Inductees

 

1971

  • Hallie Farmer (1881-1960) Political Scientist, Educator, Author, Promoter of Prison Reform and Women Jury Duty

  • Helen Adams Keller (1880-1968) Author, Lecturer, Scholar

  • Julia Strudwick Tutwiler (1841-1916) Author, President of Alabama Normal College (now Livingston University), Promoter of Prison Reform, Author of Alabama's State Song

1972

1973

1974

  • Henrietta Gibbs (1879-1960) Social Services, Youth Counselor, Leader of Black Women's Causes

  • Loraine Bedsole Tunstall (1879-1953) Social Services, Creator of Child Welfare Services, First Woman to Head a Department in Alabama State Government

1975

  • Dixie Bibbs Graves (1883-1965) Social and Political Services, First Alabama Woman U.S. Senator

  • Marie Bankhead Owen (1869-1958) Author, Historian, Director of Alabama Department of Archives and History

1976

1977

1978

1979

  • Myrtle Brooke (1872-1948) Educator, Social Services, Mental Health Pioneer

  • Carrie A. Tuggle (1858-1924) Educator, Social Services, Instigator of Juvenile and Domestic Courts, Founder of Black Orphanage

1980

1981

1982

  • Sister Chrysostom Moynahan (1863-1941) First Registered Nurse licensed to Alabama, Hospital Administrator, Founded St. Vincent's School of Nursing

  • Loula Friend Dunn (1896-1977) Commissioner of Public Welfare in Alabama, First Woman Executive Director of the American Public Welfare Association

1983

  • Anne Mathilde Bilbro (1870-1958) Prolific Composer, Revolutionized the Teaching of Children's Piano Literature, Author of Short Stories, a Novel, Articles, and Folklore

  • Clara Weaver Parrish (1861-1925) Artist, Author, Mosaic and Stained Glass Designer, Philanthropist

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

  • Maud McLure Kelly (1887-1973) First Woman to Practice Law in Alabama, First Woman to Plead a Case before the United States Supreme Court

  • Octavia LeVert (1811-1877) Mobile's Most Famous Belle of the 19th Century

1991

  • Frances Virginia Praytor (1899-1974)
    and
  • Anna Linton Praytor (1914-1989) School Teachers and Owners/Operators of Birmingham's Smith and Hardwick Bookstore, Dedicated to Teaching and Learning

  • Julia Tarrant Barron (1805-1890) She gave of her wealth and services for the establishment of education and religious institutions.

1992

1993

  • Ida Elizabeth Brandon Mathis (1857-1925) Called the "Economic Moses of the South", Agriculture Reformist and Advocate of Crop Diversification and Crop Rotation

  • Mary George Jordan Waite (1917-1990) First Woman To Be Elected President of a State Banking Association, Pioneer for Women in Business and Extensively Involved with Alabama Girls State

1994

  • Doris Marie Bender (1911-1991) Widely Recognized in the Field of Social Work. Doris Bender set the highest standard for public service, and as a leader in community life and as a dedicated humanitarian, she gave a lifetime to serving others.

  • Lottice Howell (1897-1982) A Star of Stage and Screen in the 1920's and 30's, Soprano Lottice Howell Possessed a Talent and Love for Music which She Shared with Others. Her professional accomplishments brought acclaim to this country and to Alabama.

1995-96

  • Elizabeth Burford Bashinsky (1867-1968) Civic leader, Philanthropist Who was Instrumental in Establishing Scholarships for Alabama's youth

  • Maude McKnight Lindsay (1874-1941) Internationally Acclaimed Author and Story Teller, She Established Alabama's First Free Kindergarten in 1898

1997

  • Hattie Hooker Wilkins (1875-1949) A Woman of Vision and Courage; A Believer in Democracy; Promoter of Woman's Suffrage Movement. First Woman To Serve in the Alabama State Legislature. Devoted Wife and Mother.

  • Marion Walker Spidle (1887-1983) Educator, Churchwoman, University Administrator, Community Leader; Optimism, Enthusiasm, and Energy Contributed to Significant Improvements in Health and Family Conditions. Her personal, spiritual, and intellectual strengths remain indelible.

1998

  • Martha Foster Crawford (1830-1909) The first foreign missionary of the Southern Baptist Convention. She is renowned for her mentoring of younger missionaries, both male and female, including Lottie Moon. Her interests included women's physical, mental, and spiritual welfare.

  • Maria Howard Weeden (1846-1905) An artist and poet, she published four books. Her talents made a unique contribution to an era in the history of the South.

1999

  • Margaret Booth(1880-1953) She was the first principal of Demopolis High School, established the Margaret Booth School, founded the Demopolis Public Library, lectured on the history of painting and art in Europe. She was an intellectual and cultural mentor for the Montgomery area for almost forty years, and is remembered for the advances she made in education for women. She sought to prepare young women not only for college, but for life.

  • Juliet Opie Hopkins (1818-1890) Organized medical and supply services to assist sick and wounded Alabama soldiers, who at the time were not provided with adequate medical services by the Confederate Medical Department. She established the first of three hospitals in Richmond, Virginia to provide a place of care and recovery for Alabamians.

