In addition to the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association and the Colonial
Dames, The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR)
has has a long history in historic preservation and historic house
museums.  I seem to recall hearing in a museum studies course at the
George Washington University that the DAR Museum was among the first
institutions to install period rooms.  In addition to the DAR Museum in
Washington, D.C., there are hundreds of historic house museums nationwide
run by chapter and state organizations of the DAR.  All were founded, and
are run, by women.  For more information, contact the Office of the
Curator General, NSDAR at 202/628-1776.

Amy Northrop Adamo
Bergen County (NJ) Historical Society