October 2017 Featured Interview |
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Interview with
Virginia Franklin Campbell
President of the National League of American Pen Women
About Virginia:
Virginia Franklin Campbell is the current national president of the National League of American Pen Women (NLAPW). She has been a proud member for twenty years, serving in different capacities, and is now helping the organization move forward in the twenty-first century.
Virginia Franklin Campbell is the current national president of the National League of American Pen Women (NLAPW). She has been a proud member for twenty years, serving in different capacities, and is now helping the organization move forward in the twenty-first century.
About the National League of American Pen Women (NLAPW):
The NLAPW is a not-for-profit organization that was founded in 1897. The first meeting was organized by Marian Longfellow O’Donoghue, a journalist in Washington D.C. and Boston. She invited fellow journalists Margaret Sullivan Burke and Anna Sanborn Hamilton to join her in establishing a “progressive press union” for the female writers of Washington. These three brought together seventeen women: writers, novelists, newspaper women, a teacher, a poet and an artist. They hoped that the group would help these “active pen women” find “mutual aid, advice, and future development” (quotes from The League Minutes, 26 June 1897) for each other and in their careers. Professional credentials were required for membership and the ladies determined that Pen Women should always be paid for their work. Artists and composers were then welcomed by their literary sisters. By September of 1898, the league boasted over fifty members across the U.S. The association became the National League of American Pen Women in 1921.
Today, the NLAPW consists of professional writers, journalists, painters, sculptors, dancers, musicians, choreographers, art teachers, theater directors and many others from all creative fields. The organization consists of more than 1,400 members across the United States, both at-large and in more than 70 branches. The mission of the league is to encourage, recognize, and promote the production of creative work of professional standard in the arts, letters, and music, and, through outreach activities, provide educational, creative and professional support to members and non-members in these disciplines. Many well-known women who have been members or are current members of the NLAPW include Pearl S. Buck, Eleanor Roosevelt, Maya Angelou, Mary McCleod Bethune, Rosalyn Carter and Hillary Clinton, to name a few.
The NLAPW is a not-for-profit organization that was founded in 1897. The first meeting was organized by Marian Longfellow O’Donoghue, a journalist in Washington D.C. and Boston. She invited fellow journalists Margaret Sullivan Burke and Anna Sanborn Hamilton to join her in establishing a “progressive press union” for the female writers of Washington. These three brought together seventeen women: writers, novelists, newspaper women, a teacher, a poet and an artist. They hoped that the group would help these “active pen women” find “mutual aid, advice, and future development” (quotes from The League Minutes, 26 June 1897) for each other and in their careers. Professional credentials were required for membership and the ladies determined that Pen Women should always be paid for their work. Artists and composers were then welcomed by their literary sisters. By September of 1898, the league boasted over fifty members across the U.S. The association became the National League of American Pen Women in 1921.
Today, the NLAPW consists of professional writers, journalists, painters, sculptors, dancers, musicians, choreographers, art teachers, theater directors and many others from all creative fields. The organization consists of more than 1,400 members across the United States, both at-large and in more than 70 branches. The mission of the league is to encourage, recognize, and promote the production of creative work of professional standard in the arts, letters, and music, and, through outreach activities, provide educational, creative and professional support to members and non-members in these disciplines. Many well-known women who have been members or are current members of the NLAPW include Pearl S. Buck, Eleanor Roosevelt, Maya Angelou, Mary McCleod Bethune, Rosalyn Carter and Hillary Clinton, to name a few.
Myrna Beth Haskell, managing editor, spoke with Virginia about the organization’s outreach programs, her role as president, and the future plans of the organization.
Tell me what your organization does to promote and support women in the arts.
The NLAPW is focused on mentoring women. Artists experience rejection and frustration at times throughout their careers. It’s important to understand that members are here to support one another and to offer advice and guidance.
We have lots of programs and scholarships to recognize and support talented women. Our biennial arts competitions award members in the different disciplines (arts, letters, music and multimedia). We award scholarships as well. The Helen Trueheart Cox Art Scholarship is awarded to Native American women who are extremely talented in the arts but lack the financial resources to further their education. Candidates must be ages 18 through 25 and members of a Native American tribe.
*Note: NLAPW also awards The Shirley Holden Helberg Grants for Mature Women. Candidates must be 35 years or older and cannot be a member of the NLAPW or a member of the immediate family of a member of the NLAPW. Winners are selected in art, letters and music.
Outreach is another important element. Right now we have an initiative called E.A.R.S. – Engaging All Readers for Success. Members go to local elementary schools and listen to children read. The beauty of this program is that individual members can do it on their own. They just need to get permission from the administration at their local school. A member-at-large (MAL) can do this, too, because she won’t need the support of a branch. We’ve had tremendous cooperation from first and second grade teachers. It’s a great way to promote the arts and it brings out the best in all involved. Outreach in local communities is what brings value to membership. People like to make a difference in their very own neighborhoods.
The NLAPW is focused on mentoring women. Artists experience rejection and frustration at times throughout their careers. It’s important to understand that members are here to support one another and to offer advice and guidance.
We have lots of programs and scholarships to recognize and support talented women. Our biennial arts competitions award members in the different disciplines (arts, letters, music and multimedia). We award scholarships as well. The Helen Trueheart Cox Art Scholarship is awarded to Native American women who are extremely talented in the arts but lack the financial resources to further their education. Candidates must be ages 18 through 25 and members of a Native American tribe.
