TheHall of Fame of Delaware Women was established in 1981 by the Delaware Commission for Women, a division of theSecretary of State of Delaware. The hall of fame recognizes the achievements and contributions ofDelaware women in a variety of fields and includes activists, artists, athletes, military personnel and scientists.[1]
The Delaware Commission for Women is a state agency with members appointed by theGovernor representingWilmington and each of Delaware's three counties (New Castle,Kent andSussex). In making its selections for the Hall of Fame, the Commission prioritizes civil rights, economic empowerment, violence prevention, women's health, work, family, recognition and celebration. Eligible women must have been born in Delaware or resided in the state for a minimum of ten years.[2]
| Name | Image | Birth–Death | Year | Area of achievement | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patricia Dailey Lewis | 2023 | CEOBeau Biden Foundation | [3] | ||
| Bonnie Meszaros | 2023 | Economics | [3] | ||
| Paulette Sullivan Moore | (1951–) | 2023 | Delaware's first African American female attorney | [3] | |
| Leslie Newman | 2023 | Chair - Delaware Community Foundation's COVID-19 grant award committee | [3] | ||
| Lynn Snyder-Mackler | 2023 | Physical therapist. sports medicine research | [3] | ||
| Anne Canby | 2022 | Head of the Delaware and New Jersey Departments of Transportation, Treasurer of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and a Deputy Assistant Secretary of the U. S. Department of Transportation | [4] | ||
| Alice Dunbar Nelson |  | (1875–1935) | 2022 | Poet, novelist, journalist, educator | [4] |
| Carolyn Fredricks | (1947–) | 2022 | Executive Director · Modern Maturity Center | [4] | |
| Teri Quinn Gray | 2022 | Chief Operating Officer at Provivi, Inc. | [4] | ||
| Ilona Holland | (1950–) | 2022 | Author, educator | [4] | |
| Karyl Rattay | 2022 | Director of the Delaware Division of Public Health | [4] | ||
| Aida Waserstein | (1948–) | 2022 | Author, retired Delaware Family Court Judge | [4] | |
| Fayetta M. Blake | 2021 | Executive Director of Pathways to Success, Inc. | [5][6] | ||
| Stephanie Bolden | (1946–) | 2021 | RepresentativeDelaware General Assembly | [5][7] | |
| Jennifer Cohan | 2021 | Secretary ofDelaware Department of Transportation | [5][8] | ||
| Marianne Blackburn "Mimi" Drew | (1946–) | 2021 | RetiredRear Admiral, United States Navy | [5][9] | |
| Ann Jaffe | (1931–2024) | 2021 | Holocaust survivor; Chairperson Speakers' Bureau of Delaware's Halina Wind Preston Holocaust Education Committee | [5][10] | |
| Valerie Longhurst | (1963–) | 2021 | Representative Delaware General Assembly | [5][11] | |
| Mary Seward Phillips Eskridge | (1883–1967) | 2020 | Democratic National Committee Woman of Delaware, treasurer Delaware League of Women Voters | [12][13] | |
| Margaret Burton White Houston | (1864–1937) | 2020 | Suffragist who established the Georgetown, Delaware library | [12] | |
| Tania M. Culley | (1968–) | 2019 | First Child Advocate for the State of Delaware | [14] | |
| Drewry N. Fennell | (1960–) | 2019 | Human rights, LGBTQ equality | [14] | |
| Jan R. Jurden | 2019 | First female President Judge of the Superior Court of Delaware | [15][16] | ||
| Maria Matos | (1950–) | 2019 | President and CEO of the Latin American Community Center | [14] | |
| Blanche Stubbs | (1872–1952) | 2019 | Civil rights activist,suffragette | [14] | |
| Marie Swajeski | (1926–) | 2019 | Founder of theDelaware Children's Theatre | [14] | |
| Jill Biden |  | (1951–) | 2018 | FormerFirst Lady of the United States (2021-2024 )Second Lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017; founder of non-profitBiden Breast Health Initiative | [17][18] |
| Lisa Blunt Rochester |  | (1962–) | 2018 | U.S. Representative forDelaware's at-large congressional district | [19] |
| Reba Ross Hollingsworth | (1926–) | 2018 | Civic leader | [20] | |
| Deborah Wicks | (1946–) | 2018 | Retired superintendent of the Smyrna School District | [21] | |
| Carolyn Berger | 2017 | Delaware Supreme Court Justice | [22] | ||
