The New England Woman's Press Association (NEWPA) was founded by six Boston newspaper women in 1885 and incorporated in 1890. By the turn of the century it had over 150 members. NEWPA sought not only to bring female colleagues together and further their careers in a male-dominated field, but to use the power of the press for the good of society. The group raised funds for charity and supported

women's suffrage Women's suffrage is the women's rights, right of women to Suffrage, vote in elections. Several instances occurred in recent centuries where women were selectively given, then stripped of, the right to vote. In Sweden, conditional women's suffra ...

and other political causes. NEWPA was a charter member of both the

General Federation of Women's Clubs The General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC), founded in 1890 during the Progressive Movement, is a federation of approximately 2,300 women's clubs in the United States which promote civic improvements through volunteer service. Community Serv ...

and the National Federation of Press Women, among other organizations. Notable members included

Lucy Stone Lucy Stone (August 13, 1818 – October 18, 1893) was an American orator, Abolitionism in the United States, abolitionist and Suffrage, suffragist who was a vocal advocate for and organizer of promoting Women's rights, rights for women. In 1847, ...

Julia Ward Howe Julia Ward Howe ( ; May 27, 1819 – October 17, 1910) was an American author and poet, known for writing the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" as new lyrics to an existing song, and the original 1870 pacifist Mothers' Day Proclamation. She w ...

, and Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin. Its last meeting was held in 1982.

History

Founding

In November 1885, Marion A. McBride of the ''

Boston Post ''The Boston Post'' was a daily newspaper in New England for over a hundred years before its final shutdown in 1956. The ''Post'' was founded in November 1831 by two prominent Boston businessmen, Charles G. Greene and William Beals. Edwin Groz ...

'' sent out a call to other Boston newspaper women to establish a press association.Also spelled "MacBride"; see Lord (1932), p. 9. McBride had already been involved in the founding of the Illinois Woman's Press Association and the National Woman's Press Association. Boston was a logical choice for another such group. With 9 daily newspapers and 19 weeklies, it was one of the busiest media centers in the country, but few of its newspapers hired women full time. Most women in the field worked as part-time correspondents and contributors. Their professional opportunities were limited, and they were often treated disrespectfully by their male colleagues.Burt (2000), pp. 153-154. On November 17, six women met at the office of ''

Boston Herald The ''Boston Herald'' is an American conservative daily newspaper whose primary market is Boston, Massachusetts, and its surrounding area. It was founded in 1846 and is one of the oldest daily newspapers in the United States. It has been awarde ...

'' reporter Sallie Joy White and formed the New England Woman's Press Association (NEWPA).NEWPA (1895), p. 21. Besides McBride and White, the other women were Helen M. Winslow of the ''

Boston Daily Advertiser The ''Boston Daily Advertiser'' (est. March 1813) was the first daily newspaper in Boston, and for many years the only daily paper in Boston. History The ''Advertiser'' was established in early March 1813. It was published by William W. Clapp ...

'', Grace W. Soper of the '' Boston Daily Journal'', Estelle M. Hatch (later Estelle M. H. Merrill) of the ''

Boston Globe ''The Boston Globe,'' also known locally as ''the Globe'', is an American daily newspaper founded and based in Boston, Massachusetts. The newspaper has won a total of 27 Pulitzer Prizes. ''The Boston Globe'' is the oldest and largest daily new ...

'', and freelance journalist

Cora Stuart Wheeler Cora Stuart Wheeler (pen name, Trebor Ohl; September 6, 1852 – March 10, 1897) was a 19th-century American poet and author. She was one of the most successful short-story writers of the day. It was during the civil war, as a girl in her father' ...

. White was chosen to be the first president and Hatch the first secretary. The group met at the headquarters of the ''

Woman's Journal ''Woman's Journal'' was an American women's rights periodical published from 1870 to 1931. It was founded in 1870 in Boston, Massachusetts, by Lucy Stone and her husband Henry Browne Blackwell as a weekly newspaper. In 1917 it was purchased by ...

'' until it outgrew that space and moved to the Parker House Hotel.NEWPA (1895), p. 22.

