Ohio Women's Hall of Fame facts for kids

The Ohio Women's Hall of Fame was a special program in Ohio that celebrated the amazing things women from Ohio did. It was run by the state's Department of Job and Family Services from 1978 to 2011. More than 400 women were honored in this Hall! In 2019, all the records and physical items from the Hall were moved to the State Archives at the Ohio History Center, so people can still learn about these inspiring women.

History of the Hall

The Ohio Women's Hall of Fame started in 1978. Its main goal was to publicly recognize the important contributions Ohio women made. These women helped Ohio, the United States, and even the world grow and progress.

Women were inducted into the Hall for their achievements in many different areas:

After the program ended, its physical records were first kept at the Ohioana Library. Then, in 2019, they were moved to the State Archives at the Ohio History Center, where they are now preserved for everyone to access.

Honored Women (Inductees)

Many incredible women were inducted into the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame. Here are some examples of the diverse achievements they were recognized for:

Ohio Women's Hall of Fame

Name	Image	Birth–death	County	Year	Area of achievement
Allen, FlorenceFlorence Allen		(1884–1966)	Cuyahoga	1978	An American judge. Florence Allen was the first woman to serve on a state Supreme Court. She was also one of the first two women to become a federal judge.
Bolton, FrancesFrances Bolton		(1885–1977)	Cuyahoga	1978	A politician from Ohio. Frances Bolton was the first woman elected to Congress from Ohio.
Cooper, Martha KinneyMartha Kinney Cooper			Hamilton	1978	First Lady of Ohio from 1929 to 1931. She was the wife of Governor Myers Y. Cooper.
Hunter, Jane EdnaJane Edna Hunter		(1881–1971)	Cuyahoga	1978	An African-American social worker. She started the Working Girls Association in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1911. This group later became the Phillis Wheatley Association of Cleveland.
Stewart, Ella P.Ella P. Stewart		(1893–1987)	Lucas	1978	One of the first African-American female pharmacists in the United States.
Walsh, StellaStella Walsh		(1911–1980)	Cuyahoga	1978	A Polish athlete who became an Olympic champion in women's sports.
Akeley, Mary JobeMary Jobe Akeley		(1886–1966)	Harrison	1979	An explorer and naturalist. Mary Akeley was one of the first women explorers in Africa. She studied animals with her husband, Carl E. Akeley.
Bickerdyke, Mary AnnMary Ann Bickerdyke		(1817–1901)	Knox	1979	A hospital administrator for Union soldiers during the American Civil War.
Earley, Charity EdnaCharity Edna Earley		(1918–2002)	Montgomery	1979	The first black commissioned officer in the Women's Army Corps.
Lyons, RuthRuth Lyons		(1905–1988)	Hamilton	1979	A pioneer radio and television broadcaster in Cincinnati.
Mock, JerrieJerrie Mock		(1925–2014)	Franklin	1979	The first woman to fly solo around the world.
Bombeck, ErmaErma Bombeck		(1927–1996)	Montgomery	1980	An American humorist. She was very popular for her newspaper column that described suburban home life.
Fuldheim, DorothyDorothy Fuldheim		(1893–1989)	Cuyahoga	1980	A journalist and anchor. She spent most of her career at The Cleveland Press and WEWS-TV.
Gish, LillianLillian Gish		(1893–1993)	Hamilton	1980	A stage, screen, and television actress. She was called "The First Lady of American Cinema."
Oakley, AnnieAnnie Oakley		(1860–1926)	Darke	1980	An American sharpshooter. Annie Oakley became famous for her talent and starred in Buffalo Bill's Wild West show. This made her the first American female superstar.
Day, DorisDoris Day		(1924–2019)	Hamilton	1981	An American actress, singer, and animal rights activist.
Diller, PhyllisPhyllis Diller		(1917–2012)	Allen	1981	An American actress and comedian.
