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THE COURT OF HONOR OF
DISTINGUISHED DAUGHTERS
OF THE PHILADELPHIA HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS

The Court of Honor was first established in 1998 to celebrate the Sesquicentennial of the school (1848-1998). Induction into the group of women already elected is the highest honor conferred on GHS graduates by the Alumnae Association and the school. The induction ceremony is held biennially and the criteria for selection are:

  1. The nominees are women who typify the "Intangible Spirit" of the Philadelphia High School for Girls because they have studied hard to prepare for their chosen profession.
  2. They are women who have achieved recognition in their chosen careers.
  3. They are women who have contributed in an outstanding way to the community, the city, the state, the nation. Their achievements can be in many fields of endeavor such as intellectual or social causes, government, science, the arts, or other areas of achievement.
  4. The serve as role models not only for the undergraduates and graduates of our school, but for girls and women everywhere. They have paved the way for the women of the future.

Any GHS alumna may nominate a graduate. Candidates may be living or deceased. Materials submitted must include a full and up-to-date resume and any supporting documents such as photocopies of awards, newspaper clippings, letters of support describing the nominee's achievements or other appropriate items. The Distinguished Daughters committee will make the final section and those elected will include women from across a broad spectrum of professions and achievements.

We say that every graduate of GHS is a Distinguished Daughter just for having completed the course of study and graduating! However if you would like to nominate an outstanding alumna, for the Court of Honor, send materials to Distinguished Daughters, GHS Alumnae Association, PO Box 40654, Phila PA 19107-0654.

The 2006 Induction Ceremony will be held on December 13, 2006 at the school at 11:00am with a reception following. All are welcome!

Please click here to read learn about our Distinguished Daughters.

COURT OF HONOR
1998

Helen Cheyney Bailey teacher, principal of Girls' High, and school administrator, the first woman to be Associate Superintendent of Philadelphia Public Schools (deceased)
Buntzie Ellis Churchill President of the World Affairs Council in Philadelphia
Dr. Constance Clayton the first woman and the first African-American woman to serve as Public School Superintendent in Philadelphia
Jessie Redmon Fauset novelist, poet, and educator who was called "the midwife of the Harlem Renaissance" by Langston Hughes (deceased)
Germaine Ingram former Chief of Staff of the School District of Philadelphia
Esther Moyerman Klein journalist, author, publisher, and patron of the arts
Virginia Wright Knauer economic advisor to three U.S. Presidents
Lila Stein Kroser, MD physician and educator
Mabel Harmon Morris nurse, educator and administrator
Barbara Chase-Riboud award-winning author and artist
Hon. Lisa Aversa Richette judge, author and social activist
Judith Seitz Rodin, PhD the first woman to be President of the University of Pennsylvania

COURT OF HONOR
2000

Arlene Parsons Bennett, MD physician, educator, and the first African American woman to graduate from the Medical School of the University of Pennsylvania
Shirley Clarke Franklin elected for her work in government and the Olympic Games, and later elected Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia in 2002
Lisa Glauser Kaplowitz, MD physician and educator; currently serving the cabinet of the Governor of Virginia as Deputy Commissioner of Health & Emergency Preparedness
Howardena Pindell artist, author, educator, nationally known African American
Sharon Pinkenson Director of the Greater Philadelphia Film Office
Marguerite Renner, PhD educator and authority on women's roles in US History
Hon. Dolores Korman Sloviter judge, educator and first woman to be named Chief Judge of the US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

COURT OF HONOR
2002

Sallie C. Boyer nurse, educator, administrator, and poet (deceased)
Helen Hanff best selling author, playwright and television scriptwriter (deceased)
Janet Surman Klein former chairperson and present board member of the Pennsylvania State Museum and Historic Commission
Mildred Gross Gordon, PhD physician, educator and administrator
Dr. Rosalyn Jones Watts nurse, educator and first African American to gain tenure at the UPenn School of Nursing
Ann Hobson Pilot principal harpist of the Boston Symphony and first African American Soloist to perform with the South African National Symphony
Linda Lieberman Dennery newspaper publisher and business leader
Hon. Frederica Massiash-Jackson President Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia, educator


COURT OF HONOR
2004

Elise NachmanAlter one of the first graduates to become an engineer, then an aeronautical engineer - served the US Navy as a civilian employee during World War II
Lucy T. Shoe Meritt, PhDaccomplished field archaeologist, first woman to be awarded a fellowship in art history by the American Academy in Rome, world famous expert on Greek, Etruscan and Roman Architecture
Sonia Stupniker Isard, MDphysician, served as president of the Philadelphia Allergy Society, editor of the Journal of the Maimonides Society and later as the society's president
Cecelia R. Lediger, PhDnurse, educator, administrator, founded four university level schools of nursing and served in the Army Nurse Corps from 1942 to1946 during and after World War II
Right Reverend Barbara C. Harrisfirst woman to be ordained a bishop in the world wide Anglican Communion and the first African American woman to be elevated to this office
Edith Dorph Grossman, PhDeducator, reviewer, critic, renowned translator of Spanish into English of works of modern Latin American literature.
Janet Schwarz Theophano, PhDprofessor and administrator with a particular interest in food folkways, folklore and education and folklore and aging