Mission and membership

Over the next year, Hatch recruited a dozen more women to the organization.NEWPA (1895), p. 21. Alice Stone Blackwell of the ''

'' headed a committee that drew up a constitution and bylaws. To make clear that NEWPA was a professional association and not a social club, membership was limited to women living in New England who were "regularly and professionally connected with the press of New England, either as writers, editors, business managers, or correspondents—all, in short, for whom work on the press is a vocation, and not an avocation, a breadwinning occupation, and not an amusement." The group was incorporated on September 15, 1890.Burt (2000), p. 163. Starting in 1891, associate members were admitted, but not allowed to vote.Burt (2000), p. 155. Most of NEWPA's members were from the Boston area; others hailed from Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Nova Scotia. They included proprietors of local newspapers such as the ''Winthrop Visitor'', editors of household, fashion, society, art, and literature departments, and freelance journalists who contributed to many different newspapers and magazines. Lillian A. Lewis, the first African-American woman reporter in Boston, made national headlines when she was admitted to the association in 1889. In the 1920s, NEWPA began accepting radio script writers, public relations writers, playwrights, and other "kindred women writers." The association maintained an average of more than 120 members until the mid-1940s.Burt (2000), p. 158. NEWPA's constitution served as a model for many other women's press organizations over the next twenty years; for example, the Pacific Coast Woman's Press Association, founded in 1890, modeled its constitution after NEWPA's, and went on to become a leader of the women's movement in California. NEWPA's object was "to promote acquaintance and good-fellowship among newspaper women" and to use the power of the press to promote "good objects in social, philanthropic, and reformatory lines." In other words, it was a professional association, but one that aimed to make a positive difference in the community.NEWPA (1895), p. 5. As such, it was part of the women's club movement. It became a charter member of the General Federation of Women's Clubs in 1890; the International Federation of Women's Press Clubs in 1891; the Massachusetts Federation of Women's Clubs in 1895; and the National Federation of Press Women in 1938.

Social and professional activities

For the first few years, NEWPA held literary and business meetings twice a month, elections each November, and an outing each spring. They invited prominent authors and newspaper women such as Jane Cunningham Croly,Burt (2000), p. 156.

Amelia Edwards Amelia Ann Blanford Edwards (7 June 1831 – 15 April 1892), also known as Amelia B. Edwards, was an English novelist, journalist, traveller and Egyptologist. Her literary successes included the ghost story ''The Phantom Coach'' (1864), the nov ...

, and Frances H. Burnett''Boston Post'' (February 11, 1894). to speak about their work. Each February, male friends and relatives of members were invited to a "Gentlemen's Night" at the Hotel Vendome, featuring guest speakers such as Mayor Josiah Quincy. One member wrote in 1901, "However busy a newspaper woman may be the rest of the year, on gentlemen's night she lays aside all care, puts on her most becoming gown, and consigns to oblivion assignments, hurry calls for copy, and all the rest of the daily routine." They also hosted special events, such as authors' readings, teas, and receptions. During World War I the association began holding fewer social events, but continued holding monthly business and literary meetings. NEWPA established the Woman's Press Bureau in 1888 to help members find work. On February 11, 1894, they called attention to the work of women journalists by publishing a special "women's edition" of the ''Boston Post'', "written, edited, and put out entirely by women." In the 1930s and 40s, NEWPA regularly broadcast shows on WEEI and WORL. Starting in the 1930s they also published a monthly bulletin. Annual workshops offered expertise on such topics as "Writing a Feature Column" and "Editing Winter Sports." In 1946 NEWPA established an annual awards competition, with several categories such as news story, feature story, and "article or column of special interest to women." The New England Newspaper Woman of the Year award was added in 1951; recipients included Catherine Coyne of the ''Boston Herald'', Mary Crewmen of the ''Boston Globe'', and Mary Handy of the ''Christian Science Monitor''.

