The Legacy Recognition Program, initiated in 2024, is an important part of the Academy’s overall effort to address and reconcile its history regarding racism, sexism, and inequality. The program highlights the contributions of scholars, researchers, writers, artists, business leaders, community leaders, and others whose accomplishments have been overlooked or undervalued due to their race, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation.
The Legacy Recognition Honorees for 2025:
Abigail Adams
Humanitarian; Advocate (women’s rights)
(1744–1818)
Numa Pompilius Garfield Adams
Physician; Educator; Academic administrator
(1885–1940)
Louisa May Alcott
Writer (novelist, short story writer, poet)
(1832–1888)
Maya Angelou
Writer (poet, memoirist, nonfiction writer, novelist); Advocate (civil rights)
(1928–2014)
Joaquin Guadalupe Avila
Lawyer; Advocate (voting rights)
(1948–2018)
Josephine Baker
Dancer; Musician (singer); Actor
(1906–1975)
Louis Dembitz Brandeis
Lawyer; Jurist (U.S. Supreme Court)
(1856–1941)
Letitia Woods Brown
Historian
(1915–1976)
Pearl S. Buck
Writer (novelist, essayist); Humanitarian
(1892–1973)
Tommy Wayne “T. C.” Cannon, Pai-doung-a-day (One Who Stands in the Sun)
Artist (painter, printmaker)
(1946–1978)
Shirley Anita Chisholm
Legislator; Member, U.S. House of Representatives
(1924–2005)
Mamie Phipps Clark
Social psychologist
(1917–1983)
Harvey Lavan “Van” Cliburn, Jr.
Musician (pianist)
(1934–2013)
Marvel Jackson Cooke
Journalist; Writer (literary critic, essayist); Advocate (civil rights)
(1903–2000)
Marie Maynard Daly
Biochemist
(1921–2003)
Vine Victor Deloria, Jr.
Writer (nonfiction writer); Historian; Theologian; Advocate (Native American rights)
(1933–2005)
Emily Elizabeth Dickinson
Writer (poet)
(1830–1886)
John Garcia
Psychologist
(1917–2012)
Isabella Stewart Gardner
Arts patron; Philanthropist
(1840–1924)
Lorraine Vivian Hansberry
Writer (playwright); Advocate (civil rights)
(1930–1965)
Frances Ellen Watkins Harper
Writer (poet, essayist, novelist, short story writer); Advocate (civil rights, women’s rights)
(1825–1911)
Dorothy Irene Height
Advocate (civil rights, women’s rights)
(1912–2010)
Zora Neale Hurston
Writer (novelist, essayist, short story writer); Anthropologist; Folklorist
(1891–1960)
Hedy Lamarr
Actor; Inventor
(1914–2000)
Bruce Lee
Actor; Filmmaker; Philosopher
(1940–1973)
Alfred James Lotka
Mathematician; Physical chemist; Biostatistician
(1880–1949)
Ynés Enriquetta Julietta Mexia
Botanist
(1870–1938)
Margaretta Hare Morris
Entomologist
(1797–1867)
George Morrison, Wah Wah Teh Go Nay Ga Bo (Standing in the Northern Lights)
Artist (painter, sculptor)
(1919–2000)
Luis Muñoz Marín
Journalist; Government official
(1898–1980)
Alfonso Alex Ortiz
Cultural anthropologist
(1939–1997)
Ernest Anthony “Tito” Puente, Jr.
Composer; Musician (percussionist)
(1923–2000)
Howard Rock, Uyaġak (Rock)
Newspaper editor; Advocate (Native American rights)
(1911–1976)
William Penn Adair “Will” Rogers
Columnist; Humorist; Social commentator; Actor
(1879–1935)
Fritz William Scholder V
Artist (painter, lithographer, sculptor)
(1937–2005)
Nina Simone
Musician (pianist, singer, songwriter); Advocate (civil rights)
(1933–2003)
Georgiana Rose Simpson
Philologist
(1865–1944)
James McCune Smith
Physician; Advocate (civil rights)
(1813–1865)
Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Writer; Advocate (women’s rights)
(1815–1902)
Vernie Merze Tate
Historian
(1905–1996)
Margaret Abigail Walker
Writer (poet, novelist)
(1915–1998)