| Debra Heffernan | (1962–) | 2017 | State Representative | [22] | |
| Janice Nevin | 2017 | President and CEO of Christiana Health Care System | [22] | ||
| Kendall M. Wilson | (1930/31–2006) | 2017 | First executive director of American Civil Liberties Union of Delaware | [22] | |
| Annie Norman | 2016 | Established the statewide Delaware Library Catalog | [23][24] | ||
| Chandra G. Pitts | 2016 | Founder & CEO of One Village Alliance; creator of "Girls Can Do Anything!" | [23] | ||
| Sonia S. Sloan | (1928–2019) | 2016 | Raised over $100 million for Delaware non-profit agencies, and a reformation of program for youth released from Ferris School. | [23][25][26] | |
| Jamie L. Wolfe | (1966–2018) | 2016 | Advocate for persons with disabilities | [23] | |
| Kim L. Allen | 2015 | Educator who works with at-risk youth | [27] | ||
| Darlene Battle | 2015 | Social activist | [27] | ||
| Sandra L. Ben | 2015 | Pastor and community organizer | [27] | ||
| Rita M. Landgraf | 2015 | Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services | [27] | ||
| Ileana M. Smith | 2015 | Vice president and campus director for theDelaware Technical Community College's Owens Campus | [27] | ||
| Stephanie Louise Kwolek |  | (1923–2014) | 2014 | Inventor ofKevlar | [28] |
| Catherine Devaney McKay | 2014 | Founder of Connections Community Support Programs | [28] | ||
| Patricia H. Purcell | 2014 | First African American pediatrician in Delaware | [28] | ||
| Latricia Odette Wright | 2014 | Nanticoke elder and educator | [28] | ||
| Beatrice "Bebe" Coker | (1935–) | 2013 | Public education and literacy advocate | [29] | |
| Patricia Maichle | (1958–) | 2013 | Executive Director of the Delaware Developmental Disabilities Council | [29] | |
| Wilma Mishoe | (1949–) | 2013 | Dean at Delaware Technical & Community College | [29] | |
| Jane Richards Roth | (1935–) | 2013 | Federal judge on theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit | [29] | |
| Vicky Cooke | 2012 | Executive Director of the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition | [30] | ||
| Micki Edelsohn | 2012 | Founder of the Homes for Life Foundation, a non-profit providing housing for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities | [30] | ||
| Vivian Rapposelli | 2012 | Secretary of the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families | [30] | ||
| Frances West | 2012 | Treasurer of the National Consumers League and Delaware's first woman director of Consumer Affairs, former president of Delaware's Better Business Bureau and Delaware Highway Commissioner | [30] | ||
| Neda P. Biggs | (1951–) | 2011 | Bilingual immigration attorney | [31][32] | |
| Imogene F. Chandler | (1934–2021) | 2011 | Supporter of early childhood education programs | [31] | |
| Susan C. Del Pesco | (1946–) | 2011 | First woman elected as President of the Delaware Bar Association and the first women appointed to theDelaware Superior Court | [31][33] | |
| Audrey K. Doberstein | (1932–) | 2011 | Former President ofWilmington University | [31][34] | |
| Moonyeen L. Klopfenstein | (1942–) | 2011 | Child birth educator | [31] | |
| Sister Ascension Banegas | (1931–2019) | 2010 | Advocate for immigrants and co-founder of La Esperanza Community Center in Georgetown | [1] | |
| Jeanette Eckman | (1882–1972) | 2010 | Political leader, historian and editor | [1] | |
| Kathryn Young Hazeur | (1923–2011) | 2010 | First African American to earn a graduate degree from the University of Delaware in 1951 | [1] | |
| Jacquelin Pitts | 2010 | Lacrosse player and coach; led the U.S. Women's Lacrosse Team to their first World Championship | [1] | ||
| Beverly Louise Stewart | 2010 | Educator and founder of the Back to Basics tutoring business | [1] | ||
| Judith Gedney Tobin | (1927–2021) | 2010 | Pioneer inforensic pathology, performed over 5000 autopsies | [1] | |
| Theresa L.I. del Tufo | 2009 | Established three centers for displaced homemakers | [35] | ||
| Sally V. Hawkins | (1922–2017) | 2009 | Radio journalist atWILM | [35][36] | |
| Lynn W. Williams | 2009 | Conservationist and founder of the Delaware Nature Society; rescued theBrandywine Creek State Park from development | [35] | ||
