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In 1948, a group of influential women in the Republican Party approached
Governor John H. Duff with the idea of honoring women who had given distinguished
service through their careers to their communities, their state, and their country.
The group thought the outstanding women should be recognized at the 1949 Pennsylvania
Week. Pennsylvania Week was a week-long program featuring appearances by business
leaders, movie stars, and other celebrities, home town celebrations, newspaper
contests, radio skits, and open house programs by almost every business and
industry in the state. Mrs. John Y. Huber, Jr. was named Vice-Chairman of Pennsylvania
Week and she guided the activities of women throughout the Commonwealth for
that event. Mrs. William H. Peace was appointed chairman of the plans which
developed into the Distinguished Daughters of Pennsylvania Awards.
The first group of Distinguished Daughters was honored the following year, on
October 18, 1949, at a presentation tea in the Governor's reception room in
the capitol, preceding the Pennsylvania Week ceremonies. Seventeen women were
chosen from sixty-seven nominations, covering over two-hundred women's clubs
throughout the state, by a committee of judges. The women received medals made
by the United States Mint, with a picture of William Penn on one side and the
seal of the Commonwealth and the inscription "Distinguished Daughter of
Pennsylvania" on the reverse, along with the nominee's name.
From 1949 to 2014, 492 women have been named Distinguished Daughters of Pennsylvania.
The mission of the Distinguished Daughters is to honor outstanding women for
their extraordinary service and contributions to the Commonwealth. The women
honored are from diverse backgrounds, including education, science, law, medicine,
business, public service, philanthropy, humanities, and the arts. Internationally
known Distinguished Daughters include Pearl Buck, Grace Kelly, Teresa Heinz
Kerry, Violet Oakley, Julie Nixon Eisenhower, Edna Andrade, Lee Ducat, and Marian
Anderson.
Every year, nomination forms are sent to civic, cultural, professional, and
educational organizations across Pennsylvania. Candidates are first reviewed
by Distinguished Daughters from the nominees' geographic region (eastern, central,
or western), who choose finalists to be considered at the state level. At a
subsequent state wide meeting, to which all Distinguished Daughters are invited,
the annual awardees are selected. Their names are sent to the Governor, who
then notifies the new Distinguished Daughters. In October, the women are honored
at an Annual Award Luncheon at the Governor's Residence, where they receive
their medals and citations for their achievement.
The Distinguished Daughters of Pennsylvania donated the collection to the Commonwealth
in 2013.
Visit their website at http://distinguisheddaughtersofpa.org/.
PA State Archives | Hours, Directions, & Fees | Research Topics | Online Catalog | Land Records |