| History of
the Florida
Women's Hall of Fame
The Florida Women's Hall of Fame began in 1982
under the aegis of the Governor’s Commission on
the Status of Women, a body that was appointed
by Governor Bob Graham. A total of 27 women were
selected as members of the Hall of Fame in 1982,
1984 and 1986.
In 1992, Governor Lawton Chiles proposed, and
the Legislature passed, a bill (CSSB 1148) that
created a permanent Florida Women’s Hall of
Fame. Chapter 92-48 of the Laws of Florida now
states: “It is the intent of the Legislature to
recognize and honor those women who, through
their works and lives, have made significant
improvement of life for women and for all
citizens of Florida.”
In addition to creating clear criteria for
additions to the Hall, this legislation mandated
the inclusion of women who had been honored in
the previous decade. The project became a
responsibility of the Florida Commission on the
Status of Women, an entity that consists of
appointees of the Governor, Cabinet members, the
Speaker of the House and the President of the
Senate.
Because education is one important purpose of
the Hall of Fame, CSSB 1148 provided display
space in the Florida Capitol. In 1994, the
Commission unveiled plaques that offer a brief
biography and photograph of each honoree. We
hope that this information will inspire young
women and those who teach girls. Please note
that the biographies were created at the date of
induction.
Since 1992, three women have been inducted into
the Hall each year. Nominations may be made
between April 1 and July 15. The Commission
appreciates public input that assists us in
honoring meritorious women and in educating the
public on the significant and varied
accomplishments of women in Florida’s history.
Additional Links:
Florida Women's Hall of Fame Brochure in .pdf
About the Florida Women's Hall of Fame
Members of the Florida Women's Hall of Fame
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