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The Legacy Recognition Program, initiated in 2024, is an important part of the �����Ƶ’s overall effort to address and reconcile its history regarding racism, sexism, and inequality. The program highlights the contributions of scholars, researchers, writers, artists, business leaders, community leaders, and others whose accomplishments have been overlooked or undervalued due to their race, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation.

The Legacy Recognition Honorees for 2025:

Abigail Adams 
Humanitarian; Advocate (women’s rights) 
(1744–1818)

Numa Pompilius Garfield Adams 
Physician; Educator; Academic administrator 
(1885–1940)

Louisa May Alcott 
Writer (novelist, short story writer, poet) 
(1832–1888)

Maya Angelou 
Writer (poet, memoirist, nonfiction writer, novelist); Advocate (civil rights) 
(1928–2014)

Joaquin Guadalupe Avila 
Lawyer; Advocate (voting rights) 
(1948–2018)

Josephine Baker 
Dancer; Musician (singer); Actor 
(1906–1975)

Louis Dembitz Brandeis 
Lawyer; Jurist (U.S. Supreme Court) 
(1856–1941)

Letitia Woods Brown 
Historian 
(1915–1976)

Pearl S. Buck 
Writer (novelist, essayist); Humanitarian 
(1892–1973)

Tommy Wayne “T. C.” Cannon, Pai-doung-a-day (One Who Stands in the Sun) 
Artist (painter, printmaker) 
(1946–1978)

Shirley Anita Chisholm 
Legislator; Member, U.S. House of Representatives 
(1924–2005)

Mamie Phipps Clark 
Social psychologist 
(1917–1983)

Harvey Lavan “Van” Cliburn, Jr. 
Musician (pianist) 
(1934–2013)

Marvel Jackson Cooke 
Journalist; Writer (literary critic, essayist); Advocate (civil rights) 
(1903–2000)

Marie Maynard Daly 
Biochemist 
(1921–2003)

Vine Victor Deloria, Jr. 
Writer (nonfiction writer); Historian; Theologian; Advocate (Native American rights) 
(1933–2005)

Emily Elizabeth Dickinson 
Writer (poet) 
(1830–1886)

John Garcia 
Psychologist 
(1917–2012)

Isabella Stewart Gardner 
Arts patron; Philanthropist 
(1840–1924)

Lorraine Vivian Hansberry 
Writer (playwright); Advocate (civil rights) 
(1930–1965)

Frances Ellen Watkins Harper 
Writer (poet, essayist, novelist, short story writer); Advocate (civil rights, women’s rights) 
(1825–1911)

Dorothy Irene Height 
Advocate (civil rights, women’s rights) 
(1912–2010)

Zora Neale Hurston 
Writer (novelist, essayist, short story writer); Anthropologist; Folklorist 
(1891–1960)

Hedy Lamarr 
Actor; Inventor 
(1914–2000)

Bruce Lee 
Actor; Filmmaker; Philosopher 
(1940–1973)

Alfred James Lotka 
Mathematician; Physical chemist; Biostatistician 
(1880–1949)

Ynés Enriquetta Julietta Mexia 
Botanist 
(1870–1938)

Margaretta Hare Morris 
Entomologist 
(1797–1867)

George Morrison, Wah Wah Teh Go Nay Ga Bo (Standing in the Northern Lights) 
Artist (painter, sculptor) 
(1919–2000)

Luis Muñoz Marín 
Journalist; Government official 
(1898–1980)

Alfonso Alex Ortiz 
Cultural anthropologist 
(1939–1997)

Ernest Anthony “Tito” Puente, Jr. 
Composer; Musician (percussionist) 
(1923–2000)

Howard Rock, Uyaġak (Rock) 
Newspaper editor; Advocate (Native American rights) 
(1911–1976)

William Penn Adair “Will” Rogers 
Columnist; Humorist; Social commentator; Actor 
(1879–1935)

Fritz William Scholder V 
Artist (painter, lithographer, sculptor) 
(1937–2005)

Nina Simone 
Musician (pianist, singer, songwriter); Advocate (civil rights) 
(1933–2003)

Georgiana Rose Simpson 
Philologist 
(1865–1944)

James McCune Smith 
Physician; Advocate (civil rights) 
(1813–1865)

Elizabeth Cady Stanton 
Writer; Advocate (women’s rights) 
(1815–1902)

Vernie Merze Tate 
Historian 
(1905–1996)

Margaret Abigail Walker 
Writer (poet, novelist) 
(1915–1998)