artForm15

Please use this form to vote for your nominations for the US Capitol Building’s Statuary Hall. Select two of the individuals listed below, or write your choice in the box labeled "other." Please provide an explanation in 30 or fewer words.

Benjamin Banneker, 1731–1806

This self−taught mathematician, inventor and astronomer urged President Thomas Jefferson to abolish slavery.

Katharine Graham, 1917−2001

As owner and publisher of the Washington Post and Newsweek magazine, she was a nationally recognized leader in business, and the head of the newspaper during its Pulitzer Prize−winning coverage of Watergate. In 1998, Graham received the Pulitzer for her memoir, Personal History.

Alice Pike Barney, 1857−1931

This artist, impresario and advocate for the arts and women’s rights, was instrumental in the establishment of the city’s National Sylvan Theater. She also introduced the arts to social settlement houses in poor neighborhoods.

John Hechinger, Sr., 1920−2004

A native Washingtonian, he was appointed chairman of the first DC Council and was a strong advocate for gun control and civil rights. He headed the Hechinger Company, an East Coast chain of hardware stores, and developed shopping centers in DC’s underserved neighborhoods.

Mary McLeod Bethune, 1875–1955

A daughter of former slaves, she was an educator, civil rights activist, former president of Bethune−Cookman College; and later, President of National Council of Negro Women.

Robert Brent, 1763−1819

As the first mayor of what was known as Washington City in the District of Columbia, Brent was appointed in 1802 by Thomas Jefferson. He was reappointed seven times.

Christian Heurich, 1843–1945

This German immigrant settled in DC in 1870, where he became a philanthropist and founded Heurich Brewing Company, which operated until 1956.

Solomon G. Brown, 1829–1906

This civic and religious leader was one of several African Americans elected to the Legislative Assembly of the District of Columbia. In 1844, he assisted Samuel F. B. Morse in installing the first telegraph service from DC to Baltimore. He worked for the Scientific Division of the Smithsonian Institution, 1852−1906.

James Hoban, 1762–1831

This Irish−born architect settled in Washington in 1792 after winning the design for the White House. He was elected to the first DC Council in 1802. In 1828, Hoban signed a petition to Congress to abolish slavery in DC.

Langston Hughes, 1902–1967

This poet and playwright lived in DC in the 1920s. He was one of the leading lights of the Harlem Renaissance.

Sterling A. Brown, 1901−1989

A native of the District, this poet, writer and teacher was educated at Dunbar High School, Williams College and Harvard University. He went on to teach at Howard University for 40 years.

Reverend Dr. Ching Chong Hung, 1902−1984

Born in Canton, China, he came to Washington in 1935 to organize, and become, the first minister of the first Chinese church in the city: the Chinese Community Church.

Nannie Helen Burroughs, 1879–1961

This educator, civil rights and religious leader was educated in DC Public Schools and established the National Training School for Women and Girls in Northeast, in 1909.

Francis Scott Key, 1779–1843

This lawyer wrote the poem The Star−Spangled Banner, which

became the national anthem. He lived and practiced law in Georgetown.

Norton P. Chipman, 1836–1924

He served in the Union Army (1861−1865) and was later elected first non−voting DC delegate in Congress. Chipman advocated integrated schools and federal funding of education. He served as the first secretary of DC in 1871.

Pierre Charles L’Enfant, 1754–1825

This Frenchman fought in the American Revolution and was selected by George Washington to design Washington, DC.

W. Calvin Chase, 1854–1921

This native son attended Howard University. He was admitted to the DC Bar in 1889 and became editor and owner of The Washington Bee (1882−1921), one of the era’s most significant African American newspapers.

Thurgood Marshall, 1905–1993

A lawyer and civil rights attorney, he successfully argued Brown v. Board of Education in 1954. He was the first African American to serve on the US Supreme Court.

Charles R. Drew, 1904−1950

He was the first African American to be awarded a Doctor of Science degree in medicine. He devised a system for storing blood plasma, and later served as chief of surgery of Freedmen’s Hospital (now Howard University Hospital).

Joseph L. Rauh, 1911−1992

He was a lawyer, civil rights and civil liberties advocate and colonel in the US Army during World War II. He served as a delegate from DC to four Democratic National Conventions.

Carlos Manuel Rosario, 1921−1987

Born in Puerto Rico, Rosario established organizations that worked to fulfill social service needs for the city’s Hispanics. The Office of Latino Affairs is a result of his advocacy. He established what is now called the Carlos Rosario International Career Center and Charter School.

Frederick Douglass, 1818–1895

This former slave, ardent abolitionist, foremost civil rights advocate of his era, diplomat and publisher who became a resident of the District in 1870, served in the DC Legislative Assembly, 1871−1874. President Benjamin Harrison named him Minister to Haiti.

Alethia Browning Tanner, Late 1700s–Early 1800s

Born a slave in the District of Columbia, she grew vegetables on a plot near the White House. She purchased her own freedom and that of 18 family members, including a nephew who founded the Fifteenth Street Presbyterian Church. She owned land and a store at 14th and H Streets, NW.

Duke Ellington, 1899–1974

This legendary musician, composer and bandleader was born in Washington and moved to Harlem in 1923. He wrote, or cowrote, many popular compositions including Mood Indigo and Sophisticated Lady.

Lillian (Madame) Evanti, 1891–1967

Born in DC, she graduated from Howard University in 1917 with a major in music. She was the first African American woman to sing opera, and performed at the White House in 1934 for President and Mrs. Roosevelt.

Mary Church Terrell, 1863–1954

This educator and suffragist civil rights leader was one of first African American women awarded a college degree (Oberlin College). She was the first president of National Association of Colored Women and a founder of the NAACP. She organized boycotts of segregated restaurants.

Christian A. Fleetwood, 1840–1914

He rose to the rank of sergeant major in the US Colored Infantry. He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for heroism during the Union siege of the Confederate Capital in Richmond in 1864. Fleetwood also organized and drilled Colored High School Cadet Corps in the city’s public schools.

Walter Washington, 1915–2003

Washington’s first appointed and elected mayor was a civil rights advocate who helped to defuse racial tensions in DC after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968.

Edward Miner Gallaudet, 1837−1917

He was the first president of Gallaudet University. The university was named for his father, Thomas H. Gallaudet, who was the founder of the first school for the deaf in the United States.

Carter G. Woodson, 1875–1950

This educator and historian received a PhD from Harvard and taught at Howard University. He founded the Journal of Negro History , and conceived Negro History Week (now Black History Month).