Valley of Virginia Pen Women Records, 1950-2013
Descriptive Summary
Repository: Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University
Title: Valley of Virginia Pen Women Records, 1950-2013
Collection No.: SC 0025
Creator: National League of American Pen Women. Valley of Virginia Branch
Extent: 3 hollinger boxes, 1 half-hollinger box, 3 oversize hollinger boxes, 2 flat oversize boxes; 4.1 cubic feet
Language: English
Abstract: This collection contains the administrative and organizational records and scrapbooks of the Valley of Virginia Branch of the National League of American Pen Women. Materials related to procedural policies and bylaws, branch meeting minutes, newsletters, exhibitions and contests, branch members, photographs, and community women in the arts are included.
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions: Collection is open to research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the James Madison University Special Collections Library to use this collection.
Use Restrictions: The copyright interests in this collection have been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collections Library. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).
Preferred Citation: [identification of item], [box #, folder #], Valley of Virginia Pen Women Records, 1950-2013, SC 0025, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.
Acquisition Information: Donated to James Madison University Special Collections by the Valley of Virginia
Branch in October 2014.
Processing Information: Materials originally housed in binders were dis-bound and rehoused; scrapbooks received
similar treatment. Scrapbook pages with written captions or complete glue failure
were photocopied to preserve order and arrangement. Acid-free paper was interwoven
between photograph pages to prevent acidification. Pages are numbered in brackets
to preserve order.
Bio/Historical Note:
The National League of American Pen Women (NLAPW) is an organization of professional women in the arts, including artists, writers, and musical composers who celebrate and share creative work. The League's activities include national conventions, biennial conventions, exhibitions and contests, and branch meetings. Application to the organization must be completed with examples of applicant's work, including publications and/or juried artist shows.
When first founded in 1897, the organization was called the League of American Pen Women. Marian Longfellow O'Donohue began the organization with fellow professional press women Margaret Sullivan Burke and Anna Sanborne Hamilton. All three women were involved in the press: O'Donohue, niece of poet and literary artist Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, was a poet and writer for the Boston Transcript, the Boston Herald, and The Washington Post; Burke was a capital correspondent; and Hamilton was a Social Editor for The Washington Post and special proof reader for the United States government. These women wanted a literary and press organization for women, since other clubs were reserved for men. In June 1897, they met with seventeen professional women for the organization's first meeting. Artist/illustrator and member, Alice R. Morgan designed the official owl insignia.
The League's popularity and membership grew and is popular among women artists, writers, and musical composers still today. The League was incorporated in 1918, began its chartered local branches in 1921, and was renamed The National League of American Pen Women in 1926. Its headquarters is in Washington, D.C. and the organization consists of local branches. The Valley of Virginia Branch was organized and officially certified in 1950 for the Shenandoah Valley area of Virginia.
Scope and Content:
The Valley of Virginia Branch Records include organization and administrative records and League scrapbooks. Types of material include documentation of policies and bylaws, meeting minutes and newsletters, Pens and Pallets newsletters, exhibitions and contests documents, correspondence, treasurer reports, lists of branch officers and members, photographs, documentation of organization functions and branch meetings, and information regarding community women involved in the arts.
Series 1: Organizational Records is arranged alphabetically. This series contains administrative and branch records. Part of this series arrived in three binders. Binders were kept in original order and were dis-bound and items within were removed and rehoused. Other administrative records not included in the binders are also included in this series.
Series 2: Scrapbooks is arranged chronologically. This series contains eleven scrapbooks that were dis-bound and items within removed and rehoused for long-term preservation. Scrapbook pages with written captions or complete glue failure were photocopied to preserve order and arrangement. Acid-free paper was interwoven between photograph pages to prevent acidification. Pages are numbered in brackets to preserve order.
Arrangement:
This collection is arranged in two series:
Series 1: Organizational Records, 1950-2012
Series 2: Scrapbooks, 1950-2013
Bibliography:
The National League of American Pen Women brochures.
