National League of American Pen Women (NLAPW) History
Realizing a need for an organization that would include women of the press, Marian Longfellow O’Donohue, niece of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, decided to create such an organization. Along with Margaret Sullivan Burke and Anna Sanborne Hamilton, Marian made plans for “bringing together women journalists, authors, and illustrators for mutual benefits and the strength that comes of union.”
On June 26, 1897, these three women brought together seventeen writers, novelists, newspaper women, a teacher, a poet, and an artist for the first meeting. Alice R. Morgan, an illustrator for New York publishers, designed the League insignia, the owl, symbolic of wisdom, placed in a triangle formed by a red pen, a blue pencil, and a white brush, colors of the American flag.
The first National Convention was held in Washington, D. C., in April 1921, and the 300 women in attendance were received by President and Mrs. Warren G. Harding. Mrs. Harding was a distinguished member of the League, as was Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt.
The official League headquarters is the Pen Arts Building, built in 1895 and part of the Dupont Historical District in Washington, D.C. Its most famous occupant was Robert Todd Lincoln, eldest son of President Abraham Lincoln. This twenty-room mansion was purchased by the League in 1951 and was entered on the National Register of Historical Sites in 1978.
On June 26, 1897, these three women brought together seventeen writers, novelists, newspaper women, a teacher, a poet, and an artist for the first meeting. Alice R. Morgan, an illustrator for New York publishers, designed the League insignia, the owl, symbolic of wisdom, placed in a triangle formed by a red pen, a blue pencil, and a white brush, colors of the American flag.
The first National Convention was held in Washington, D. C., in April 1921, and the 300 women in attendance were received by President and Mrs. Warren G. Harding. Mrs. Harding was a distinguished member of the League, as was Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt.
The official League headquarters is the Pen Arts Building, built in 1895 and part of the Dupont Historical District in Washington, D.C. Its most famous occupant was Robert Todd Lincoln, eldest son of President Abraham Lincoln. This twenty-room mansion was purchased by the League in 1951 and was entered on the National Register of Historical Sites in 1978.
Orlando Winter Park Branch History
The Orlando/Winter Park Branch of the NLAPW began as the Winter Park Branch in 1957 with Marjorie Handhardt as the first President. During 1969 several members who were principally writers formed a separate Orlando Branch with Marie Coffey as the first President. In 1996 these two groups rejoined to become the Orlando/Winter Park Branch, when there were insufficient members to sustain separate Branches.
In order to obtain and preserve a history of our local branch, a couple of current members began conducting video interviews of long standing local members. Edited versions of these interviews are on the “Interview” page with a maximum of 10 minutes each. An interesting highlight is that earlier meetings were held at the old Langford Hotel (subsequently demolished) in Winter Park, which was frequented by famous writers and artists, with whom the local members met. Another historical point was that through sustained efforts new members were brought in, which invigorated the group to overcome difficulties experienced with membership decrease. Each interviewee expressed the importance this organization has on her while being associated with inspiring multitalented professional creative women.
In order to obtain and preserve a history of our local branch, a couple of current members began conducting video interviews of long standing local members. Edited versions of these interviews are on the “Interview” page with a maximum of 10 minutes each. An interesting highlight is that earlier meetings were held at the old Langford Hotel (subsequently demolished) in Winter Park, which was frequented by famous writers and artists, with whom the local members met. Another historical point was that through sustained efforts new members were brought in, which invigorated the group to overcome difficulties experienced with membership decrease. Each interviewee expressed the importance this organization has on her while being associated with inspiring multitalented professional creative women.