National League of American Pen Women, Fargo Branch Records
Collection
Identifier: Mss 180
Scope and Contents
Records of the Fargo Branch of The National League of American Pen Women consist of local bylaws, Correspondence, Art Project Series, and Subject Files Series.
The Correspondence Series, which makes up approximately 70% of the collection, consist of incoming and outgoing correspondence. When received, the correspondence of the collection had very minimal organization. All correspondence is arranged chronologically. The correspondence is primarily from the president and treasurer of the branch with national officers and local branch members. The correspondence of the collection gives a very accurate account of the activities and members of the Fargo Branch.
The Art Project Series consists of information concerning a project which the Fargo Branch undertook. The project entailed the publishing of a list of North Dakota artists and craftsmen. This series includes a file of information concerning the reason for undertaking the project and its progress, and related correspondence. In addition, there is a file containing "postcard type" photographs of a few of the North Dakota artists featured, as well as a copy of Art Workers of North Dakota.
This series also includes a final copy of North Dakota Artists and Craftsmen (14 leaves), compiled by the state president of the NLAPW in 1952, Marian Jordan Piper; a listing of paintings by Elmer H. Halvorson (4 leaves) of Wheelock, N.D.; and, a draft of North Dakota and the Arts of Design (30 leaves), dated
1942, which was apparently written by a member of the American Association of University Women in North Dakota.
The Subject File Series consist of many different topics. It includes biographies and autobiographies of prominent and not so prominent past officers of the Fargo Branch. These include Maude Kroke Backlund, Phyllis Baldwin, Zoe Beiler, Denise Barrette, Isabel Campbell, Ella Brace, Angela Boleyn, Ann Bolin, Jessamine Slaughter Burgum, Mary Boynton Cowdrey, Betty Hall Flegal, Eloise Wode Hockett, Lydia O. Jackson, May Kelly, Vera Kelsey, Grace Brown Putnam, Ina Cullom Robertson, Mary Alder Dwight, Grace V. Watkins, and Verna Huber Whempner.
There is also a folder of financial information that is very incomplete and sporadic, which includes primarily budget reports and correspondence concerning the finances of the branch for the years 1942 until 1960. The histories of the Fargo Branch were written every two years by the branch historian. The information included in these three histories consists primarily of the events and officers of the branch for the previous two years. The branch's meeting minutes are also included, but they are essentially sporadic and superficial, with many missing. The five newspaper clippings about branch members are primarily death notices, however, there is a story about Stella Halsten Hohncke. Names of officers, memberships lists, activities of the branch, and correspondence relating to the organization itself are included in the organizational material file. The reports file contains primarily "achievement reports," submitted by members of the branch, which contain information about their financial achievements for the year. Also included are annual reports and reports from the president of the branch. The regional activities file contains Midwest Regional News, a newsletter of the region in which the Fargo Branch was a part, and a program from the 1959 regional convention. There is also a file containing information regarding the branch, which Cynthia Selland gathered from the North Dakota Historical Society in Bismarck, N.D.
Dates
- 1938-1960.
Creator
- Piper, Marion J. (Person)
Access
The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the Institute.
Copyrights
Copyrights to this collection are held by the Institute for Regional Studies.
Biography
The National League of American Pen Women was formed on June 26, 1897, in Washington, D.C., by Marian Longfellow O'Donaghue, niece of the poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow; Margaret Sullivan Burke, the first woman admitted in the capital press gallery; and Anna Sanborn Hamilton, social editor of the Washington Post. The Fargo Branch of the National League of American Pen Women was formed in 1938 with the writing of the bylaws for the Fargo Branch. The formal organizing of the branch did not occur, however, until February 14, 1942.
The Fargo Branch of the NLAPW was in existence from 1938 until the 1960s. The main goals and objectives of the Branch were, "mutual benefit in creative work of women of pen, pencil, and brush; stimulation of literary and artistic production; promotion of acquaintance and good fellowship among members; and an active interest in such projects as are for the best literary and artistic interest of the State of North Dakota."
Membership in the League was open to any woman who was an artist, author, or composer. Women would receive active membership after being sponsored by a member in good standing of the branch, and after providing "proof of sale" for a piece of their work. Associate members went through the same procedure as active members, but did not have to provide "proof of sale."
During the existence of the Fargo Branch, some members had their work recognized by state and national agencies. Prudence Geary Sand, onetime president of the Fargo Branch, along with Richard Lyons, published a book entitled Stackers of Wheat in 1951. She is also recognized in the 1955 edition of Who's Who for North Dakota as one of the founders of North Dakota Poetry Day, which began in 1950. Another member of the Branch, Stella Halsten Hohncke, published a book of poems in 1952 entitled We Humbly Pray, which included poems from other members of the Fargo Branch. Her poem "We Humbly Pray," was recognized and read on the floor of the United States Senate on Wednesday, April 15, 1953, by Senator Langer of North Dakota. (Small Collection 570)
The Fargo Branch appears to have become inactive sometime during the 1960s.
Extent
.7 Linear Feet (.7 linear ft.)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Fargo Branch was formed in 1938 and formally organized in 1942. Its records consist of local bylaws, correspondence, Art Projects, and Subject files, including documenting the Fargo Branch's project to compile a list of North Dakota artists and craftsmen.
Provenance
Donated by Cynthia Selland, 1994 (Acc. 2364).
Separation Record
The following non-manuscript items have been removed from the National League of American Pen Women, Fargo Branch, and sent to the section indicated.
Photography (Institute Photograph Collection: Photo Mss 180)
13 photographs consisting of:
2 photographs of local members 2 photographs of local members at 1948 National Convention 5 photographs of art work of branch members 1 photograph of branch table at 1948 National Convention 3 photographs of Thanksgiving pageant
13 photographs consisting of:
2 photographs of local members 2 photographs of local members at 1948 National Convention 5 photographs of art work of branch members 1 photograph of branch table at 1948 National Convention 3 photographs of Thanksgiving pageant
Property rights
The Institute for Regional Studies owns the property rights to this collection.
- American Association of University Women.
- Artists -- North Dakota.
- By-laws.
- Correspondence.
- Fargo (N.D.) -- Societies, etc. -- Women.
- Financial records.
- Halvorson, Elmer H.
- Minutes.
- National League of American Pen Women. Fargo Branch.
- Women -- North Dakota -- Societies and clubs.
- Women authors, American -- North Dakota.
Creator
- Piper, Marion J. (Person)
- National League of American Pen Women. Fargo Branch. (Organization)
- American Association of University Women. (Organization)
- Title
- Finding Aid to the National League of American Pen Women, Fargo Branch Records
- Description rules
- Appm
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Institute for Regional Studies Repository
Contact:
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu