Texas Press Women’s Association Scrapbook

At the turn of the 20^th century, female writers held almost every role a writer could hold — women were diplomatic correspondents and investigative journalists, editors and publishers, columnists and freelance writers. They were supported by the Texas Press Women’s Association, one of the first women’s groups of any kind to form in Texas.

In 1893, Houston journalist Aurelia Hadley gathered 38 women writers to propose the creation of a state press association exclusively for women. The purpose of the group was to support and encourage women journalists, authors, poets, and illustrators in their work and offer professional development opportunities. In addition to promoting professional women writers, the Association also advocated for women’s education and scholarships, women’s suffrage, and the preservation of library and archival collections. Today they are known as the Press Women of Texas.

The pages of this Texas Press Women’s Association scrapbook show some of the diverse work of its members. It includes an editorial about President Wilson’s support of women’s suffrage, an article about a woman voting for the first time after suffrage passed, a page from a medical journal that had a woman as publisher and managing editor, and a piece written by a woman about a successful female playwright.