Frances Simrall Riker Memorial Plaque

Honoring a Guardian of Kentucky’s Women’s History

Located on the grounds of Old Fort Harrod State Park, this memorial plaque honors Frances Simrall Riker, an early historian of the Kentucky Federation of Women’s Clubs (KFWC). The plaque was dedicated on May 19, 1931 by the Federation in recognition of her significant contributions to preserving the organization’s early history.

Riker authored the influential 1929 manuscript Historical Sketches of Kentucky Federation of Women’s Clubs: From Organization, 1894 through Administration ending June, 1909, a foundational work that documents the voices, activities, interviews, and achievements of Kentucky clubwomen during the Progressive Era. Her manuscript remains one of the most valuable records of the Federation’s beginnings, offering insights unavailable anywhere else.

The presence of her memorial at Fort Harrod reflects both the long‑standing involvement of women’s clubs in preserving Kentucky history and the park’s role as a gathering place for statewide civic and educational organizations. The plaque stands today as a tribute to Riker’s dedication to documenting the contributions of Kentucky women and ensuring their work would be remembered by future generations.