National League of American Pen Women, Baltimore Branch collection
Abstract
This 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.
Dates
- 1921-1972
Creator
- National League of American Pen Women (Organization)
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research use.
Conditions Governing Use
The reproduction of materials in this collection may be subject to copyright restrictions. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine and satisfy copyright clearances or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections. For more information visit the MCHC’s Rights and Permissions page.
Historical Note
The National League of American Pen Women was formally organized in Washington, D.C. in June 1897 to conduct and promote creative and educational activities in Art, Letters and Music. The Baltimore Branch was established in 1921. The organization is still active both nationally and locally.
Membership is restricted to any woman born or naturalized in the U.S.A. provided that she has within three years preceding her application received pay in the open commercial market. The National League holds biennial conventions, usually in Washington, D.C., and publishes a journal The Pen Woman. The Baltimore Branch held several regularly scheduled meetings each year and published The Pinion and The Baltimore Owl.
Extent
6.42 Linear Feet (4 boxes and 14 volumes)
Language of Materials
English
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Margaret Coyne, 1971, 1972, 1978; Gift of Baltimore Branch of National League of American Pen Women, January 30, 2008.
Scope and Contents
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.
Creator
- National League of American Pen Women (Organization)
- Title
- Guide to the National League of American Pen Women, Baltimore Branch collection
- Status
- In Progress
- Author
- Harriet Weiskittel and Lara Westwood
- Date
- 2016-07
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Revision Statements
- 2020-01-03: Manually entered into ArchivesSpace by Mallory Herberger.
Repository Details
Part of the H. Furlong Baldwin Library Repository
H. Furlong Baldwin Library
Maryland Center for History and Culture
610 Park Avenue
Baltimore MD 21201 United States
4106853750
specialcollections@mdhistory.org