Upton, Harriet TaylorHarriet Taylor Upton		(1853–1945)	Portage	1981	A Suffragette and author. She was the first woman to be vice chairman of the Republican National Committee.
Wilson, NancyNancy Wilson		(1937–)	Ross	1981	An American singer with over 70 albums and three Grammy Awards.
Morrison, ToniToni Morrison		(1931–2019)	Lorain	1982	An American novelist, editor, and professor. She won the Nobel Prize in 1993 and the Pulitzer Prize in 1987.
Blackwell, ElizabethElizabeth Blackwell		(1821–1910)	Hamilton	1986	The first woman to receive a medical degree in the United States. She was a pioneer in promoting education for women and social reform.
Dee, RubyRuby Dee		(1922–2014)	Cuyahoga	1986	An actress, poet, playwright, screenwriter, journalist, and activist.
Wattleton, FayeFaye Wattleton		(1943–)	Montgomery	1986	The first African-American and youngest President of ... Parenthood. She also served as President of the Center for the Advancement of Women.
Withrow, Mary EllenMary Ellen Withrow		(1930–)	Marion	1986	The 40th Treasurer of the United States. She served from 1994 to 2001 under President Bill Clinton.
Guisewite, CathyCathy Guisewite		(1950–)	Montgomery	1988	A cartoonist who created the famous comic strip Cathy.
Jenkins, Carol HeissCarol Heiss Jenkins		(1940–)	Summit	1988	A figure skater. She was the 1960 Olympic Champion in Ladies Singles and a five-time World Champion.
Kane, CarolCarol Kane		(1953–)	Cuyahoga	1988	An American actress known for her roles in Hester Street and Annie Hall. She won two Emmy Awards for her work in the TV series Taxi.
Smeal, EleanorEleanor Smeal		(1939–)	Ashtabula	1988	A feminist activist and political analyst. She is the President and founder of the Feminist Majority Foundation.
Chapman, TracyTracy Chapman		(1964–)	Cuyahoga	1989	A singer-songwriter known for hits like "Fast Car" and "Give Me One Reason". She has won multiple Grammy Awards.
Cowles, Betsy MixBetsy Mix Cowles		(1810–1876)	Ashtabula	1989	An early leader in the abolitionist movement in the United States.
Powell, ReneeRenee Powell		(1946–)	Stark	1989	A professional golfer who played on the LPGA Tour. She is currently the head professional at her family's Clearview Golf Club.
Lin, Maya YingMaya Ying Lin		(1959–)	Athens	1990	An architect and artist. She is best known for designing the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Kuhn, MaggieMaggie Kuhn		(1905–1995)	Cuyahoga	1990	An activist known for founding the Gray Panthers, a group that advocates for the rights of older people.
Abbott, BereniceBerenice Abbott		(1898–1991)	Clark	1991	A photographer famous for her black-and-white photos of New York City architecture in the 1930s.
Brown, HallieHallie Brown		(1849–1949)	Greene	1991	An African American educator, writer, and activist.
Dove, RitaRita Dove		(1952–)	Summit	1991	A United States Poet Laureate and Consultant in Poetry at the Library of Congress.
Pointer, YvonneYvonne Pointer			Cuyahoga	1991	Founder of the Positive Plus Support Group. She helped bring midnight basketball programs to Cleveland.
Rice, Helen SteinerHelen Steiner Rice		(1900–1981)	Lorain	1992	A writer of religious and inspirational poetry.
Benson, MildredMildred Benson		(1905–2002)	Lucas	1993	A journalist and author of children's books. She wrote some of the earliest Nancy Drew mysteries.
Hamilton, VirginiaVirginia Hamilton		(1934–2002)	Greene	1993	An author of children's books. She won the National Book Award for Young People's Literature and the Newbery Medal.
Hayes, Lucy WebbLucy Webb Hayes		(1831–1889)	Ross	1993	First Lady of the United States and the wife of President Rutherford B. Hayes.
McCormick, Anne O'HareAnne O'Hare McCormick		(1880–1954)	Franklin	1993	A foreign news correspondent for The New York Times.
