The Arkansas Women's Hall of Fame is a non-profit, volunteer organization that recognizes women who have contributed to history of the U.S. state of Arkansas.

History The organization was founded and incorporated as a non-profit organization in 2014 to recognize women's contributions and impact upon the state of Arkansas. It was formed as a partnership between the Arkansas Business Publishing Group and the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce. An eleven-member board was developed to create a permanent location for the Hall of Fame and a sustained tribute to the women who have helped to build the state. Until a permanent facility is built, the plans call for a statewide traveling exhibit on the inductees. The inaugural group of women, inducted on 27 August 2015, included 11 women and one organization, the Women's Emergency Committee to Open Our Schools and were selected from public nominations of 73 potential candidates.

Criteria The criteria for induction into the Arkansas Women's Hall of Fame is that women were born in and achieved recognition within the state; are or have been a resident in Arkansas for an extended period of time and achieved prominence within the state; or were born in or lived in Arkansas for a significant period of time and achieved prominence elsewhere. Additional criteria: Made significant and enduring contributions to their field, whether professional or not; Made improvements to the cultural, economic, political or social status of their community, the state or the nation; Elevated the status of women and/or girls; Helped open new frontiers for women and the general society; Were inspirational role models.

Inductees The hall inducts new members annually and includes both contemporary and historical women or organizations which benefit women.

Arkansas Women's Hall of Fame Name Image Birth–Death YearArea of achievement(1868–1962)2024Author(1940–)2024Chief justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court(1901–1957)2024Lawyer2024Professor and academic administrator2024Fashion designer2024Public servant(1949–)2024Restaurateur and politician; Current Vice-Mayor of Little RockCommittee of One Hundred for the Ozark Folk Center20242023Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art2023Chairman of Eagle Bank & Trust Company, as well as Chairman, President & CEO of State Holding Company, in Little Rock2023Lake City Mayor, President Clinton appointee to Arkansas Public Service Commission (APSC)(1936–)2023Civic activist for women's issues; a founder and charter member of the UCA Women's Giving Circle(1949–)2023Arkansas' first black female judge, and multiple other firsts for black women(1918–2000)2023American physicist and mathematician(1882–1976)2023Political and social activist 2023University of Arkansas alumni, financial support for university projects ; 2020First woman African-American professor hired by the University of Arkansas2020Financial plannerHispanic Women's Organization of Arkansas2020(1932–2010)2020Political activism2020Philanthropist(1937–2021)2020Arkansas State Representative2020Executive director of Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families(1915–1973)2020Entertainer2019ConservationistAlpha Kappa Alpha sorority Beta Pi Omega chapter2019(1938–2000)2019Educator, political advisor, and writer2019Publisher; co-founder of the Arkansas Women's Foundation2019Activist for ending world hunger(1923–2020)2019Arkansas House of Representatives; first female president of the National Newspaper Association(1935–2018)2019Aviation pioneer2019Founding partner of Cross, Gunter, Witherspoon and Galchus law firm; first woman to serve as president of the Arkansas Bar Association2018Chancellor emeritus at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff2018President and CEO of Mount St. Mary Academy, Little Rock (1934–)2018Editor in Chief Journal of Neuroinflamattion(1935–2018)2018US Navy engineer and graphics designer(1935–2018)2018Educator, civic leader, helped create the first public library in Pine Bluff.(1887–1953)2018Musical composer(1953–)2018Actress(1950–)2018First woman elected to the Arkansas Supreme CourtWomen's Foundation of Arkansas2018The only foundation in the state focusing solely on women and girls(1928–2004)2017Poet 2017Architect2017Historic preservation2017Architect (1905–2003)2017Philanthropist2017President and CEO of the Arkansas Community Foundation, Inc.Olivetan Benedictine Sisters2017Established St. Bernards Hospital and Regional Medical Center(1916–2007)2017Associate Justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court and a United States federal judge2017Pediatric Radiology(1921–2021)2017Civil rights2016Community activist(1924–2016)2016Educator and academic2016Community development advocate(1933–)2016Former Surgeon General of the United States(1934–2013)2016Pediatrician and educatorReligious Sisters of Mercy of the Americas2016; ; (1941–)2016Mayor of Little Rock(1938–2017)2016Founder and former CEO of decorative fragrance company Aromatique(1919–2016)2016Philanthropist; (1927–2017)2015First female mayor of Marked Tree, Arkansas, President of agribusiness and communications firm E. Ritter & Co(1914–1999)2015American civil rights activist, Little Rock Integration Crisis planner (1925–2018)2015Former Arkansas First Lady who led a statewide childhood immunization program(1878–1950)2015First woman elected to serve in the United States Senate(1947–)2015Former Arkansas First Lady, First Lady of the United States, U.S. senator from New York, and U.S. Secretary of State(1930–2014)2015State Archaeologist with the Arkansas Archaeological Survey(1874–1953)2015Newspaper publisher and women's rights advocate; mother of United States Senator J. William Fulbright(1931–2019)2015Founding Dean of the College of Engineering and Information Technology (E.I.T.) at the University of Arkansas Little Rock(1932–)2015Co-founder and former Board Member of J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.(1927–2019)2015First African American to attend and to graduate from the University of Arkansas Medical School, first female president of the National Medical Association(1949–)2015WalMart heiress and founder of Crystal Bridges Museum of American ArtWomen's Emergency Committee to Open Our Schools2015Advocated integration of the Little Rock public school system

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Further reading

External links Arkansas Women's Hall of Fame official page