Hall of Fame for Great Americans 1955

About the members of the Hall of Fame for Great Americans for 1955 including Jackson, Wright, Westinghouse and others.

THE HALL OF FAME FOR GREAT AMERICANS

1955

There were 121 electors, so 61 votes were required for election.

By 1955 there was an evident trend in selections away from authors, theologians, and educators toward doctors, artists, and inventors. Becoming more evident was the disparity between public opinion and choosing those who had a permanent greatness.

Wilbur Wright, inventor (86)

Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, soldier (72). Jackson (1824-1863) had received votes in every election. He was the first candidate to be elected because of a campaign in his behalf. The effort to enshrine Jackson was led by the United Daughters of the Confederacy. The soliciting of votes was frowned upon by many electors.

George Westinghouse, inventor (62)

William James was next in line with 57 votes, while Andrew Carnegie did as well as any businessman since 1900 by getting 49. Thoreau gained 22 votes over his 1950 total but still was not chosen. John Jay, who had been awarded 59 votes 30 years earlier, got only 1 in 1955, as did inventor Robert McCormick, father of Cyrus McCormick; educator James K. Patterson; and Mother Elizabeth Seton, Roman Catholic educator and humanitarian (who was canonized in 1976).

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