HALL OF FAME

​"It seems fitting as we enter the 21st Century, still dealing with the unfinished business of racism, to honor those exemplary persons of the 19th Century who dedicated their fortunes, their efforts, and, in some cases, their lives to the accomplishments of equal rights for all humans."

How do we choose the inductees?

Inductees are selected biennially via a public nomination process.  The Inductee Committee of the NAHOF Cabinet of Freedom initially examines the nominations to ascertain their compliance with the nomination requirements.  An external panel well-acquainted with abolitionist scholarship evaluates the nominations.  Using the external reviews, the Inductee Committee makes recommendations to the Cabinet of Freedom.  The Cabinet of Freedom makes the final determination.

How do I nominate an inductee?

Fill out the National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum public nomination form by downloading the Word document or PDF.
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Abolitionists may be nominated for induction in October 2026.  The deadline for those nominations is January 31, 2025.

Who can I contact for more information?

Questions about potential nominations and the nomination process may be directed to:
Tom Bennett, Induction Committee, [email protected].

How do we honor the inductees?

The Hall of Fame presents a banner for each of the abolition inductees.  At the October commemoration ceremonies, a banner for each inductee is unveiled by persons and organizations affiliated with the inductee.  These persons have been relatives, biographers, members of associated organizations, etc.  The New York Council for the Humanities, a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, has also supported these banner projects.  Text on the panel includes brief information on the life, work, and legacy of the inductee.  This information is composed by the public nominators, NAHOF scholars, and association teams.  After the commemoration unveiling, the banners are added to the banner assembly in the Hall of Fame in Peterboro, NY.

Photos from the 2022 and 2018 induction ceremonies

Inductees