| Elizabeth Empson Battell | (d.) | 2008 | Delaware's "godmother," ran the Golden Fleece Tavern between 1777 and 1792 | [37] | |
| Renee Palmore Beaman | (1960–) | 2008 | Created the Bethel AIDS Task Force in 1994 with six other women | [37] | |
| Grace Pierce Beck | (1926–2008) | 2008 | Leading Delaware environmentalist | [37] | |
| Uma Chowdhry |  | (1947–2024) | 2008 | Research scientist at DuPont who specialized in ceramic materials, including catalysts, proton conductors, superconductors and ceramic packaging for microelectronics | [37] |
| Christine Margaret McDermott | (1947–2007) | 2008 | Attorney who fought domestic violence and was the first woman to be executive director of Delaware Volunteer Legal Services | [37] | |
| Evelyn Dickenson Swensson | (1928–) | 2008 | Conductor, composer, lyricist, pianist, singer, playwright and musical lecturer | [37] | |
| Sujata Kumari Bhatia | (1978–) | 2007 | Professor of Chemical, Biomolecular, Biomedical Engineering at University of Delaware | [38][39][40] | |
| Carolyn S. Burger | (1940–) | 2007 | First woman in the US to head a telecommunications company; CEO of Bell Atlantic-Delaware | [38] | |
| Liane McDowell Sorenson | (1947–) | 2007 | Director of Women's Affairs at the University of Delaware, member of the Delaware House of Representatives and Minority Whip | [38] | |
| Shirley M. Tarrant | (1935–2003) | 2007 | Founder and President of the Suburban County Hospital Task Force | [38] | |
| Valerie Whiting | (1972–) | 2007 | Professional basketball player | [38] | |
| M. Jane Brady | (1951–) | 2006 | 42ndDelaware Attorney General | [41][42] | |
| Felicia A. Dorman | (1976–) | 2006 | Volunteerism | [42] | |
| Lolita A. Lopez | (1953–) | 2006 | President and CEO of YWCA Delaware | [42][43] | |
| Betsy Rawls | (1928–2023) | 2006 | Professional golfer | [42][44] | |
| Loretta F. Walsh | (1949–2022) | 2006 | Wilmington, Delaware city council member | [42][45] | |
| Muriel E. Gilman | (1923–2011) | 2005 | Executive with the United Way of Delaware | [46][47] | |
| Patricia W. Griffin | (1957–) | 2005 | State Court Administrator in the Delaware Administrative Office | [47] | |
| Teresa Haman | (1953–) | 2005 | Painter | [48][47] | |
| Valerie A. Woodruff | (1944–) | 2005 | Delaware Secretary of Education | [49][47] | |
| Patricia M. Blevins | (1954–) | 2004 | Majority Leader of the Delaware Senate | [50] | |
| Linda L. Chick | (1943–2022) | 2004 | Chair of the Youth Philanthropy Board Advisory Committee for the Delaware Community Foundation | [50] | |
| Carol A. Timmons | .jpg) | (1958–2020) | 2004 | Brigadier General of theDelaware Air National Guard | [51][50] |
| Edith P. Vincent | (1922–2013) | 2004 | School nurse and advocate for children's health | [52][50] | |
| Joy Ann Bartell | (1951–) | 2003 | Beebe School of Nursing instructor | [53] | |
| Sister Jeanne Cashman | (1943–) | 2003 | Founder of Sojourner's Place | [54][53] | |
| Margaret Rose Henry | (1944–) | 2003 | Member of the Delaware Senate, Majority Whip | [53] | |
| Sister Ann Marguerite Gildea | (1919–2005) | 2002 | Founder of the Mary Mother of Hope House | [55][56] | |
| Gloria Wernicki Homer | 2002 | Chief Administrative Officer of Governor Executive Office | [56] | ||
| Jeanne D. Nutter | (1947–) | 2002 | CompiledGrowing Up Black in New Castle County | [57][56] | |
| Mary Sam Ward | (1911–2000) | 2002 | Author, educator and historian; 1979 Delaware Mother of the Year; co-founder of the Delaware Press Women in 1977 | [58][56] | |
| Myrna L. Bair | (1940–2024) | 2001 | Member of theDelaware Senate, Policy Advisor and assistant professor, Public Management Faculty, Institute for Public Administration, University of Delaware | [59][60] | |
| Anna Janney De Armond | (1910–2008) | 2001 | First woman to become a full professor at the University of Delaware | [61][60] | |
| Marian L. Harris | (1936–) | 2001 | Founder and volunteer executive director of The House of Pride | [60] | |
| Lucile Petry Leone | .jpg) | (1902–1999) | 2001 | American nurse who was the founding director of theCadet Nurse Corps in 1943 | [62][60] |
