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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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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Washington D.C. Chapter [http://www.wnba-books.org/wash]