Minute book, 1970-1971

The collection contains the records and scrapbooks of the Baltimore Branch of the National League of American Pen Women. Members were asked to submit annual reports of achievements - their publications, awards, exhibitions, sale of works of art, performances of musical compositions, etc. From 1949 to 1951, the Baltimore Branch collected these records in the Achievement Book; later records are found in the chronological set of scrapbooks.



The chronological set of Historian’s Scrapbooks comprises the bulk of the collection. They contain a full and valuable record of the Branch’s activities and of the recognition accorded its members in the fields of art, literature and music. The scrapbooks include lists of members and officers, programs of meetings, invitations to and notices of events sponsored by the Baltimore Branch (especially the Art Exhibition held annually at the Peale Museum) as well as photographs, articles written by or about members, reports of their exhibitions and/or awards, and numerous press clippings from local newspapers and journals. Of special interest here are many “The Lively Arts” columns written by R.P. Harriss of the Baltimore American. The Historian's Scrapbook for 1928-45 was removed from the collection with the intention that it be donated later by Mrs. Blanche Ferguson to the Maryland Historical Society. Mrs. Ferguson served as President of the Baltimore Branch from 1928 to 1930 and again in 1938 to 1940 and of the National League from 1944 to 1946. The Maryland Historical Society has not received the Historian's Scrapbook.



The Branch's Fiftieth Anniversary celebrations in 1971 are well-documented in the form of a large History Scrapbook which contains biographical notes of past officers, lists of members, notices and invitations, photographs, publications etc. collected over the years. This special scrapbook is a useful and informative addition to the chronological set.



Several convention programs and issues of these journals have been assembled in Box 1 but numerous other programs and issues may be found scattered throughout the various scrapbooks.



A second donation was made by the Baltimore Branch in 2008. These materials have been added to Box 4.