An inspiring memoir relating how Wilhelmina Cole Holladay succeeded in founding and establishing the best-known museum devoted to women in the arts. Over the centuries, until quite recently, the work of great women artists had been ignored, forgotten, or denied; they had been largely left out of museums and histories of art. Along came Wilhelmina Cole Holliday, who boldly decided it was time to rectify this oversight by founding a museum in 1987 in a landmark building near the White House. A critic for the  Washington Postwrot e, “Wilhelmina Cole Holladay, the museum’s founding president, has accomplished something radical. No player in the art scene here has a deeper understanding of power and money and of how our system works. Despite her white-glove graciousness, hard-working Billie Holladay is a warrior and a winner…” This thrilling story of the birth and early years of the NMWA is a lively, anecdotal, behind-the-scenes, eyewitness glimpse of the efforts of dedicated individuals who shared Mrs. Holladay’s vision and, under her leadership, helped her expand the permanent collection, organize outstanding exhibitions, renovate the Museum, and fund a robust endowment. Moreover, NMWA now boasts a growing membership―among the top ten museums in the world―with active, vocal committees all across the nation and in many countries. Illustrating the text are 130 color pictures, which include works from the collection and from exhibitions, as well as 40 archival photographs of landmark events that led to the Museum’s impressive growth. "Museums acquire such gravitas, it seems as though they've always been here, so it's instructive to be reminded of how much vision and work is involved [The National Museum of Women in the Arts] changed the status of women artists and the life of its founder, who now tells the museums success story in an entertainingly anecdotal, inspiring, and beautifully illustrated memoir." ― Booklist "Aside from the story of her and the institution's life, Holladay considers hundreds of pieces in all mediums; Readers will find this richly rewarding, whether they're interested in the personal story of this National Medal of Arts winner or the fine art she collected." ― Publishers Weekly " A Museum of Their Own includes some gorgeous works from the museum's collection, art by women you may have never heard of, but now have an opportunity to appreciate." ― BookPage "The lavish and plentiful illustrations reveal many carefully selected paintings, sculptures, prints, and pottery by women around the globe. The museum and this splendid book will serve as a focal point for rescuing the works and reputations of extraordinary women artists who otherwise might be obscured by time." ― Library Journal Wilhelmina Cole Holladay , the founder and Chair of the Board of the National Museum of Women in the Arts, was elected to the National Women’s Hall of Fame and was awarded the National Medal of Arts and the Legion of Honor from the French government. She lives with her husband, Wallace, in Washington, D.C. Excerpt from: A Museum of Their Own: This book is not an autobiography, because it is not a full and complete account of my life. This is certainly not a kiss-and-tell, because I have no intention of going into the private crannies of my life or anyone else’s. It is not a day-by-day reconstruction of what happened, because even if I had the permanent records to support such an endeavor, I doubt I could take the time to write it all down, and very few readers would want to wade through it. This is not even a complete accounting of every twist and turn in the course of the National Museum of Women in the Arts’ journey. This is a memoir. It is my account of the National Museum of Women in the Arts’ conception, founding, and first twenty years of operation in its magnificent home in the nation’s capital, three blocks from the White House. Others are entitled to their opinions and viewpoints; forgive me if they differ from mine. As far as NMWA’s founding and early years are concerned, I have a certain advantage: I was there at the creation, and I have been there up until now. So I write as best I can and offer this account of our odyssey as I remember it. The National Museum of Women in the Arts opened to the public on April 7, 1987, one of the most exciting and fulfilling days of my life. This splendid event required the cooperative and individual efforts of an army of women and men. The opening celebration was held outside the Museum building. Anne Radice, the Museum director, and I welcomed the guests, including many artists, scholars, and Museum members from as far away as Paris, London, San Francisco, and Saint Petersburg, Florida. Effi Barry, the wife of Washington Mayor Marion Barry, and Frank Hodsell, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, delivered celebratory speeches. Under a blue sky Barbara Bush, the vice president’s wife, cut the bright red ceremonial ribbon and d