****The National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum is now accepting public nominations for induction into the class of 2011****

CRITERIA for INDUCTION to the
NATIONAL ABOLITION HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM

Nominees must have worked in America for the immediate abolition of slavery in the United States and have made significant impact in the abolition movement prior to 1870 to be considered/nominated for induction into NAHOF.   

The abolition activities by which a person may be recognized include, but are not limited to

·          Occupational status as a publisher/editor of an abolition newspaper/journal.

·          Authoring/writing of books or articles or orator advocating the abolition of slavery.

·          Working in the Underground Railroad network as stationmaster/conductor/vigilance committee member.

·          Being recognized by other noted abolitionists as an important colleague.

·          Leading politically at a national, state, or local level.

·          Leading an anti-slavery institution of religion.

·          Philanthropically committing resources to the cause of abolition.

·          Educating or administrating an integrated/abolitionist school Experience in establishing or working through national, state, or local anti-slavery organizations.

Dann & Sernett 3-5-05

NOMINATION PROCESS

Nominations must be submitted on the official nominating form in order to be accepted for review. Each nomination will be reviewed by the nomination committee of the Cabinet of Freedom for accuracy, documentation, and compliance with stated criteria. The completed form is used to determine the merits of your nominee for induction into the National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum.

SELECTION
The applications will be processed through the National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum Cabinet of Freedom Inductee Committee. The Inductee Committee will forward copies of the applications to readers throughout the nation who will respond with appropriate rating scales (rubrics).  The Inductee Committee will review the rating scales and select the top four (or fewer) abolitionists according to balance determined by the Cabinet of Freedom. The Inductee Committee will then submit the recommendation to the Cabinet of Freedom for approval. Upon approval, all applicants are notified of the status of their nomination.

To complete the Nomination Form online, please click on the NAHOF logo 

The National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum honors antislavery abolitionists, their work to end slavery, and the legacy of that struggle, and strives to complete the second, and ongoing, abolition – the moral conviction to end Racism.

The National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum (NAHOF) invites persons or organizations to nominate abolitionists who worked in America for the immediate abolition of slavery in the United States, and who made significant impact in the abolition movement prior to 1870 to be considered/nominated for induction into NAHOF, in Peterboro, New York.   

December 31, 2009:   Deadline for the first
                                         round of nominations.

January 31,  2011:     Announcement of
                                        nominees selected.

October 2011:         Induction Ceremonies -- In which the applicant will participate in the event that the nominee is inducted.

October 2012:        Commemoration Ceremonies of
                                   Inductees. Banners for hall 
                                   unveiled.

"An abolitionist is a person who worked for the abolition of slavery and promoted the equal human rights of African-Americans.”

Cabinet of Freedom, October 19, 2004

 The National Abolition Hall of Fame (NAHOF) honors those who fought with distinction in the battle racism, and who have fought against inter-racial discrimination. Honoring the lives and times of such individuals assures not only understanding of our past, but also offers models of moral choice for the future.

HISTORY

 When a person’s lifetime accomplishments exceed those of most others who labored in the same endeavor, she or he deserves to be recognized in a “hall of fame” dedicated to that endeavor.  

 As late as 2000, there was still no site in this country for the student or the public to visit and study the lives and influences of abolitionists. Homes of individual abolitionists could be visited, but no one place honored those individuals who worked together to accomplish the two stages of abolition. Honoring the lives and times of these individuals not only assures understanding of our past but also offers models of moral choice for The Second Abolition – the end of racism.

 As we enter the 21st Century, it is fitting that we celebrate those exemplary figures of the 19th Century who dedicated their work, and in some cases their lives, to the accomplishment of equal rights for all people.

 To that end, The National Abolition Hall of Fame was established on October 19, 2004, to recognize and honor those who have fought with distinction the battle against oppression and degradation of fellow humans.  In 2007, NAHOF received a provisional charter from the New York State Department of Education and became The National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum.       

The first abolitionists inducted into the Hall of Fame were culled from lists of recommendations prepared by abolition scholars" :

                 2005                                                 2007
    Frederick Douglass                           John Brown
    William Lloyd Garrison                  Lydia Maria Child
    Lucretia Coffin Mott                         Wendell Phillips
    Gerrit Smith                                        Sojourner Truth
    Harriet Tubman                                                          

 2009
At this time four or fewer abolitionists will be inducted during the odd numbered years on the October weekend closest to the anniversary of the inaugural meeting of the New York State Anti-Slavery Society held in Peterboro October 22, 1835. The inductees are then commemorated the following (even numbered) year, again on the October weekend closest to the anniversary of the inaugural meeting of the New York State Anti-Slavery Society.

Abolitionists inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005 and 2007 were initially selected using a list of top abolitionists generated by a 2004 survey of abolition scholars by Amy Godine, a member of the Cabinet of Freedom.  This process will remain in place through the 2009 induction.

The participating scholars included
Charles Blockson
Fergus Bordewich
Christopher Densmore
Kate Clifford Larson
John R. McKivigan
Robert Paquette
James Brewer Stewart
Gerald Sorin
Douglas Strong
Tom Vince
Sally Wagner
Judy Wellman
June Williamson

The National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum appreciates their thoughtful inductee selection responses.