To commemorate the 40^th anniversary of the Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame, the Office of Women’s Advancement and Advocacy (de.gov/women) commissioned Delaware artist Theresa Walton to create portraits of every woman inducted from 1981 to 2021. Walton, a retired educator with over 25 years’ experience, paints in both watercolors and acrylics and has exhibited in various venues in the Newark and Wilmington area. The exhibit features 160 portraits and celebrates the tremendous achievement of women from across the state in a variety of professional fields.

‘Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame: Celebrating 40 Years’ was organized by the Office of Women's Advancement & Advocacy. The exhibition is supported by the Delaware Department of Human Resources and the Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame Committee. Additional support is provided, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts.

Background on Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame:

The Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame was established in 1981 to recognize the achievements of outstanding Delaware women and their contributions to communities across the state. The induction ceremony is the oldest annual celebration of its kind commemorating Delaware women. Members represent a variety of professional fields and backgrounds, including artists, athletes, community advocates, military personnel, public servants, and scientists. There is no minimum age requirement, but nominees are only eligible if they have made an important and lasting impact upon the lives of Delawareans, and if they have resided in the state for at least 10 years during their lifetime.

Every year, the Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame Committee solicits applications from the public. In July, the honorees are publicly announced. The induction ceremony typically takes place in the fall and includes a dinner reception followed by an awards program.

About the Artist:  

Theresa (Terre) Walton was a public art teacher for over 25 years, with a master's degree, and is a nationally Certified Art Educator. She also taught studio art and art history at the college level. 

She has won various honors including Brandywine High School Teacher of the Year and the NAEA State Art Educator of the Year, and an award for Technology Integration in the classroom. Theresa works in both watercolors and acrylics and has exhibited in various venues in the Lewes, Newark, and Wilmington areas. As well as being a professional painter, she runs workshops on art techniques, art history, teaching strategies, and computer art. 

Theresa completed the 160 portraits for the Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame exbibit in seven months. On average, each portrait took 2 and a half hours to get just right, though Theresa sometimes spent all day on a single portrait to get the finished version.