Honored: 1991 (1918 - 1999)
1988 Nobel Prize winner who spent a lifetime creating drugs to combat leukemia, gout, malaria, herpes and other auto-immune diseases. Elion's work saved many lives, and led to the development of the first major AIDS drug AZT.
Honored: 1998 (1896 - 1957)
First American woman to receive the Nobel Prize in science. Cori, along with her husband and Bernardo Houssay of Argentina, received the award in 1947 "for their discovery of the course of the catalytic conversion of glycogen." Their work, the first bioengineering of a large biological molecule in a test tube, became the foundation for our understanding of how cells use food and convert it to energy.
Honored: 1993 (1934 - )
Feminist leader, writer and social activist. A founder of Ms. Magazine, Steinem also co-convened the National Women's Political Caucus and helped create the Ms. Foundation for Women. A best selling author, her latest works are Revolution from Within: A Book of Self Esteem for Women and Moving Beyond Words.
Honored: 1993 (1942 - )
Founder of CHILDFIND, a nationwide organization which helps locate missing children. Yerkovich developed the program after her own daughter was abducted. Her concept was the prototype for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Honored: 1994 (1906 - 1992)
A mathematics genius and computer pioneer, Grace Hopper created computer programming technology that forever changed the flow of information and paved the way for modern data processing. In 1952, Hopper was credited with creating the first complier for modern computers, a program that translates instructions written by a programmer into codes that can be read by a computer. Hopper was the first woman to hold the rank of Rear Admiral in the U.S. Navy.
Honored: 1988 (1917 - 2000)
Poet and novelist. Brooks was the first African American woman to win the Pulitzer Prize (Annie Allen, 1949). She was very active in the Black arts movement.
Honored: 1995 (1858 - 1942)
Club woman and welfare worker on matters relating to child welfare, she organized a nationwide Jewish Women's Congress as part of the 1890's World's Fair. It later became the National Council of Jewish Women, to which she was elected its first president.
Honored: 1973 (1820 - 1913)
Abolitionist born a slave in Maryland. Fleeing north to freedom, Tubman joined the Underground Railroad as a "conductor" who led people through the lines to freedom. Credited with saving more that 300 people from slavery, she became known as "Moses." During the Civil War, Tubman organized former slaves into scouts and spy patrols, and after the war worked to help needy African Americans.
Honored: 1986 (1811 - 1896)
Author and daughter of a minister, Stowe became one of the first women to earn a living by writing, publishing the best-seller Uncle Tom's Cabin in 1852. Although she wrote much more, her best-seller was often acclaimed as a major factor in the drive to abolish slavery.
Honored: 2001 (1844 - 1926)
An inventor of water-conservation techniques, she was also a very successful businesswoman. Her water irrigation systems are credited with being one of the factors in the development of southern California as a major agricultural region.