Charitable and reform efforts

In its early years, NEWPA was active in community affairs and politics. On January 18, 1887, the same day its constitution and bylaws were adopted, the group was addressed by "Mme. Charpiot," superintendent of the Home for Intemperate Women, who spoke of the need for matrons at Boston's police stations. Marion McBride had first spoken to Ms. Charpiot about this issue in 1886. She recalled later:

I told her I had determined to take it up and not lay it down until we had police matrons, not only for the city, but for the State as well. I went to police headquarters and got from the books the numbers of women arrested in 1885 and other facts and figures which I sent out at once to the leading papers in the State and to papers in Chicago, St. Louis, San Francisco and New Orleans.''Boston Globe'' (May 4, 1887).

In February, the "lady newspaper men" of NEWPA voted to show their support for the movement by signing a petition to the state legislature. A few days later, a short article in the ''Boston Globe'' reminded readers of the need for police matrons, and encouraged activists to keep the pressure on city and state officials. NEWPA's reporters and editors continued to call the public's attention to the issue over the next few months. By early May the legislature had passed a bill to appoint police matrons in Massachusetts cities and establish a house of detention for women in Boston. McBride attributed the success of the movement to the "kindness and courage" of the Boston press. The association campaigned for international copyright laws in 1889, and for "clean journalism" at the turn of the century. During the

Panic of 1893 The Panic of 1893 was an economic depression in the United States. It began in February 1893 and officially ended eight months later. The Panic of 1896 followed. It was the most serious economic depression in history until the Great Depression of ...

it formed a benevolent society, "Samaritania," which raised money for the poor and established a fund for journalists in need. They organized authors' readings, auctions, and other fundraising events, and sponsored a hospital bed for women writers at Lynn Hospital. In 1914, NEWPA marched in the Boston suffrage parade, and in 1919 Dr. Grace E. Cross represented NEWPA at the

National Woman's Party The National Woman's Party (NWP) was an American women's political organization formed in 1916 to fight for women's suffrage. After achieving this goal with the 1920 adoption of the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, the NWP ...

demonstration in Washington, D.C.Burt (2000), p. 157. NEWPA was far less politically active during the "women's liberation" movement of the 1960s and 70s. The association took no formal position on the

Equal Rights Amendment The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was a proposed amendment to the Constitution of the United States, United States Constitution that would explicitly prohibit sex discrimination. It is not currently a part of the Constitution, though its Ratifi ...

, for example, issued no petitions, and sent no representatives to demonstrations. One former president, Muriel Knight, said members were too busy to devote much time to activism, while another, Evelena Hudson, attributed the change to conservative leadership.Burt (2000), p. 159.

Later years

Membership declined over the years due to competition from other groups such as the

Society of Professional Journalists The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), formerly known as Sigma Delta Chi, is the oldest organization representing journalists in the United States. It was established on April 17, 1909, at DePauw University,2009 SPJ Annual Report, lette ...

(SPJ), American Women in Radio & Television (AWRT), and Women in Communications, Inc. (WICI). In an attempt to attract new members, NEWPA began admitting men in the early 1970s. Attendance continued to decline, and fewer meetings were held. The association held its last annual meeting in 1982.

Presidents

* Sallie Joy White, 1885-1890 * Estelle M. Hatch, 1891-1893 * Helen M. Winslow, 1894-1895 * May Alden Ward, 1896-1897 * Elizabeth Merritt Gosse, 1898 * Nella I. Daggett, 1899-1900 * Annie G. Murray, 1901-1902 * Emeline Carr Ricker, 1903-1904 * Allie A. Whitaker, 1905Lord (1932), p. 211 * Kate Tannatt Woods, 1906 * Sallie Joy White, 1907-1908 * Eleanor W. F. Bates, 1908 (interim) * Bessie Brown Cobb, 1908-1910 * Ida May Pierce, 1911-1912 * Myra B. Lord, 1913-15 * M. Agnes Dalrymple Bishop, 1916 * Grace M. Burt, 1917-1918 * Rose Moore Strong, 1919-1920 * Jessie L. Leonard, 1921-1922 * Annie Judson Hannigan, 1923-1924 * Norah Johnson Barbour, 1925-1926 * Helena B. Shipman, 1927-1928 * Helena C. Mahoney, 1929-1930 * Mildred Buchanan Flagg, 1931Lord (1932), p. 375. * Muriel Knight, 1972-1973 * Evelena Hudson, 1973-1974

Notable members

* Martha Violet Ball (1811–1894), charter member * Anna Barrows (1861-1948), home economics expertNEWPA (1895), p. 11. *

Isabel Barrows (Katherine) Isabel Hayes Chapin Barrows (April 17, 1845 – October 24, 1913) was the first woman employed by the United States State Department. She worked as a stenographer for William H. Seward in 1868 while her husband, Samuel June Barrows ...

