Sonoma County Branch - League of American Pen Women
See also: In the News | Nell Griffith Wilson
In the Sonoma County Branch Bulletin, December 1928, an piece titled "Branch History" was included, written by Byrd Weyler Kellogg.
Plans for the formation of a Sonoma County Branch, League of American Pen Women, with headquarters in Santa Rosa, were tentatively formulated during September, 1925, when Mary Bird Clayes, then State Vice-President for Northern California, appointed Eugenia T. Finn of Santa Rosa, organizing president.
Months passed, during which the prospective members fluctuated between the warm glow of anticipation and disappointment's sharp chill, before the effecting of the Sonoma County Branch, L.A.P.W., became an actuality and the members met for authorized organization.
The long term of preliminary negotiations, which were conducted by Eugenia T. Finn, came to an abrupt end on May 14th, 1927, when Miss Bernice C. Downing of Santa Clara, present State Vice-President, arrived in Santa Rosa to formally establish the Branch and greet the new members, in the name of the National order. The meeting was held at Mrs. Finn's home, which continues to be headquarters for League activities.
Mrs. Finn, temporary chairman, was enthusiastically endorsed as president. Other officers elected were: Grace M. Davis of Sebastopol, vice-president; Edith Granger Hawkes of Fulton, treasurer; Nell Griffith Wilson of Kenwood, historian; Sarah Hammond Kelly of Santa Rosa, corresponding secretary; and Byrd Weyler Kellogg of Santa Rosa, recording secretary.
Later, the vice-president, Grace M. Davis temporarily left Sonoma County, so it seemed advisable to elect a resident vice-president, Sarah Hammond Kelly resigned as corresponding secretary and took over the duties of vice-presidency Nell Griffith Wilson also hanged her office to that of auditor.
With the messages of congratulation from Grace Thompson Seton, National president, and Elita Huggins, president of the Santa Clara Branch, came one from Mary Bird Clayes, now in Washington, who, during the early days of organization, had acted as friend and mentor to Mrs. Finn.
Subsequently a gavel, which once was in the possession of Jack London, was presented to the Sonoma County Branch League by Charmian London, widow of the noted Sonoma County writer. The head of the gavel is made of burl redwood, and is encircled with a silver band inscribed with the name of the donor and date of presentation.
The membership has not increased, but there has been added to the League, a Student Group and a Junior Auxiliary, both of which are made up of talented pen women, several of whom will soon qualify for membership in the parent group. Up to the present time the League has met but once a month on the fourth Saturday, but hereafter will increase its sessions by a joint meeting with the Student Group bi-monthly.
The Student Group was entertained by the Sonoma County Branch in November, and it will return the courtesy at a Christmas Jinks which will be held on the afternoon of December 28th.
Diversified seems to be the correct adjective for describing the personnel of the membership. Eugenia T. Finn, president of the Branch, is a writer of short stories, Juvenile fiction and verse. She served four years as a club and social reporter and is now editing a small magazine.
Sarah Hammond Kelly, vice-president, has a number of short stories and fine poems to her credit and is at work on more. Mrs. Kelly's poems are included in the Davis Anthologies of Newspaper Verse 1921 to 1927; May Days Anthologies of Masses Liberator Verse and the new Echo Anthology. She is also columnist for a daily paper.
Book reviewing for a nationally known magazine is among the major achievements of Edith Granger Hawkes, and "The Index to Poetry and Recitations" published under the name of Edith Granger is used as a reference book in all public libraries. At present, Mrs. Hawkes is doing newspaper correspondent work, writing prose and verse, and editing a Parent-Teacher magazine.
Nell Griffith Wilson is a well known writer of juvenile stories, verse and plays and is an occasional contributor to humor magazines.
Grace M. Davis is an essayist and short story writer, and a contributor to several educational magazines.
Byrd Weyler Kellogg is doing club and social work on a daily newspaper, writing editorials and feature stories and verse. She has several scenarios and short stories to her credit.
Offices held by Edith Granger Hawkes:
Treasurer, 1927-?
Editor of the Sonoma County Branch Bulletin, 1930-?
President, 1931-? (when Nell Griffith Wilson retired)
Several members of the Sonoma County Branch contributed to the May 1932 issue of The Overland Monthly and Out West Magazine, the "Jack London Edition.” This included Edith, Byrd Weyler Kellogg, Nell Griffith Wilson, and Sarah Hammond Kelly.
According to their website, "the National League of American Pen Women, Inc. (NLAPW) was founded in 1897 when women journalists were not permitted to join male-only professional organizations. The League became a professional organization for women writers, artists and composers, where they could be recognized for their talents." [I have made numerous attempts to contact the NLAPW about the history of the Sonoma branch but all of my emails have gone unanswered so far]