| Martha G. Bachman | (1924–1998) | 2000 | Chair of the Delaware State Advisory Council on Vocational Education | [63] | |
| Alice Marie Smith Coleman | (1944–) | 2000 | Therapist and volunteer | [63] | |
| Emily G. Morris | (1934–2001) | 2000 | First African American elected to county office in Delaware | [63] | |
| Helen R. Thomas | (1921–2022) | 2000 | Women's rights activist | [64][63] | |
| Grace Ruth Batten | (1943–) | 1999 | First African American woman mayor in Sussex County | [41][65] | |
| Evelyn P. Burkle | (1927–2015) | 1999 | Breast cancer survivor and educator | [65] | |
| Lynne S. Frink | (1946–1998) | 1999 | Environmentalist; founded Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research | [66][65] | |
| Barbara Chase Herr | (1921–2017) | 1999 | First director of commission for women | [65] | |
| Nancy W. Cook | (1936–) | 1998 | Member of the Delaware Senate | [67] | |
| Henrietta R. Johnson | (1914–1997) | 1998 | First African American woman elected to the Delaware General Assembly | [68] | |
| Renee G. O'Leary | 1998 | Early childhood science teacher | [69][70] | ||
| Beatrice "Bea" Simonds | (1914–2006) | 1998 | Advocate for the visually impaired | [71][72] | |
| Mary Ann Shadd Cary |  | (1823–1893) | 1997 | Anti-slavery activist, journalist, publisher, teacher and lawyer. She was the first black woman publisher in North America and the first woman publisher in Canada. | [73][74] |
| Sherry L. Freebery | 1997 | Police chief and chief administrative officer | [75][74] | ||
| Karen E. Peterson | (1950–) | 1997 | Member of the Delaware Senate | [76][74] | |
| Harriet N. Smith Windsor | (1940–) | 1997 | First woman from Sussex County to be appointed Secretary of State | [41][74] | |
| Cynthia M. Boehmer | (1947–) | 1996 | Domestic Violence Coordinating Council member | [77] | |
| Julie K. Boozer | (1935–) | 1996 | Chair of the Division of Nursing at Wesley College | [77] | |
| Sally J. Knox | (1925–1995) | 1996 | Headed the Delaware Commission for Women; pay equity advocate | [78][77] | |
| Jane P. Maroney | (1923–2021) | 1996 | Member of theDelaware House of Representatives | [77] | |
| Mae Riedy Carter | (1921–2020) | 1995 | Program specialist in the University of Delaware's Division of Continuing Education, first Chair of the Commission on the Status of Women | [79] | |
| Ruth Ann Minner |  | (1935–2021) | 1995 | 72ndGovernor of Delaware | [41][79] |
| Ruth Oates-Graham | (1942–2023) | 1995 | National Association of State EMS Directors | [79] | |
| Helen S. Balick | (1930–2020) | 1994 | U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge | [80][81] | |
| Eleanor L. Cain | (1933–2019) | 1994 | Director of the Delaware Division of Services for Aging and Physical Disabilities | [82][81] | |
| Harriet Ruth Williams | (1915–1999) | 1994 | Chair, Dept of Chemistry,Delaware State University | [83][84][85][81] | |
| Mae D. Hightower-Vandamm | (1926–2014) | 1993 | Exec. Dir Delaware Curative Workshop | [86][87][88] | |
| Carol E. Hoffecker | (1938–) | 1993 | Chair of the University of Delaware Department of History | [89][88] | |
| Elizabeth Neal | 1993 | Deputy Warden of New Castle County Community Corrections | [88] | ||
| Ada Leigh Soles | (1937–2010) | 1993 | Member of the Delaware House of Representatives | [90][88] | |
| Frances D. Swift Tatnall | (1874–1966) | 1993 | Founder of theTatnall School in Wilmington | [88] | |
| Claire La Mar Carey | (1943–) | 1992 | Director of the Walnut Street YMCA's Black Achiever program | [91] | |
| Lozelle Jenkins DeLuz | (1927–2018) | 1992 | President of DeLuz Management Consultants | [92][91] | |
| Margaret R. Manning | (1918–2015) | 1992 | Member of the Delaware Senate | [91] | |
| Jane T. Mitchell | (1929–2012) | 1992 | First woman elected master of the Delaware State Grange | [91] | |
| Madaline Elliot Buchanan | (1908–1995) | 1991 | President of the Delaware Board of Education | [93] | |
| Katherine L. Esterly | (1925–2014) | 1991 | Worked to establish the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit atChristiana Hospital | [93] | |
