Women | US-FL | Florida

1830s

Elizabeth Whitfield Croom Bellamy (17 apr 1837 – 13 apr 1900 | Quincy FL – Mobile AL) poet


1840s

Mary Edwards Bryan (18 may 1846 – 15 jun 1913 | Lloyd FL – Clarkston GA) poet, author, essayist, journalist


1850s

Delity Powell Kelly (04 jun 1851 – 31 oct 1939 | Apalachicola FL – Pensacola FL) Confederate nurse, Civil War prisoner, first female military pensioner Florida State


1860s


1870s

Emma Bertha Delany (18 jan 1871 – 07 oct 1922 | Fernandina Beach FL – Fernandina Beach FL) African-American missionary fundraiser, first Baptist missionary to Malawai and Liberia in Africa, co-founded Providence Industrial Mission (Malawi) and Suehn Industrial Mission (Liberia)

Henrietta Cuttino Dozier (25 apr 1872 – 17 apr 1947 | Fernandina FL – Jacksonville FL) architect, licensed genealogist, first female architect in Georgia, first Southern woman to earn MIT architectural degree

Eartha Mary Magdalene White (08 nov 1876 – 18 jan 1974 | Jacksonville FL – Jacksonville FL) teacher, political activist, operatic soprano, humanitarian


1880s

Florida Pier Scott-Maxwell (14 sep 1883 – 06 mar 1979 | Orange Park FL – Exeter UK) author, actress, playwright, suffragist, analytical psychologist, studied with Carl Jung


1890s

Augusta Savage (29 feb 1892 – 27 mar 1962 | Green Cove Springs FL – New York NY) African-American sculptor, associated with the Harlem Renaissance, born Augusta Christine Fells

Lillian Eugenia Smith (12 dec 1897 – 28 sep 1966 | Jasper FL – Atlanta GA) Southern US novelist, memoirist, social critic, civil rights activist


1900s

Thelma Butterfly McQueen (07 jan 1900 – 22 dec 1995 | Tampa FL – Augusta GA) atheist, actress, Free Thought activist / heroine

Harriet Vyda Simms Moore (19 jun 1902 – 03 jan 1952 | West Palm Beach FL – Sanford FL) teacher, civil rights activist, murder victim

Lucreaty Clark (09 feb 1903 – 09 may 1986 | Jefferson County FL – Lamont FL) folk artist, white oak basket weaver

Frances Lander Spain (15 mar 1903 – 20 jan 1999 | Jacksonville FL – Marion County FL) editor, children’s librarian, instructor of school library services, first children’s librarian to become president of ALA

Lassie Goodbread Black (24 aug 1904 – 11 may 1996 | Lake City FL – Lake City FL) farmer, educator, agricultural methods home demonstration agent, first woman to enroll at University of Florida College of Agriculture, co-founded Lake City Recreation Club and Lake City Garden Club

Jacqueline Cochran (11 may 1906 – 09 aug 1980 | Pensacola FL – Indio CA) aviator, spokesperson, businesswoman, women’s military activist, autobiographical author


1910s

Martha Rountree (23 oct 1911 – 23 aug 1999 | Gainesville FL – Washington DC) pioneering broadcast journalist, news show creator / moderator

Celestine Sibley (23 may 1914 – 15 aug 1999 | Holley FL – Dog Island FL) author, journalist, syndicated columnist

M. Athalie Range (07 nov 1915 – 14 nov 2006 | Key West FL – Miami FL) politician, civil rights activist, born Mary Athalie Wilkinson, first African-American to serve on Miami City Commission, first woman / first African-American to head Florida State agency / Department of Community Affairs

Marie Anderson (19 apr 1916 – 02 jul 1966 | Pensacola FL – Altamonte Springs FL) journalist, newspaper editor, transformed Miami Herald Women’s Page into one of the first nationally-recognized progressive women’s newspaper sections

Helen Norris Bell (22 jun 1916 – 18 nov 2013 | Miami FL – Black Mountain NC) poet, novelist, short fiction writer, Poet Laureate of Alabama

Phyllis Sheffield (29 dec 1916 – 16 jul 2015 | Miami FL – Palatka FL) artist, painter, world traveller, maps and nautical charts maker, documentary photographer of Miccosukee Indians in Florida

Amelia Stone Haygood (15 jul 1919 – 19 mar 2007 | Gainesville FL – Santa Monica CA) clinical psychologist, editor / director of publications, Delos classical music record company founder, developed treatment program for juvenile offenders / families

Johnnie Ruth Clarke (28 jul 1919 – 15 may 1978 | St. Petersburg FL – St. Petersberg FL) mentor, educator, humanitarian, founded Florida State Sickle Cell Foundation, first black female awarded PhD from FL State university


1920s

Betty Mae Tiger Jumper (27 apr 1923 – 14 jan 2011 | Indiantown FL – Hollywood Seminole Indian Reservation FL) chief, editor, nurse, memoirist, aka Potackee

Beatrix Hamburg (19 oct 1923 – 15 apr 2018 | Jacksonville FL – Washington DC) author, child and adolescent psychiatrist, first African-American to attend Vassar College, first African-American woman to attend Yale Medical School