2000

  • Florence Golson Bateman (1891-1987) Accomplished songwriter and singer that was blind by the age of fifteen, due to a childhood accident. One of her famous pieces was "The Bird with a Broken Wing" which was dedicated to Helen Keller, whose life inspired Florence. She also contributed her talents to the community where she lived.

  • Maria Fearing (1838-1937) Her life began in slavery on a plantation near Gainesville, AL. At the age of thirty-two, she worked her way though the Freedman's Bureau School in Talladega, where she became a teacher. At fifty-six, she sailed from New York to the Congo, with very little monetary support, to fulfill a calling as a missionary. She ended up in a place called Luebo. Her greatest contribution was the Pantops Home for Girls.

2001

  • Ida Vines Moffett (1905-1996) As a nurse for more than 70 years, she was a gifted healer whose touch could transform a patients health. Having presided over the graduation and licensing of more than 4,000 nurses, and having led the major health care professional organizations of the state, she made an indelible mark on an industry. She worked at many levels of the medical system to aid in better education for nurses and better care of patients. Half way through her career, the Baptist Hospital nursing school was named The Ida V. Moffett School of Nursing in recognition of her contributions to Alabama’s healthcare profession.

  • Sibyl Murphree Pool (1901-1973) A lady that was far ahead of her time. She opened the political door for women by becoming the first woman elected to a state wide office. She was the second woman elected to the Alabama legislature and served longer in political office than any other woman in the state’s history.

2002

  • Idella Jones Childs (1903 - 1998) To the city of her birth, she was faithfully devoted. A woman among women, Mrs. Childs was genial in companionship, respectful in association, honest in transactions, and zealous in good works. In all human ways, a lady; in all public relations, a patriot.

  • Jane Lobman Katz (1931 - 1986) A woman of vision and courage, she gained the respect of so many of Alabama's top leaders. Her ability to make a complex, controversial, sensitive political issue one that was understandable and straight - forward informed many, inside and outside the legislature. A lady that never sought credit for herself but devoted her talents toward improving the quality of government in Alabama.

2003

  • Dr. Louise Branscomb (1901-1999) Pioneer female physician dedicated to bringing better health to individuals and society. Methodist church and civic leader. WWII Major in the U.S. Public Health Service. Internationally known activist for racial, social, and economic justice and women's rights. Philanthropist.
  • Bess Bolden Walcott (1886-1988) Outstanding public service through the American Red Cross. First black female to serve as a Red Cross Acting Field Director. Conservator of Tuskegee Institute's unique historic legacy. Librarian, teacher, writer, editor, administrator, and museum curator. Humanitarian.

2004

  • Nancy Batson Crews (1920-2001) First woman inducted: Alabama Aviation Hall of Fame. First Alabama woman to fly military aircraft as part of the Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS), U.S. Army Air Force, WWII. Pilot of exceptional ability who blazed a trail for women flyers of today.
  • Rosa Gerhardt (1898-1975) First woman in the State of Alabama to serve as president of a bar association. Leader and pioneer to all women in the legal field, preparing the way for subsequent generations of women lawyers. Worked to advance the cause of professional women. An active and committed member of the Jewish community.

2005

  • Vera Hall (1902-1964) An internationally acclaimed blues and folk singer who gained national exposure in the late 1930s. Her contributions to the Folksong Archives of the Library of Congress are invaluable resources for both scholars and lovers of folk music. One of the most stunning voices of American folk singers.
  • Juliette Hampton Morgan (1914-1957) Juliet Hampton Morgan was a Montgomery librarian who became a very determined civil rights activist. She was a profilic writer who expressed her views on the need to end racial segregation in the state. Ms. Morgan took seriously the American ethic of "liberty and justice for all."

2006

  • Virginia Foster Durr (1903-1999) was a civil rights activist who worked to abolish the poll tax and advance the rights of women and African-Americans. She was cited by President Bill Clinton for her courage and conviction which helped change a nation.
  • Mary Celesta Johnson Weatherly (1890-1976) was Alabama's and America's Mother of the Year in 1962. She was a proponent of reading and education in DeKalb County. She was the founder of the first county library and the first Fort Payne Literacy School.

2007

  • Fran McKee (1926-2002) was a native of Florence. She was the first woman unrestricted line officer in the U.S. Navy promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral. She brought honor to her family, her state and her nation.
  • Martha C. Myers (1945-2002) was a native of Birmingham. She was a missionary and a physician at the Jibla Baptist Hosptial in Yemen for 24 years. She was martyred on December 30, 2002. She was a woman of exemplary commitment to the cause of Christ.
2008
  • Rosa McCauley Parks (1913-2005) was born in Tuskegee and raised in Montgomery.  On December 1, 1955, Parks refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama bus.  Her non-violent direct action protest and subsequent arrest led to the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which ended racial segregation on the city's buses.  A long-time advocate of social justice, her actions launched the modern Civil Rights Movement, leading to Parks' designation as the "Mother of the Civil Rights Movement."  Rosa Parks was a woman of silent dignity and grace whose life changed the state, the nation and the world.

{short description of image}Alphabetical List of Inductees
{short description of image}Alabama Women's Hall of Fame
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© 2005 Alabama Women's Hall of Fame