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   Women's National Book Association Records 1917-2018

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Preferred Citation

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Women's National Book Association; Box and Folder (if known); Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

COinS Metadata available (e.g., for Zotero).

Summary Information

Abstract

The Women’s National Book Association Papers document the history and work of the Women’s National Book Association from their founding in 1917 until today. The organization is active in promoting women in the book industry through awards and programs to increase women’s participation in the profession and the role of women in publishing and other book-related fields.

At a Glance

Call No.:MS#1372
Bib ID:4079627 View CLIO record
Creator(s):Women's National Book Association
Title:Women's National Book Association Records 1917-2018
Physical description:65 linear feet (142 boxes)
Language(s):Material is in English
Access: Collection has no restrictions This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least two business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.  More information »

Arrangement

Arrangement

Materials arranged into eight series:

The collection is arranged into eight series based on the material’s accession date and with a separate series for subject files received from the national chapter. Most of the materials are arranged within the series by chapter or by event, with some separation of types of materials including correspondence and published materials. Some chapters separated their materials more specifically into groupings of by-laws, minutes, events and membership, while other chapters are only grouped by chapter and date. Some of the early materials are cataloged individually and the Pearl S. Buck letter is on microfilm.

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Description

Scope and Content

The collection consists of correspondence, memoranda, photographs, meeting minutes, membership materials, publications, financial information, reports and other materials important to the day-to-day operation of the organization. The bulk of the materials document the major awards given by the WNBA, the Lucile M. Pannell Award, the Constance Lindsay Skinner Award (now the WNBA Award), and the Amy Loveman Award. Each chapter has numerous materials from their founding until today, and the collection includes the important information about membership, how the chapter was run, events and important guests and speakers. Some important correspondents from the early documents include Catherine Drinker Bowen, Howard Fast, Marchette Chute, Mary Ellen Chase, Marguerite Henry, Abraham Ribicoff, Irita Van Doren, Beatrice Warde, Pearl S. Buck, Edward Weeks, and Alice B. Toklas.

Series I: Materials Received from 1917-1983

Series II: Materials Received 1978-1981

Series III: Materials Received 1982-1984

Series IV: Materials received in 1984

Series V: Materials Received in 1986

Series VI: Subject Files, National Chapter, 1963-1991

Series VII: Materials Received 1992-2018

Series VIII: Archived Web Site, 2013-present

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Using the Collection

Offsite

Access Restrictions

Collection has no restrictions

 This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least two business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.

Restrictions on Use

Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. Permission to publish material from the collection must be requested from the Curator of the Bakhmeteff Archive. The RBML approves permission to publish that which it physically owns; the responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.

Preferred Citation

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Women's National Book Association; Box and Folder (if known); Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

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About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries. Rare Book and Manuscript Library; machine readable finding aid created by Columbia University Libraries Digital Library Program Division

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Alison Lotto, New York University and the Palmer School, Class of 2013.

Finding aid written by Alison Lotto in August 2011.

Machine readable finding aid generated from MARC-AMC source via XSLT conversion June 26, 2009 Finding aid written in English.
    2011-09-14 xml document instance created by Carrie Hintz
    2018-04-09 XML document instance updated by Catherine C. Ricciardi. Addition of Series VIII.

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Subject Headings

The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches at Columbia University through the Archival Collections Portal and through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, as well as ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.

All links open new windows.

Genre/Form

HeadingCUL Archives:
Portal		CUL Collections:
CLIO		Nat'l / Int'l Archives:
ArchiveGRID
Audio cassettes.PortalCLIOArchiveGRID
Brochures.PortalCLIOArchiveGRID
Bylaws.PortalCLIOArchiveGRID
Financial records.PortalCLIOArchiveGRID
Minutes.PortalCLIOArchiveGRID
Newsletters.PortalCLIOArchiveGRID
Photographs.PortalCLIOArchiveGRID
Programs.PortalCLIOArchiveGRID
Questionnaires.PortalCLIOArchiveGRID
Reports.PortalCLIOArchiveGRID
Scrapbooks.PortalCLIOArchiveGRID
Speeches.PortalCLIOArchiveGRID
Tables.PortalCLIOArchiveGRID

Subjects

HeadingCUL Archives:
Portal		CUL Collections:
CLIO		Nat'l / Int'l Archives:
ArchiveGRID
Authors.PortalCLIOArchiveGRID
Book industries and trade.PortalCLIOArchiveGRID
Booksellers and bookselling.PortalCLIOArchiveGRID
Bowen, Catherine Drinker, 1897-1973.PortalCLIOArchiveGRID
Buck, Pearl S. (Pearl Sydenstricker), 1892-1973.PortalCLIOArchiveGRID
Chase, Mary Ellen, 1887-1973.PortalCLIOArchiveGRID
Chute, Marchette Gaylord, 1909-PortalCLIOArchiveGRID
Fast, Howard, 1914-2003.PortalCLIOArchiveGRID
Henry, Marguerite, 1902-1997.PortalCLIOArchiveGRID
Literature.PortalCLIOArchiveGRID
Publishers and publishing.PortalCLIOArchiveGRID
Publishers.PortalCLIOArchiveGRID
Ribicoff, Abraham, 1910-1998.PortalCLIOArchiveGRID
Toklas, Alice B.PortalCLIOArchiveGRID
Van Doren, Irita.PortalCLIOArchiveGRID
Warde, Beatrice, 1900-1969.PortalCLIOArchiveGRID
Weeks, Edward, 1898-1989.PortalCLIOArchiveGRID
Women authors.PortalCLIOArchiveGRID
Women in literature.PortalCLIOArchiveGRID

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History / Biographical Note

Historical Note

The Women’s National Book Association (WNBA) was formed in 1917 as a group to promote reading and the role of women in the book industry. They currently have nine chapters across the country as well as a number of corresponding and supporting members. The WNBA has had a number of important members including Pearl S. Buck and Alice B. Toklas, and most of the members are active authors or editors.

The chapters of WNBA are based in Boston, Charlotte, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, Nashville, New York, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington D.C. New York City was the first chapter, and remains the center of the national organization. Many of the chapters were founded by former members who moved to new places and organized local women involved in the book industry into the group. The organization continues to grow, the Seattle Chapter was founded in 2008 and Charlotte in 2009.

The WNBA gives several awards every year. The WNBA Award formerly the Constance Lindsay Skinner Award) is given to a woman who works in the book industry full time, and has done exceptional work in promoting books beyond the responsibilities of her job. The WNBA Eastman Grant gives money to library associations to support the training and professional development of librarians in states where there is a WNBA chapter. The WNBA Pannell Award is given to booksellers who work to promote interest in books among children and young adults.

The WNBA is also a Non-Governmental Organization member of the United Nations, and is active in working with the United Nations to promote literacy across the world. They are particularly involved in work with UNICEF and were active in the International Book Year and the International Year of the Child.

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