Nomination Form: FAQ
Calling All Cowgirls... Now accepting nominations for the 2013 class of inductees into the Hall of Fame.
The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame honors and celebrates women, past and present, whose lives exemplify the courage, resilience, and independence that helped shape the American West, and fosters an appreciation of the ideals and spirit of self-reliance they inspire.
If you would like to nominate someone for induction, please fill out and send in a nomination form and pay close attention to the instructions. Once the form is formally accepted, it will be filed in the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame archives, reviewed every year during the selection process and made available for researchers throughout the year.
Applications are accepted year-round, however, the postmark deadline for nominations is August 15 of each year if you would like the nomination to be considered for the following years’ induction.
Q – How are applications formally accepted for consideration as a Nominee?
Upon receipt of your nomination, we will send you an acknowledgment of receipt of materials.
*This acknowledgement of materials does not indicate a successful nomination.
Within six months of receipt of your materials, you will receive either:
o Notice that the nomination is formally accepted for consideration.
o Notice that the nomination is being returned to you with reason for return.
If, for some reason, you have not heard from us within the above timeframe, please contact us.
Q – How are the Honorees chosen from the pool of successful nominations each year?
Each accepted nominee is reviewed by three independent committees comprised of men and women from varying backgrounds and from around the country who have a vested interest in Western heritage. The process takes place throughout the year in three independent rounds of consideration.
The three-tiered selection process considers women of significant achievement in the following fields: Artists and Writers, Champions and Competitive Performers, Entertainers, Ranchers (Stewards of Land and Livestock), and Trailblazers and Pioneers. A successful nomination has addressed the following criteria:
o Accomplishments in the field (lifetime achievements)
o Ranking in the field (national importance)
o Contributions made to the field
o Enduring value or historical significance of accomplishments
o Personal qualities (integrity, character, spirit, uniqueness)
o Recommendations (form letters and petitions are not accepted)
Out of an impressive list, which consistently grows with each new nomination, only four or five successful candidates per calendar year are honored with the prestigious distinction of becoming a National Cowgirl Hall of Fame Honoree.
Q – If my nominee was formally accepted one year but did not get inducted, do I need to nominate this person again next year?
Once a person’s nomination is formally accepted by the National Cowgirl Museum, she will continue to be under consideration every year. An accepted nomination does not imply an induction into the Hall of Fame. Most Honorees take years to be inducted and some nominees may never be inducted.
Q – Can I add more information to a previously accepted nomination?
Yes, you can add letters, news clippings, awards, honors, etc., at any time after a woman has been successfully nominated. Please keep in mind that items received after January 15 will be considered the following year.
Q – What materials should I send in with the nomination form?
Many people send in photographs (which will not be returned and become part of the archives), newspaper clippings, letters of support from individuals or on behalf of organizations, or relevant passages from books that include biographical information on the nominee, to cite a few examples.
Q – Can I send in my nomination in a three-ring binder? Can I include items that are over-sized?
Nomination forms and supporting materials must be submitted UNBOUND on letter size paper (8.5“ by 11”). In addition to considerations of practicality with storage and maintenance, nomination forms and all accompanying materials are scanned and mailed to multiple committees. Nominations received that are bound, or larger than 8.5” by 11” will not lend themselves to the above considerations.
Q – How many others have been nominated?
More than 500 women have been nominated to the Cowgirl Hall of Fame. The pool of nominees is very large.
Q – Can I call and check on the status of a nomination I have made?
The Museum is prohibited from discussing the status of a nominee beyond whether a person has been nominated.
Nomination Form
If you have questions regarding the form, please contact the Research Manager at the National Cowgirl Museum at 817.509.8665. Please be advised that Museum personnel are prohibited from discussing the status of any nominee beyond whether they have been nominated. To download a copy of the nomination form, click here.