“In our awe at her unprecedented accomplishments as a woman, it is important not to forget her very great accomplishments as a lawyer and a judge.”
U. S. Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart

1920

The first woman elected to a judgeship in the United States when she ran for and won a Common Pleas Judgeship in Cuyahoga County, Ohio.

1922

The first woman in the country to sit on a state supreme court, winning a seat on The Ohio Supreme Court in 1922. Allen was
re-elected in 1928.

1934 to 1959

Appointed to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals by FDR in 1934, Allen was the highest-ranking female jurist in the country until United States Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor in 1981.

1958

On becoming Chief Judge of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in 1958, she was the first woman to hold that position in the United States federal judiciary.
Education opens the door to a full spectrum of career opportunities, greater earning power, and life-long financial security.  

Follow your dreams and let The Allen Endowment help you pursue your academic career.
If you need financial assistance for the coming academic year, apply for a Florence Allen Scholarship.  

Scholarships are offered in two categories. Ohio women under 30 years old are considered TRADITIONAL STUDENTS.  They may be recent high school graduates or current college students. NON-TRADITIONAL STUDENTS are over the age of 30.  

Funds may be used for undergraduate degree courses at accredited degree-granting educational institutions recognized by a State Board of Regents.  They may also  be used to obtain a technical certificate.

Application Information

Applications for the Florence Allen Scholarship Program will be accepted between March 1 and May 1, 2025.  The deadline for submission is May 1, 2025. Please visit the Application Section of this website for the application form and complete information about eligibility.  If you have additional questions, please e-mail us at [email protected].
Florence Allen Scholarships have been given since 1924.  In 1988, the fund was converted to a 501(c)3 entity, making individual donations tax-deductible.