Ruth Miriam Wolkowsky Greenfield (17 nov 1923 – Key West FL) musician, educator, music education integration activist / innovator

Letitia [Tish] Baldrige (09 feb 1926 – 29 oct 2012 | Miami FL – Bethesda MD) author, etiquette expert, social secretary for Jacqueline Kennedy

Betty Skelton Erde (28 jun 1926 – 31 aug 2011 | Pensacola FL – The Villages FL) author, aerobatics pilot, race car driver / land speed record holder, first female technical narrator for GM at auto shows, aviation / auto racing / astronautics / advertising pioneer / record-breaker, aka The First Lady of Firsts

Mary Stuart (04 jul 1926 – 28 feb 2002 | Miami FL – New York NY) poet, singer, actress, lyricist, autobiographical author

Shelley Riley Moore (15 jul 1926 – 13 sep 2014 | Miami FL – Charleston WV) educator, public speaker, First Lady of West Virginia, founded WV Mansion Preservation Foundation

Nancy Hanks (31 dec 1927 – 07 jan 1983 | Miami Beach FL – New York NY) arts / civic activist, first female National Endowment of the Arts chairperson


1930s

Virginia Rudd Lanier (28 oct 1930 – 27 oct 2003 | Madison County FL – Fargo GA) short fiction writer, serial mystery novelist, first book published at age 65

Joan Murrell Owens (30 jun 1933 – 25 may 2011 | Miami FL – Washington DC) author, educator, marine biologist, expert focus on corals, received degrees in fine art / geology / guidance counseling

Johnnetta Betsch Cole (19 oct 1936 – Jacksonville FL) author, educator, college president, humanitarian, cultural anthropologist

Byllye Yvonne Avery (20 oct 1937 – DeLand FL) documentary filmmaker, health care activist, founded US National Black Women’s Health Project

Adele Khoury Graham (04 apr 1938 – Miami FL) educator, former First Lady of Florida

Janet Wood Reno (21 jul 1938 – 07 nov 2016 | Miami FL – Miami FL) lawyer, social / cultural activist, first female / second-longest serving US Attorney General

Ellen Taaffe Zwilich (30 apr 1939 – Miami FL) violinist, composer, first female Pulitzer Prize for Music laureate, Julliard’s first woman Doctor of Musical Arts in composition


1940s

Jane Bruckenfield Holzer (23 oct 1940 – Palm Beach FL) aka Baby Jane Holzer, art collector, film producer, former actress / Warhol superstar

Stella F. Thayer (27 dec 1940 – Tampa FL) attorney, thoroughbred racing co-owner / activist, president of National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, past president of Thoroughbred Racing Association

Robin Morgan (29 jan 1941 – Lake Worth FL) poet, author, lecturer, journalist, political theorist / activist

Sue Samuels (15 may 1941 – Fort Lauderdale FL) dancer, choreographer, artistic director, master jazz teacher and performer

Susan Margaret Watkins (12 jun 1943 – Jacksonville FL) author, professor emerita, founded academic field of functional apparel design

Mary Woronov (08 dec 1943 – Palm Beach FL) author, actress, memoirist, figurative painter, aka Mary Might, Mary Pfft, Mary Whitehead, Mary Gershunny, Mary Woronoff

Yvonna Sessions Lincoln (25 may 1944 – Tampa FL) author, qualitative methodologist, higher education scholar, social science researcher, Distinguished Professor of Higher Education and Human Resource Development

Katherine Irene Kurtz (18 oct 1944 – Coral Gables FL) fantasy novelist, occult alternate history novelist

Sandra Gulland (03 nov 1944 – Miami FL) American-born Canadian novelist

Louise Jones Gopher (25 may 1945 – Fort Pierce Seminole Camp FL) first female Seminole to earn BA, former director of education for Seminole Tribe of Florida

Rose V. Ferlita (26 dec 1945 – Tampa FL) politician, pharmacist, founder / CEO Rose Drugs Inc.

Patricia Gaffney (27 dec 1945 – Tampa FL) historical and contemporary novelist

Shea Gordon (22 feb 1946 – Miami FL) multi-media artist, painter, sculptor, book artist, digital imagist, sound artist, performance artist

Betty Harper (04 oct 1946 – Bartow FL) artist, illustrator, official artist for Elvis Presley Enterprises

Dena Kaye (17 dec 1946 – Fort Lauderdale FL) author, magazine writer, member of celebrity family

Peggy Willis-Aarnio (12 jan 1948 – 06 jan 2016 | Tampa FL – Panama City FL) author, historian, choreographer, classical ballet teacher

Donna Jo Napoli (28 feb 1948 – Miami FL) linguist, children’s / young adult speculative fiction author

Ronni Sanlo (20 mar 1948 – Miami FL) author, LGBT / political activist, Lavender Graduation Ceremony innovator, Director Emeritus of UCLA Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center

Linda H. Aiken (29 jul 1943 – Gainesville FL) author, essayist, nurse researcher, professor of sociology and nursing science

Elizabeth Anania Edwards (03 jul 1949 – 07 dec 2010 | Jacksonville FL – Chapel Hill NC) author, activist, attorney


