Since its inception in 1984, the Sharlot Hall Award has recognized and honored the valuable contributions of living Arizona women.  Named after Sharlot Mabridth Hall, the first woman to hold public office in the territory and namesake of the Museum, this prestigious award celebrates those who have dedicated themselves to preserving and promoting the history and heritage of Arizona

F. Ruth “Ruthie” (Jordan) Jackson Van Epps (b. 1934 - d. 2024) is a descendant of the Arizona pioneer Jordan family and ranch of Sedona, Arizona and Verde Valley area.  For 70+ years she has been sharing Arizona’s story, especially as it aligns with her personal story.  Her parents, Walter and Ruth (Woolf) Jordan, settled in Arizona’s Verde Valley area.  Walter came from a farming and ranching family and Ruth's family settled in Tempe. 

Independent historian Susan Deaver Olberding loves northern Arizona history. For over three decades, she has been telling the stories of the area while ensuring the preservation of buildings that illustrate and document a past that could easily be overlooked and destroyed. She continues to write, present, interpret and promote the regions' magnificent history. She merits recognition from the Sharlot Hall Award committee for her many contributions to Arizona history.

Joan Faye Meacham of Rio Verde, Arizona, has been chosen as the 2020 Sharlot Hall Award Honoree. For over 33 years, Joan has worked for the preservation of women’s history on statewide and national levels and founded the Arizona Women’s Heritage Trail. Joan enjoyed a successful career on the East Coast before becoming involved in women’s issues. She gleaned much inspiration from suffragist Alice Stokes Paul: “I realized for the first time that there was an incredible history of women in the United States that I and so many other women outside of academia knew nothing about.”