WNBA Chapters
Boston Chapter History [http://www.wnbaboston.org]
In 1954, a group of women publishers, booksellers, writers, reviewers, and librarians founded the Boston Chapter of WNBA. Within five years the chapter successfully campaigned for children's literature courses at a local college and, under the aegis of grande dame Alice Dixon Bond, book editor for the Boston Herald, launched the Book and Author Luncheon series. For a quarter of a century, book lovers looked forward to this spring encounter with prominent authors. In its heyday, the luncheon series drew some 1000 attendees, enabling WNBA/Boston to support Boston museums, public broadcasting, and the Boston Public Library for its retrospective children's book collection.
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Charlotte Chapter [http://charlotte.wnba-books.org]
In February 2009, former Nashville and New York chapter member Carin Siegfried of Baker & Taylor, reached out to Tracy Adams of Adams Literary and Betsy Thorpe of Novello Press about the possibility of a Charlotte chapter and to gauge interest. About 15 women – all voracious readers, of course – gathered March 1, 2009 at Park Road Books, an indie store in Charlotte, N.C., to hear Mary Grey James, national President-Elect, discuss the history and goals of the WNBA. Soon after, Charlotte chapter officers were elected and bylaws were approved, and the chapter was officially chartered June 6 at the annual National Board meeting. At the first official meeting held June 23 at Park Road Books, chapter President Carin Siegfried reported on the National Board meeting and Treasurer Sally Brewster – also the store’s owner – presented her summer reading recommendations. The regular programming year will begin in September with a panel discussion of children’s books and how they are published, featuring an author, illustrator and literary agent. Educational meetings will alternate with social networking events. Other upcoming events planned for 2009/2010 include an author event fundraiser at the holidays and a spring meeting to discuss marketing on the Web. In the years ahead, we look forward to hosting meetings on diverse topics – from how to start a book club to what Charlotte is reading and speed dating with agents. We also anticipate offering query writing workshops. We hope to be able to help sponsor some author appearances and/or panel discussions at the Novello Festival in October.
Dallas Chapter History [http://www.wnba-dallas.org]
The Women's National Book Association Dallas Chapter was formed in 1993 by Maureen Pastine, director of Central University Libraries, Southern Methodist University (SMU), Judy Searles, director of the Friends of the SMU Libraries, and Gail Glick, independent bookseller and librarian at the Dallas Public Library. Twenty-eight people attended the first meeting on August 4, 1993.
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Detroit Chapter History [http://wnba-books.org/detroit]
The Detroit Chapter of the Women’s National Book Association was organized in 1966 largely through the efforts of Marilyn Abel, then of Wayne State University Press. Ms. Abel had attended an informal gathering, along with other interested women, during a conference of the American Library Association in Detroit in 1965. An initial meeting (for information purposes) was held January 19, 1966 in the Explorer’s Room of the main Detroit Public Library. Victoria Johnson, WNBA National President, spoke to the group about the history of WNBA and about organizing a chapter. An organizing meeting was held on May 4, 1966 on the campus of Wayne State University. Nineteen women were present. Ms. Abel presided, bylaws were adopted, and officers elected. Marian Young of the Detroit Public Library was elected the first chapter president. During the first year the chapter grew to a membership of thirty-eight.
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Los Angeles Chapter [http://www.wnba-books.org/la]
The Los Angeles chapter of the Women's National Book Association was founded in 1975 by Lee K. Levy, a member of the New York Chapter who had moved to Los Angeles. Lee became the first president and served from 1975 to 1977. Under her aegis the chapter prospered and developed into a true support group for women in the book world. Sylvia Cross, the second president, served from 1977 to 1979 and later became national president. She was responsible for developing procedure manuals for national officers. Since then the chapter has had many talented leaders, one of whom-Sue MacLaurin-also went on to become national president.
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Nashville Chapter [http://www.wnbanashville.org]
On April 15, 1955, forty-five Nashville bookwomen gathered at the Highland Crest Restaurant. Edith Patterson Meyer, juvenile editor at Abingdon Press, and Ann Richter, chair of WNBA's National Expansion Committee, provided the program. After Ann Richter talked about the organization, sharing interesting anecdotes from the New York Chapter, the Nashville group voted to form a chapter, the fourth nationally. In May, Kate Ellen Gruver, juvenile editor at Broadman Press, was elected president.
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In the fall of 1917, fifteen women booksellers who had been excluded from membership in the all-male Bookseller’s League and from attending the league’s annual convention, met in Sherwood’s Book Store at 19 John Street in downtown New York. They met again on November 13 of that year with thirty-five women present and formed a permanent organization, the Women’s National Book Association (WNBA), and elected its first president, Pauline Sherwood. WNBA’s unique characteristic was a membership open to women in all facets of the world of books—publishers, booksellers, librarians, authors, illustrators, agents, book production people—the only criterion being that part of their income must come from books.
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San Francisco Chapter [http://www.wnba-sfchapter.org]
The San Francisco Chapter of WNBA brings together women and men with diverse backgrounds in the literary world to exchange ideas and resources, build relationships, and support the local literary community. Founded in 1968 by Effie Lee Morris, then coordinator of Children’s Services for the San Francisco Main Public Library, membership has ranged from sixty to one hundred. Our members are writers, booksellers, agents, editors, publishers, publicists, librarians, graphic designers, career coaches, marketing specialists, conference planners, aspiring authors and avid readers. Active members in our early history, whom we remember fondly, include Virginia McKenzie, Peggy Sarasohn, Helen Luce, Eleanor Smith, Jean-Marie Lee. Our activities concern professional development, literacy projects, book donations for children to the San Francisco Hall of Justice Teddy Bear Room along with various day care centers; for adults to prisons and Women's groups. Our vision is to support women in the book industry and to create a local literary community within the San Francisco Bay Area.
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Seattle Chapter [http://www.wnba-books.org/seattle]
On July 22, 2008 official notification was received that a Seattle Chapter of the Women’s National Book Association would be established. By modest count, there were at least twenty-five women interested in becoming charter members of the chapter. The start-up WNBA Seattle Chapter Executive Board members who worked together to plan and organize the chapter include Henriette Anne Klauser, Ph.D. (President), Anna Johnson (Vice President), Diane Wright (Secretary), and Marion Holland (Treasurer).
Washington D.C. Chapter [http://www.wnba-books.org/wash]