(1845-1913), ophthalmologist''Good Housekeeping'' (December 21, 1889), p. 93. * Cynthia Holmes Belcher (1827-1911), journalist * Mary Agnes Dalrymple Bishop (1857–1934), Executive Committee * Alice Stone Blackwell (1857-1950), feminist, suffragist * Mary Elizabeth Blake (1840-1907), poet * Mabel Louise Blodgett (1869-1959), novelist, children's book author * Helen A. Clarke (1860-1926), literary critic and editor * Katherine E. Conway (1853-1927), editor of the ''

Pilot An aircraft pilot or aviator is a person who controls the flight of an aircraft by operating its Aircraft flight control system, directional flight controls. Some other aircrew, aircrew members, such as navigators or flight engineers, are al ...

'' * Mary Catherine Crowley (1856-1920), Catholic and children's writer * Ellen B. Dietrick (1847-1895), suffragist and authorNEWPA (1895), p. 12. * Mildred Buchanan Flagg (1886-1980), writer, lecturer, and clubwoman * Sarah E. Fuller (1838-1913), philanthropist and social leader * Lavinia Stella Goodwin (1833-1911), charter member * Kate E. Griswold (born ca. 1869), publisher of ''Profitable Advertising'' * Louise Imogen Guiney (1861-1920), poet''Good Housekeeping'' (December 21, 1889), p. 94. * Estelle M. Hatch (1858-1908), NEWPA co-founder and second presidentNEWPA (1895), p. 14. *

(1819-1910), author and activistNEWPA (1895), p. 18. * Eunice D. Kinney (1851-1942), Canadian-born American physician; journal editor * Muriel Knight (?-2009), WILD reporter, first African-American president of NEWPA * Lillian A. Lewis (1861-?), Boston's first African-American woman journalist * Mary J. Lincoln (1844-1921), cooking teacher, cookbook author * Marion A. McBride (1850-1909), co-founder of three press associations * Louise Chandler Moulton (1835-1908), poet * Grace Atkinson Oliver (1844-1899), author, advocate of women's rights * Annie Stevens Perkins (1868-1946), writer * Charlotte Porter (1857-1942), literary critic and editorNEWPA (1895), p. 15. * Ella Farman Pratt (1837–1907), editor of '' Wide Awake'' * Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin (1842-1924), civil rights leader and suffragist * Emily McGary Selinger (1848–1927), painter, writer, poet, educator * Harriette Lucy Robinson Shattuck (1850-1937), author, writer on parliamentary law, suffragist *

(1818-1893), abolitionist and women's rights activist * Evelyn Greenleaf Sutherland (1855-1908), drama critic and playwrightNEWPA (1895), p. 16. * Clara Augusta Jones Trask (1839-1905), freelance writer, novelist * Kate Vannah (1855-1933), journalist, songwriter * Adelaide Cilley Waldron (1843-1909), author, editor, clubwoman * May Alden Ward (1853-1918), author, lecturer, clubwoman * Emily Greene Wetherbee (1839-1937), journalist, schoolteacher, and poet *

(1852-1897) poet, art criticNEWPA (1895), p. 17. * Sallie Joy White (1847-1909), first full-time woman reporter for a Boston newspaper * Sibyl Wilbur (1871-1946), journalist and biographer * S. Fannie Gerry Wilder (1850-1923), authorLord (1932), p. 59. * Helen M. Winslow (1851-1938), journalist, poet, novelistNEWPA (1895), pp. 2, 17. * Kate Tannatt Woods (1836-1910), author, editor, journalist, clubwoman

History

Founding

Mission and membership

Social and professional activities

Charitable and reform efforts

Later years

Presidents

Notable members

Notes

References

Citations

Bibliography

Further reading