Honored: 1993 (1906 - 1980)
First woman aviator to break the sound barrier. A leader and pilot, Cochran held many speed, distance and altitude records. She led the Women's Air Force Service Pilots during World War II, becoming the first woman to pilot a bomber across the Atlantic Ocean.
Honored: 1973 (1860 - 1935)
Social reformer and peace activist who created Hull House in the slums of Chicago, starting an American settlement house movement to provide help for the poor. A lifelong activist, Addams fought child labor, infant mortality and dangerous workplaces. Founder of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, she won the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1931.
Honored: 1994 (1829 - 1901)
Journalist and driving force behind the American Club women's movement that inspired thousands of women into a wide range of social reform activities. Probably the nation's first woman syndicated columnist, Croly was also the founder of the General Federation of Women's Clubs.
Honored: 2000 (1938 - )
As Florida State Attorney, she helped establish the Miami Drug Court and reform the juvenile justice system. Appointed by President Clinton to be the first woman Attorney General of the United States, she brought a personal and professional integrity to the office during times when issues were divided bitterly along partisan lines.
Honored: 2000 (1921 - 2010)
In her 33 years in the Armed Forces from 1942 to 1975, Major General Holm, USAF, Retired, rose from private to two-star general. Her promotion in 1973 made her the first woman in the history of the US armed forces to achieve the rank of major general. Her work to open ROTC and the military academies to women has given educational benefits and the opportunity for a professional military career to women from all walks of life.
Honored: 1993 (1880 - 1973)
First woman elected to the U.S. Congress. Rankin served two separate terms representing Montana, and was the only U.S. Representative to vote against America's entry into both World Wars. A lifelong pacifist, she worked for peace until her death.
Honored: 1998 (1929 - )
Founder of the Children's Television Workshop for Public Television and creator of Sesame Street. Cooney created a study for the Carnegie Corporation on the possible use of television for preschool education. Acting on her own findings, she solicited funds to develop a program for television. For this, she was the winner of the Emmy and Peabody Awards, along with other honors.
Honored: 1995 (1842 - 1924)
African American leader from New England. Ruffin was a suffragist, fought slavery, and founded several organizations for African American women, including the Boston branch of the NAACP and the League of Women for Community Service.
Honored: 2007 (1940 - )
The first female to pursue infrared and submillimieter astronomy into ultra sensitive light detection of celestial bodies, Dr. Judith Pipher is a highly regarded infrared astronomer. As a professor with the University of Rochester for 31 years, she founded a group of observational infrared astronomers who took the first telescopic infrared pictures of starburst galaxies. Dr. Pipher was also instrumental in designing aspects of the NASA Spitzer Space Telescope, launched in 2003.
Honored: 2007 (1912 - 2004)
A graduate of Smith College, Julia Child went on to attend classes at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. The famous American cook, author, and television personality introduced French cuisine and cooking techniques to America through her cookbooks and television programs. Her most famous works include the 1961 cookbook
Mastering the Art of French Cooking and the television series
The French Chef, which premiered in 1963. She is widely credited with demystifying the art of fine cooking.