1950s

Geraldine Lamboley Walther (22 jul 1950 – Tampa FL) violist, music professor

Linda Saul-Sena (30 apr 1951 – Tampa FL) Urban Landscape columnist, arts / social / political activist

Ann Biderman (15 aug 1951 – Florida US) tv / film writer / producer

Melinda Caroll (04 apr 1952 – Jacksonville FL) singer, composer, record producer, recording artist, lifetime member of the Girls Scouts

Madeline Anne Rogero (26 jul 1952 – Jacksonville FL) first female Mayor of Knoxville TN, former non-profit executive / community volunteer / urban and regional planner / community development director

Victoria Lynn Jackson-Wessel (02 aug 1952 – Miami FL) singer, blogger, actress, satirist, comedian

Carla Diane Hayden (10 aug 1952 – Tallahassee FL) author, essayist, librarian, first woman / first African-American Librarian of US Congress

Robin A. Abbott (20 jan 1953 – Orlando FL) attorney, politician, consumer rights advocate, focus on mortgage lenders in foreclosure cases

Heather Graham Pozzessere (15 mar 1953 – Dade County FL) serial historical / paranormal romance novelist

Diana Canova (01 jun 1953 – West Palm Beach FL) singer, actress, director, professor, former Scientologist

Marjorie Clarke (14 jul 1953 – Miami FL) environmentalist, recycling / waste prevention advocate

Mica Michelle Mosbacher (20 jul 1953 – Gainesville FL) writer, journalist, philanthropist, news commentator, Honorary Consul General of Iceland

Rita Rudner (17 sep 1953 – Miami FL) author, actress, memoirist, comedienne

Nancy Jan Smotherman Davis (01 nov 1953 – Cocoa Beach FL) author, engineer, former astronaut, patent holder

Susan Jo Candiotti (06 dec 1953 – Fort Lauderdale FL) broadcast journalist, national correspondent

Katharine Jefferts Schori (26 mar 1954 – Pensacola FL) author, first US female / former Presiding Bishop and Primate of US Episcopal Church

Nancy Elizabeth Stafford (05 jun 1954 – Wilton Manors FL) author, actress, speaker

Terry Wolverton (23 aug 1954 – Cocoa Beach FL) poet, editor, novelist, memorist

Oeva Jean Wells Koebernick (25 jul 1955 – 25 jan 2012 | Jacksonville FL – Beloit WI) artist, writer, editor of role-playing games, pioneer female game designer

Miriam [Mimi] Spickler Rogers (27 jan 1956 – Coral Gables FL) tv / film actress, producer, Scientologist, competitive poker player

Paige O’Hara (10 may 1956 – Fort Lauderdale FL) singer, painter, actress, voice artist, born Donna Paige Helmintoller

Delta Ramonah Leah Burke (30 jul 1956 – Orlando FL) author, actress, producer

Patricia Carroll Daniels Cornwell (09 jun 1956 – Miami FL) biographer, crime fiction novelist, nonfiction, cookbook author

Patricia Gaffney (27 dec 1956 – Tampa FL) romance novelist, women’s fiction writer

Mary Carillo (15 mar 1957 – Naples FL) sportscaster, former professional tennis player

Elizabeth D’Onofrio (23 oct 1957 – Fort Myers FL) actress, acting coach, film producer

Kiki Carter (21 nov 1957 – Gainesville FL) musician, songwriter, columnist, music publisher, née Kimberli Wilson, community organizer, peace / political / environmental activist

Angela Elwell Hunt (20 dec 1957 – Winter Haven FL) Christian fiction / non-fiction author

Carol Perkins (29 dec 1957 – Sarasota FL) model, businesswoman, pet product designer / business owner

Amanda Bearse (09 aug 1958 – Winter Park FL) actress, director, comedian

Cynthia Haymon (06 sep 1958 – Jacksonville FL) soprano, voice teacher

Nancy McEldowney (06 oct 1958 – Clearwater FL) former US diplomat / member of Foreign Service, former director of Foreign Service Institute and National Foreign Affairs Training Center, director of Master of Science in Foreign Service (MSFS) at Georgetown University

Susan Marshall (17 oct 1958 – Pensacola FL) dancer, choreographer, founder / artistic director of Susan Marshall & Company

Amy Thomson (28 oct 1958 – Miami FL) speculative fiction author, focus on feminist / environmental themes

Victoria Frances Nourse (09 nov 1958 – Dunedin FL) author, professor of law, involved in writing Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)

Barbara O’Connor (09 nov 1958 – West Palm Beach FL) children’s book author

Dana Tyler (24 nov 1958 – Fort Lauderdale FL) broadcast journalist, television news anchor

Wendy Barrien Lawrence (02 jul 1959 – Jacksonville FL) engineer, former NASA astronaut, former helicopter pilot, retired US Navy captain

Karen Prell (31 jul 1959 – Florida US) puppeteer, computer animator

Mary Ann Coady Weinand (25 dec 1959 – 26 sep 2007 | Homestead Air Force Base FL – Tucson AZ) psychiatrist, breast cancer awareness advocate / activist