arts Alliance Individual Artist Grant in 2021, is an AEHK (Artist Enclave of Historic Kenwood) member. She devotes her time championing the growth of MoM and its activities in Florida and around the world.
STEP ONE: Build a Fundraising Committee to enact the first steps of gaining monetary support and awareness towards this project
STEP TWO: Establish action items with this committee to actually raise funds. This includes fundraising events, media campaigns, and activating our efforts towards grant writing.
STEP THREE: Hire the architect, obtain civic support from the City of St. Pete, and initiate plans for construction 2025.
SUCCESS BEGINS WITH OUR ‘WE BUILD TAMPA BAY’ FUNDRAISING INITIATIVES ONGOING
WHO: The Museum of Motherhood is the first and only exhibition and education center devoted to elucidating the art, science, and history of m/others inclusive of all reproductive identities.
WHY: To oversee the permanent establishment of a world-class International Museum to house our permanent collection, increase our capacity for visitors, host our conferences as well as our classes & events, educate pregnant parents, support those engaging in activities centered around identity and culture in a safe and inclusive environment, provide a welcoming space that local community members can utilize, and to serve as an international global destination.
HOW: MoM seeks to marry education, herstory, creativity, culture, and community for the benefit of all with a special emphasis on women who are mothers by amplifying their voices. As our community roots grow, we aim to distinguish ourselves as a place of education, awe, and inspiration. By circulating our community petition, building our board & increasing our staff, leveraging our volunteers, and establishing a track record of success we will increase grant writing, solicit donations, accumulate memberships, continue programming, collaborate with sponsors, and bring on new funding opportunities in order to support and succeed in our mission.
JOIN US: Please consider joining our Fundraising Committee (You do not need to be local to St. Pete)
