Marin Women's Hall of Fame

History is interesting, but HERstory is fascinating!

The year was 1987.  Six women had been collaborating on several women focused projects.  As they worked together, the topic of creating a record of the substantial contributions women have made to the life, culture, mores, even the landscape of Marin County  were discussed.   They discovered that there were virtually no records of women's achievements.  That strengthened their resolve to redress the situation and write Marin women into our county history.  They began to establish and organize a comprehensive method of institutionalizing the amazing, creative, life-changing contributions that Marin County women have made to the quality of our lives.

And so, "Marin Women's Hall of Fame" was formed, echoing the same effort in place at the historic Suffragette site in Seneca Falls, New York.  The founders detailed plans: how to discover these women, how to objectively guage their contributions; how to shine a bright light upon their accomplishments so the public could become aware of these outstanding women.  One frightening thought was when they contemplated what if they gave this "party" and nobody cared - or came!   23 years of successful celebrations have confirmed that they had made the right decisions and were heading in the right direction.

As the project progressed, women from the Women's Commission and from American Association of University Women joined the cause.  The Commission and YWCA provided "seed money" as sponsors for the first dinner and award ceremony.  The steering committee made community contacts for nominations and judging.  Dominican College hosted the "sell out" crowd.  the "little idea that could" was launched.

The original Founders were Bonnie Rose Hough and Ann Kennedy who were affiliated with the YWCA; Commissioner Rita Levy and Patricia Warren affiliated with the Marin Women's Commission and Nancy Nakai and Anne Latta, community representatives. 

And, so it began...HERstory!