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Edmon Low Library
image of Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame

Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame

About the Oral History Project

This oral history project, launched in June 2007, aims to preserve the voices and experiences of inductees to the Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame who serve as pioneers in their fields, made significant contributions to the state of Oklahoma, or have championed other women, women’s issues, or served as public policy advocates for the issues important to women.

The goals of Inductees of the Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame project are three-fold: (1) To interview women who have been inducted into the Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame in order to record their stories and fill a gap in primary source documents concerning women in Oklahoma; (2) To collect and preserve original and/or copies of photographs, memorabilia, and other historical evidence of extraordinary women that have made significant contributions to the state of Oklahoma; (3) To provide a venue for increasing awareness of the success of these women by collecting, preserving, and making information about them fully accessible to scholars, researchers, and other interested persons using various formats including the World Wide Web.

About the Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame

The Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame began in 1982 and was created by then-Governor George Nigh to honor deserving Oklahoma women. It was awarded every year until 1986. The Women’s Hall of Fame was reinstated in 1993 when legislation was passed creating a permanent Commission on the Status of Women in Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame is sponsored and presented by the Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women, whose mission is “To improve the quality of life for women, children and families in Oklahoma.” An induction ceremony is currently held every two years honoring the women chosen. Friends, family members, and co-workers nominate women they think should be inducted. The applications are reviewed by the Commission and several are chosen to be inducted that year.

The guidelines require that the women chosen must have lived in Oklahoma for most of their lives or be easily identified as an Oklahoman and shall include women who are pioneers in their field or in a project that benefits Oklahoma; have served as role models for other Oklahoma women; have made a significant contribution to Oklahoma; may be considered “unsung heroes” but have made a difference in the lives of others due to their actions; have championed other women, women’s issues, or have served as public policy advocates on issues important to women; or women who exemplify the Oklahoma spirit.

Oklahoma Oral History Research Program
207 Edmon Low Library
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, OK 74078
Phone: 405-744-7685
liboh@okstate.edu

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