*Note: NLAPW also awards The Shirley Holden Helberg Grants for Mature Women. Candidates must be 35 years or older and cannot be a member of the NLAPW or a member of the immediate family of a member of the NLAPW. Winners are selected in art, letters and music.
Outreach is another important element. Right now we have an initiative called E.A.R.S. – Engaging All Readers for Success. Members go to local elementary schools and listen to children read. The beauty of this program is that individual members can do it on their own. They just need to get permission from the administration at their local school. A member-at-large (MAL) can do this, too, because she won’t need the support of a branch. We’ve had tremendous cooperation from first and second grade teachers. It’s a great way to promote the arts and it brings out the best in all involved. Outreach in local communities is what brings value to membership. People like to make a difference in their very own neighborhoods.
How long have you been a member, and what is your personal passion?
I’ve been a member for twenty years in music and letters. I am extremely passionate about the scholarships we are able to offer women. We’re not just about those who are already successful, but about giving talented women a chance to pursue more education or to reach their goals. I am proud that we offer scholarships to young Native American women. Celebrating diversity is so important. The time my mother spent living on a reservation was a very impressionable period of her life, and her stories made a lasting impact on me.
What does your current role as national president entail?
It’s like being a CEO. It can be an overwhelming job because I oversee more than 70 branches, 1,400 plus members, and 120 members-at-large. I’m there to offer support to the local branches, too. We are a 501(c), and I manage pretty much everything, including finances. We don’t have money for travel, but I’ve visited 19 branches on my own because it’s so important to see what the local branches are doing in person. We don’t want the branches to feel left out or completely on their own.
I’ve been a member for twenty years in music and letters. I am extremely passionate about the scholarships we are able to offer women. We’re not just about those who are already successful, but about giving talented women a chance to pursue more education or to reach their goals. I am proud that we offer scholarships to young Native American women. Celebrating diversity is so important. The time my mother spent living on a reservation was a very impressionable period of her life, and her stories made a lasting impact on me.
What does your current role as national president entail?
It’s like being a CEO. It can be an overwhelming job because I oversee more than 70 branches, 1,400 plus members, and 120 members-at-large. I’m there to offer support to the local branches, too. We are a 501(c), and I manage pretty much everything, including finances. We don’t have money for travel, but I’ve visited 19 branches on my own because it’s so important to see what the local branches are doing in person. We don’t want the branches to feel left out or completely on their own.
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Your organization has been around since 1897! Tell me about your 120th Anniversary Celebration.
We are the oldest women’s arts organization in the United States. We actually had two major events – one in January and one in June. These events were celebrations of our rich history and legacy. We highlighted achievements of both present and former members. Did you know that sculptress Vinnie Ream was one of the earliest members of NLAPW? She was the youngest artist and first woman to receive a commission as an artist from the United States government for a marble statue of Abraham Lincoln in 1866. She was only 18 years old! Can you imagine what that must have been like back then?* *Note: There was significant debate over her selection as the sculptor - over her inexperience because she was so very young and because, of course, she was a woman. She worked in a studio in Room A of the basement of the Capitol. |
Vinnie Ream's sculpture of Abraham Lincoln
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Do individual branches hold their own events and outreach programs?
Yes they do. I’ve been evaluating my own branch and others to be sure branches are providing enrichment and outreach. Too many branches used to focus on social activities and events, but our members want to make a difference in their communities. Over the last ten years, we’ve been pushing outreach. A few years ago, I envisioned and chaired a “Poetry in the Schools” project for my local Pikes Peak branch in Colorado. I had wanted to start an outreach project that would increase our visibility in the community and involve the mission statement of NLAPW by helping to develop creative talents. Several of our members taught poetry lessons to the second-grade students, and we subsequently published a book titled Creating Students Who Soar Higher Through the Poetry in the Schools Project so other teachers and schools could use our ideas to help promote the arts. Our branch also started a program to donate flutes to middle school music students at a local school. Cases for the flutes are engraved in memory of one of the Pikes Peak branch members. |
Colorado Springs: Virginia (second from right) and husband, Verne,
with students who received flutes from the Pikes Peak branch |
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In Denver, a branch started an incredible program for writers. Young women are asked to read their work, and they’re critiqued and encouraged by members. This gives them confidence and excellent feedback. The Denver branch also had a very successful “Tapestry for Peace” project symbolizing a dream for world peace.
What are the future goals of the organization? We are literally hemorrhaging from the upkeep, repairs and other building expenses associated with the Pen Arts Building and Art Museum in Washington D.C. |
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We are hoping to receive museum status for that property which will help tremendously. Then, we can spend the money we save on providing more outreach programs and training. We would also like to increase membership, especially with members-at-large (MAL), and we would like to hold more regional workshops.
Note: The Pen Arts Building and Art Museum, home of the National League of American Women, is an elegant historic mansion centrally located in Washington D.C.’s Dupont Circle. The twenty-room, Washington Troubadour mansion was designed and built in 1887. To make a donation to help rejuvenate and sustain the Pen Arts Building and Art Museum, please see the NLAPW's GO FUND ME page. How does one become a member? |
The Pen Arts Building and Art Museum:
1300 Seventeenth Street NW in Washington D.C. |
It’s a long process. Potential members’ work has to be sent to the various credentials chairs (in arts, music, letters) and then their application is sent to the national office. We’re all volunteers, so the process takes time. The good news is that we now have a student membership and a member-at-large (MAL) membership, so that women who live in areas that don’t have branches or cannot participate in branch activities can still become members. We also have an international affiliate membership for women who meet the qualifications for active or associate membership but are not citizens of the United States.
