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Celebrating Florida’s Storytellers

From the earliest Floridians who navigated the endless river of grass to the many communities that call the Sunshine State home today, Florida has been a crossroads of history and culture. From Indigenous tribes and Spanish explorers to visionary entrepreneurs and artists, our state’s story is as complex as it is captivating.

The Florida Humanities Hall of Fame honors those who have devoted their lives to uncovering, preserving, and sharing these often-overlooked narratives. Champions of the indomitable Florida spirit, inductees have made lasting contributions to the humanities in our state. Each year, Florida Humanities celebrates a distinguished scholar, author, or advocate—joining them with other Florida icons—in preserving the stories that shape who we are.

WATCH: Full 2025 Florida Humanities Hall of Fame Ceremony

Hall of Fame Class of 2025

Get to know the men and women who are part of the Florida Humanities Hall of Fame Class of 2025. From civil rights activists to Pulitzer-Prize winning authors, these legends helped shape Florida's cultural memory.

Read Bio James Weldon Johnson Author (1871-1938)
Friends of the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Farm, Inc. Read Bio Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Novelist (1896-1953)
Read Bio Mary McLeod Bethune Educator (1875-1955)
Zora Neale Hurston: The Founding Mother of American Musicology Read Bio Zora Neale Hurston Folklorist (1891-1960)
Gannon at the University of Florida in 2006. Read Bio Michael V. Gannon Historian (1927-2017)
Read Bio David Colburn Professor (1942-2019)
Read Bio Gary Mormino Historian (1947 - )