| Nancy Churchman Sawin | (1919–2008) | 1991 | Author and Lacrosse and field hockey player | [94][93] | |
| Winifred J. Robinson |  | (1868–1962) | 1990 | First dean of the Women's College of the University of Delaware | [95][96] |
| Mary Ann Sorden Stuart |  | (1828–1893) | 1990 | Suffragist, "Delaware's first feminist" | [97][96] |
| Pauline Dyson | (1891–1970) | 1989 | Teacher and community leader | [98][99] | |
| Genevieve W. Gore | (1913–2005) | 1989 | FoundedW. L. Gore and Associates with her husband,Wilbert (Bill) Lee Gore | [99] | |
| Margaret I. Handy | (1889–1977) | 1988 | Pioneeringdoctor who was one of the first to specialise inpaediatric medicine. In 1945, she established the firstmothers' milk bank at Delaware Hospital (nowWilmington Hospital) inWilmington, Delaware | [100][101][102][103][104] | |
| Jane E. Mitchell | (1921–2004) | 1988 | First African American registered nurse to be hired in a Delaware hospital | [104] | |
| Marguerite Hill Burnett | (1885–1966) | 1987 | State director of adult education | [105] | |
| Florence Bayard Hilles |  | (1865–1954) | 1987 | One of theSilent Sentinels, a group of women in favor ofwomen's suffrage who protested in front of the White House duringWoodrow Wilson's presidency | [106][105] |
| Gertrude M. Lowell | (1901–1994) | 1987 | Founder of theDelaware Senior Citizen publication | [105][107] | |
| Elizabeth H. Ryan | (1919–2014) | 1987 | League of Women Voters, past president Delaware Council on Crime and Justice | [105] | |
| Roxana Cannon Arsht | (1915–2003) | 1986 | First female judge in the State of Delaware | [108][109] | |
| Emily P. Bissell |  | (1861–1948) | 1986 | American social worker and activist who introducedChristmas Seals to the United States | [110][109] |
| Hilda Davis |  | (1905–2001) | 1986 | First African American woman to hold a full-time faculty position at theUniversity of Delaware | [109] |
| Mabel Vernon |  | (1884–1975) | 1986 | One of theSilent Sentinels, a group of women in favor ofwomen's suffrage who protested in front of the White House duringWoodrow Wilson's presidency | [111][109] |
| Louise T. Conner | (1918–1983) | 1985 | Member of the Delaware House of Representatives, representingBrandywine Hundred | [112][113] | |
| Norma B. Handloff | (1913–2002) | 1985 | Newark's first woman mayor, 1966–1973 | [113] | |
| Mary Askew Mather | (1861–1925) | 1985 | President of theNew Century Club | [113] | |
| Mary Jornlin Theisen | (1927–2007) | 1985 | First woman elected New Castle County executive | [114][113] | |
| Esther Schauer Frear | (1909–2000) | 1983 | Wife of SenatorJ. Allen Frear Jr., member of the Senate Ladies Red Cross Unit | [115] | |
| Sallie Topkis Ginns | (1880–1976) | 1983 | Member of theNational Woman's Party, suffragist | [116][115] | |
| Edith Jackson Newton | (1905–1996) | 1983 | Educator | [115] | |
| Cecile Long Steele | (1900–1940) | 1983 | Pioneer of Delaware'sbroiler chicken industry | [115] | |
| Vera Gilbride Davis | (1894–1974) | 1982 | First woman elected to theDelaware Senate | [117] | |
| Mabel L. Fisher Ridgely |  | (1872–1962) | 1982 | Preservationist and suffragist | [118][117] |
| Emalea Pusey Warner |  | (1853–1948) | 1982 | Successfully campaigned for public vocational education and has a local elementary school named in her honor. | [119][117] |
| Pauline A. Young |  | (1900–1991) | 1982 | Teacher, librarian, and lecturer | [120][117] |
| Annie Jump Cannon |  | (1863–1941) | 1981 | Astronomer whose cataloging work was instrumental in the development of contemporarystellar classification | [121][122] |
| Pearl Herlihy Daniels | (1910–1994) | 1981 | Collector of historical maps | [123][122] | |
| Ruth Mitchell Laws | (1912–2010) | 1981 | Educator; Vice President of theDelaware Technical Community College | [124][122] | |
| Mary Ann Wright | (1920–2006) | 1981 | Cerebral palsy survivor who in 1948 teamed with polio survivor Agnes Peronne to co-found the Mancus Foundation, an organization to assist disabled people. Wright was president of the organization for 58 years. | [122][125] |
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