The Moment Is Now: Caring for Marty’s Sexual Assault Evidence Kit. An Interview with Alexandra Cunningham Cameron, Ashleigh D. Coren, and Katherine Ott

Abstract

ABSTRACT In the 1970s, Martha “Marty” Goddard (1941–2015) conceived of and designed a kit that would collect forensic evidence in order to increase the probability of suspect identification in cases of sexual assault. Goddard designed a kit using over-the-counter items such as cotton swabs, combs, bags, labels, envelopes, and glass slides, to standardize the collection, preservation, and documentation of evidence. The kit was designed for hospitals and law enforcement, and is now part of standard protocol in the United States today. In 2022, a team from different parts of the Smithsonian worked collaboratively on the acquisition of this object, while holding critical conversations about what it means to not only care for the object, but also how to discuss the topic and lived experience of sexual assault. This interview dives into the story of the acquisition and its significance, and how museums can carefully and intentionally engage with the topic of sexual assault.