The Iowa Woman’s Hall of Fame inducts a new class into its ranks today. Lori Schrader Bachar of the Iowa Commission on the Status of Women talks says the four inductees this year are Linda Kerber of Iowa City, Mary Kramer of Clive, Lyn Stinson from Burlington and Adeline Lavonne McCormick-Ohnemus a doctor from rural Milo. McCormick-Ohnemus is being inducted posthumously.
Kerber was the first professor of women’s history at the University of Iowa in 1971. Kramer served as an Iowa state senator for 13 years. Stinson is a longtime volunteer working with several local programs in Burlington. SchraderBachar says each of the women was nominated by someone in their community.She says there is a Hall of Fame selection committee that reviews the nominations and says it is difficult task to select just four women each year. SchraderBachar says the women in this year’s class epitomize the things they look for in the nominations. SchraderBachar says the women have outstanding achievements in the fields of academia, politics, medicine and civic involvement.
“Generations of Iowans can look to these women as role models,” SchraderBachar says. SchraderBachar says there is another award they’ll make at the ceremony. SchraderBachar says the Commission on the Status of Women will give out the “Cristine Wilson Medal for Equality and Justice” to Sister Mary McCauley of Postville. McCauley has worked with immigrants in the Postville area, most recently those involved at the Agriprocessors plant.
The events begin at 10:30 at the State Historical Building.