Related Material:
The Pen Woman
Separated Material:
Issues of The Pen Woman national newsletter are housed with serials. Loose items within these newsletters were removed and rehoused in the collection. See inventory below for file listing.
Contents:
Series 1: Organizational Records, 1950-2012
This series is arranged alphabetically and contains the procedural, business, administrative, and financial documents for the Valley of Virginia branch of the National League of American Pen Women. Original order was kept for three binders of administrative documents. Types of material include procedural policies and bylaws, meeting minutes, exhibitions and contests invitations and winners, correspondence, rosters of league members, and league yearbooks.
| Folder Title |
Box : Folder
|
| Binder 1 - Procedural Policies, 1974-1990 |
1:1
|
| Binder 1 - Meeting Minutes, 1992-1998 |
1:2
|
| Binder 1 - Meeting Agendas, 1992-1998 |
1:3
|
| Binder 1 - Art Exhibitions and Contest Winners, 1987-1998 |
1:4
|
| Binder 1 - Publication, 1994 |
1:5
|
| Binder 1 - Correspondence, 1973-1997 |
1:6
|
| Binder 1 - Literary Contest Flyers and Cards, 1994-1997 |
1:7
|
| Binder 1 - Bylaws and Questionnaires, 1995-1996 |
1:8
|
| Binder 1 - Treasurer Reports, 1993-1998 |
1:9
|
| Binder 1 - Member List and Treasurer Reports, 1994-1995 |
1:10
|
| Binder 2 - Records, 1998-2000 |
1:11
|
| Binder 2 - Records, 2001-2004 |
1:12
|
| Binder 2 - Procedural Policies and Bylaws, 1974-2000 |
1:13
|
| Binder 2 - Meeting Minutes and Ephemera, 2003 |
1:14
|
| Binder 3 - Records, 1997-1998 |
1:15
|
| Binder 3 - Meeting Minutes, 1994-1997 |
1:16
|
| Binder 3 - Meeting Minutes, 1988-1994 |
1:17
|
| Binder 3 - Board Meetings, 1989-1992 |
1:18
|
| Binder 3 - Correspondence, 1989-1994 |
1:19
|
| Binder 3 - Exhibits, 1989-1993 |
1:20
|
| Binder 3 - Newsletters, 1990-1994 |
1:21
|
| Binder 3 - Miscellaneous, 1991-1992 |
1:22
|
| Binder 3 - Bylaws and Meeting Programs, 1988-1992 |
1:23
|
| Brochures and Folders, 1997-2000 |
2:1
|
| Bylaws and Branch Certificate, 1950-1992 |
2:2
|
| Correspondence, 2000-2012 |
2:3
|
| Exhibitions and Contests, 1997-2000 |
2:4
|
| Framed Mission Statement, 2010 |
2:5
|
| Grant Money, 1950 |
2:6
|
| Guest Book and Letter, 1987-2004 |
2:7
|
| Guest Book, 1996-2006 |
2:8
|
| Material from The Pen Woman, 1992-2010 |
2:9
|
| Meeting Minutes, 1954-1975 |
2:10
|
| Meeting Minutes and Correspondence, 1975-1989 |
2:11
|
| Meeting Minutes and Notices (Folder 1 of 3), 1986-1994 |
2:12
|
| Meeting Minutes and Notices (Folder 2 of 3), 1986-1994 |
2:13
|
| Meeting Minutes and Notices (Folder 3 of 3), 1986-1994 |
2:14
|
| Meeting Minutes, 2004-2006 |
2:15
|
| Member Application, 2008-2010 |
2:16
|
| Members and Member Directory, 2004-2010 |
2:17
|
| Newspaper Articles, 1997-2011 |
3:1
|
| News Photographs and Postcards, 2008 |
3:2
|
| Pens And Pallets Newsletters and Meeting Minutes, 1999-2006 |
3:3
|
| Publications, 1994-2008 |
3:4
|
| Roster, 1990-1992 |
3:5
|
| Roster, 1994-1996 |
3:6
|
| Roster, 1998-2000 |
3:7
|
| Roster, 2000-2002 |
3:8
|
| Roster, 2002-2004 |
3:9
|
| Roster, 2008-2010 |
4:1
|
| Treasurer Reports, 2006 |
4:2
|
| Yearbooks, 1950-1988 |
4:3
|
Series 2: Scrapbooks, 1950-2013
This series is arranged chronologically and contains the scrapbooks of the Valley of Virginia branch of the National League of American Pen Women. The complete scrapbooks are available and pages are numbered in brackets. Selected pages of scrapbooks with written captions or complete glue failure have been photocopied for long term preservation. The photocopied pages are included in this series. Three scrapbooks arrived labeled as "Volume 1," "Volume 2," and "Volume 3" and others are titled by date range within scrapbook. Types of material include photographs, newspaper articles, branch functions, exhibitions and contests, meeting minutes, newsletters, and news in the local community related to women in the arts.