COURT OF HONOR
2006

June Klinghoffer, MD

 An internist and rheumatologist in private practice, a professor of medicine at the Women's Medical College and Director of Teaching Programs in the Department of Medicine
C. Delores Nottage Tucker Secretary of State of Pennsylvania from 1971 to 1977, the first African American in the nation to hold such a post. Active in the cause of Civil Rights throughout her life, including marching with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. from Montgomery to Selma, Alabama
Ruth Harberg DuBois Champion of the cause of improving the health and welfare of children and vulnerable adults for more than 40 years. Member of the Pennsylvania Governor's Council on Drug and Alcohol Abuse. Appointed by the Mayor to Philadelphia's Blue Ribbon Panel on Children's Health.
Sally Wendkos Olds Author of ten books and more than 200 articles dealing with child development, family life, women's lives and mental health. Long an activist for civil rights and for women and children, she currently advocates for the people of Badel, a small village in Nepal
Dr. Lois Kushner Cohen Currently serves as Associate Director for International Health, National Institute of Dental and Cranofacial Research. A pioneer in the field that has contributed greatly to oral and cranofacial health - the Sociology of Dentistry
Gloria Bloom Allred, Esq. An attorney who has established herself as a voice for women in their quest for equal pay and equal opportunity. Her law firm is well know for its work on behalf of victims of rape, child sexual abuse and civil rights discrimination.
Dr. Barbara Nissman Internationally acclaimed concert pianist and recording artist that has appeared with the great classical orchestras of the world, including the Royal Philharmonic, the Munich Philharmonic, the Bavarian Radio Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, Chicago Symphony and the New York Philharmonic.
Marcia Devins Greenberger, Esq. Founder and Co-President of the National Women's Law Center. Recognized as an expert on sex discrimination and the law and has participated in the development of key legislation initiatives to protect women's right.
Dr. Mary Schmidt Campbell Major figure in the world of art. Vice Provost & Department Chair of Art and Public Policy of the Tisch School of the Arts of New York University. Previously served as New York City Commissioner of Cultural Affairs and Executive Director of the Studio Museum of Harlem.
Patricia Giorgio-Fox First Deputy Police Commissioner of the City of Philadelphia - first woman ever to achieve this rank. In 1976 she was in the first class of women to enter the police force.

COURT OF HONOR
2008

Pinkie Gordon Lane (June 1940) is an internationally recognized poet and educator. Her work was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. She was named Poet Laureate of Louisiana. She was the first African American woman to be awarded a PhD at Louisiana State University.
Anne Jenkins Thompson (January 1952) served New Jersey as a Public Defender, Prosecutor and Municipal Judge. She was the first African American woman to be appointed Judge of the U.S. District Court of New Jersey and then to be named Chief Judge.
Anna Alt-White (June 1964) is a leader in the International nursing community. She is a highly respected researcher, writer and educator in the field of nursing. She currently holds a major executive post in the U.S. Veterans Administration.
BeBe Moore Campbell (June 1967) was a great American novelist whose books often made the best seller list She is also remembered as a tireless advocate for recognition of mental health issues in minority communities and for compassionate treatment.
Blondell Reynolds Brown (June 1970) has been a member of Philadelphia City Council since 2000. She is dedicated to a policy of "Putting People First." She is a strong advocate for the needs of children and women.
Vanessa Thomas Smith (June 1973) is Managing Director of Philadanco, Philadelphia's premier black dance company. She has had a long and successful career in the world of entertainment. She is active in community service and is the member of the Boards of a number of community organizations. In 2004, mayor Street named her a mover and shaker in the Philadelphia Community.
Sandra Dungee Glenn (June 1975) has devoted her professional life to promoting good government, to protecting and nurturing public education and to public service. She served as a member of the Board of education before being appointed to the school reform commission. She is now chairperson with the responsibility of providing excellent education to all children in our public schools.
Linda Mill (June 1981) has had immense success during her long career in banking. She is now a Senior Vice President of Wachovia Bank. Linda is an active volunteer in many community help groups including the American Cancer Society. She helped to set up the GHS Annual Run for Cancer. She spends her own vacations helping to rebuild the homes of hurricane victims.
Loree Jones (June 1986) has devoted her professional life to serving the community by working in the non-profit area and in government. She served the city in many capacities such as Secretary of external Affairs and Managing Director. Loree is currently CEO and President of AchieveAbility, a non-profit organization that helps single parents and their children.
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