Women's National Book Association:
1917-
Autumn 1917: Women across America awaited the Senate's vote on the proposed 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which, when ratified in 1920 by two-thirds of the state legislatures, would give women suffrage. A group of 15 women booksellers-excluded from membership in the all-male Bookseller's League-met in Sherwood's Book Store, 19 John Street, in downtown New York to form the Women's National Book Association.
Its unique characteristic was that membership was open to women in all facets of the book world-publishers, booksellers, librarians, authors, illustrators, agents, production people-the only criterion being that part of their income must come from books. Ninety years later, with eight chapters spanning the country from Boston to San Francisco and with Network members across the country, the WNBA continues to champion the role of women in the world of words. Today, membership is open to women involved in all aspects of publishing and to men who subscribe to the Association's goals.
During these years, WNBA has run seminars on bookselling techniques, published four books, led in-service courses for teachers on children's books, sponsored book and authors luncheons and dinners, cooperated on local book fairs, been active as a non-governmental organization member at the United Nations, entertained visiting book women from abroad, and surveyed the status of women in publishing.
The first issue of The Bookwoman, the organization's official publication, appeared in November 1936 through the generosity of Constance Lindsay Skinner, author, lecturer, and active member of WNBA. Since 1940, the Women's National Book Association Award (formerly the Constance Lindsay Skinner Award) has been given to a book woman for "meritorious work" in her special field. During the 1960s, the Amy Loveman National Award for the best personal library collected by an undergraduate in an American college was a major project. The Lucile Micheels Pannell Award, which promotes the creative use of books with children, was established in 1982 with funds bequeathed by the late Mrs. Pannell, who was a founder of the Chicago chapter of WNBA. This award is given annually at the American Booksellers Association convention.
Believing that books have power, WNBA has made it possible for people engaged in various book activities to help broaden their part in the book world, and to know one another as individuals with common problems, aspirations, and goals. Currently there are chapters in Boston, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, Nashville, New York, San Francisco, and Washington.
Women today have more opportunity to make change and move ahead than ever before. The Women's National Book Association is the organization in which they can come together, define goals, develop leadership, further communication, and organize activities to benefit women. Ninety years after our foremothers struggled for the right to vote and learned how successful organized women can be, WNBA celebrates its continuous commitment to improving the status, image, and role of women in the world of books.
| Boston | Dallas | Detroit | Los Angeles |
| Nashville | New York | San Francisco | Washington DC |