Melton, FlorenceFlorence Melton		(1911–2007)	Franklin	1994	An inventor known for creating the foam-soled and washable slipper.
Wald, LillianLillian Wald		(1867–1940)	Hamilton	1994	A nurse, social worker, and public health official. She was also an activist for peace, women's, children's, and civil rights. She founded American community nursing.
Beckwith, SandraSandra Beckwith		(1943–)	Hamilton	1995	A judge. She was the first woman to serve on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio.
Brennan, ChristineChristine Brennan		(1958–)	Lucas	1995	A sports columnist, TV and radio commentator, and bestselling author.
Giovanni, NikkiNikki Giovanni		(1943–)	Hamilton	1985	A poet, writer, commentator, activist, and educator.
Healy, BernadineBernadine Healy		(1944–2011)	Franklin	1996	A physician, cardiologist, and former head of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Montgomery, BettyBetty Montgomery		(1948–)	Wood	1996	A Republican politician who served as Ohio State Auditor.
Hollister, NancyNancy Hollister		(1949–)	Muskingum	1998	The 66th Governor of Ohio.
Jones, Stephanie J.Stephanie J. Jones			Cuyahoga	1998	A lawyer and educator. She is the president of Stephanie Jones Strategies.
Deal, SarahSarah Deal			Wood	1999	The first female Marine chosen for Naval aviation training. She became the Marine Corps' first female aviator in 1993.
Glenn, AnnieAnnie Glenn		(1920–2020)	Muskingum	1999	The wife of former astronaut and Senator John Glenn.
Hamilton, AnnAnn Hamilton		(1956–)	Franklin	1999	An artist known for her installations, textile art, and sculptures.
Stowe, Harriet BeecherHarriet Beecher Stowe		(1811–1896)	Hamilton	1999	An abolitionist and author. She wrote Uncle Tom's Cabin (1852).
Kazel, DorothyDorothy Kazel		(1939–1980)	Cuyahoga	2000	An Ursuline nun and missionary to El Salvador.
Zane, BettyBetty Zane		(1759–1823)	Belmont	2000	A famous heroine of the American Revolutionary War.
Casement, Frances JenningsFrances Jennings Casement		(1840–1928)	Lake	2001	A Suffragette, someone who fought for women's right to vote.
Hughes, Adella PrentissAdella Prentiss Hughes		(1869–1950)	Cuyahoga	2001	A pianist and organizer. She was the main person who helped create the Cleveland Orchestra.
Long, IreneIrene Long		(1950–)	Cuyahoga	2001	A physician and NASA official. She was the first female Chief Medical Officer at the Kennedy Space Center.
Pryce, DeborahDeborah Pryce		(1951–)	Franklin	2001	A former Republican member of the United States House of Representatives for Ohio.
Spielman, StefanieStefanie Spielman			Franklin	2002	A sports reporter and breast cancer survivor.
Sullivan, KathrynKathryn Sullivan		(1951–)	Franklin	2002	A geologist and former NASA astronaut. She was the first American woman to walk in space.
González-Sanabria, Olga D.Olga D. González-Sanabria			Cuyahoga	2003	Known for her work in math, science, and health services.
Janis, ElsieElsie Janis		(1889–1956)	Franklin	2003	A singer, songwriter, actress, and screenwriter.
Lenski, LoisLois Lenski		(1893–1974)	Shelby	2003	A writer of children's and young adult fiction.
Smith, Katherine MayKatherine May Smith		(1974–)	Hocking	2007	A basketball player. She was named Ohio State Female Athlete of the Century.
Brown, Yvette McGeeYvette McGee Brown		(1960–)	Franklin	2008	President of the Center for Children and Family Advocacy at Nationwide Children's Hospital.
Salamon, JulieJulie Salamon		(1953–)	Adams	2008	A journalist, critic, and author.
Collins, GailGail Collins		(1945–)	Hamilton	2009	A journalist, columnist, and author. She is well-known for her work with The New York Times.
Harper, Frances Ellen WatkinsFrances Ellen Watkins Harper		(1825–1911)		2011	An African-American abolitionist, poet, and author. She published her first book of poetry at age 20.

See also

In Spanish: Salón de la Fama de las mujeres de Ohio para niños