| Folder Title |
Box : Folder
|
| Scrapbook, 1950-1970 |
5:1
|
| Scrapbook (Folder 1 of 2), 1950-1993 |
5:2
|
| Scrapbook (Folder 2 of 2), 1950-1993 |
5:3
|
| Scrapbook (REMOVED TO OVERSIZE), 1950-2006 |
5 OV 1:4 1
|
| Scrapbook "Volume 1,", 1952-1974 |
5:5
|
| Scrapbook "Volume 2,", 1968-1985 |
6:1
|
| Scrapbook, 1971-1996 |
6:2
|
| Scrapbook (REMOVED TO OVERSIZE), 1974-2001 |
6 OV 1:3 2
|
| Scrapbook "Volume 3,", 1985-1999 |
6:4
|
| Scrapbook (REMOVED TO OVERSIZE), 1993-1999 |
6 OV 2:5 1
|
| Scrapbook (REMOVED TO OVERSIZE), 1994-1997 |
6 OV 2:6 2
|
| Scrapbook (REMOVED TO OVERSIZE), 2006-2013 |
6 OV 2:7 3
|
| Envelope Material from Scrapbook, 2006-2013 |
6 OV 2:7 3
|
| Envelope Material from Scrapbook, 1950-2006 |
7:1
|
| Envelope Material from Scrapbook, 2006-2013 |
7:2
|
| Loose Photographs from Scrapbooks, 1950-2013 |
7:3
|
| Selected Photocopied Scrapbook Pages, 1950-1970 |
7:4
|
| Selected Photocopied Scrapbook Pages (Folder 1 of 2), 1950-1993 |
7:5
|
| Selected Photocopied Scrapbook Pages (Folder 2 of 2), 1950-1993 |
7:6
|
| Selected Photocopied Scrapbook Pages, 1950-2006 |
7:7
|
| Selected Photocopied Scrapbook Pages Scrapbook "Volume 1,", 1952-1974 |
7:8
|
| Selected Photocopied Scrapbook Pages Scrapbook "Volume 2,", 1968-1985 |
7:9
|
| Selected Photocopied Scrapbook Pages, 1971-1996 |
7:10
|
| Selected Photocopied Scrapbook Pages, 1974-2001 |
7:11
|
| Selected Photocopied Scrapbook Pages Scrapbook "Volume 3,", 1985-1990 |
7:12
|
| Selected Photocopied Scrapbook Pages, 1993-1999 |
7:13
|
| Selected Photocopied Scrapbook Pages, 1994-1997 |
7:14
|
| Selected Photocopied Scrapbook Pages, 2006-2013 |
7:15
|
| Scrapbook, 1950-2006 |
OV 1:1
|
| Scrapbook, 1974-2001 |
OV 1:2
|
| Scrapbook, 1993-1999 |
OV 2:1
|
| Scrapbook, 1994-1997 |
OV 2:2
|
| Scrapbook, 2006-2013 |
OV 2:3
|
Compiled by: Lindsey Wood, July 2015