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New Mexico Press Women Records

 Collection
Identifier: MSS-678-BC

Scope and Content

The New Mexico Press Women collection documents the activities of the organization from 1949-2009 and is divided into two series, Organization Records and Scrapbooks. The Organization Records series contain board meeting minutes, treasurer reports, membership lists, histories and other pertinent information about the NMPW. Included is a folder with material on Ruth Bush Jones a charter member of the organization.

The Scrapbooks series contains scrapbooks and scrapbook contents documenting the activities of the organization. Included are news clippings, meeting agendas, photographs, correspondence, pamphlets and publications for each year. Also included are materials pertaining to the National Federation of Press Women. An oversized folder contains the April 10, 1981Grants Beacon, which is the 30th Anniversary Reunion Program of the NMPW as well as photocopies of newspaper clippings.

An addition was processed in June 2012. Materials added were chronologically organized into the Organization Records series and consist of agendas, board meeting minutes, broadsheets, budgets, by-laws, contests, correspondence, flyers, grants, magazine articles, membership information, newsletters, newspaper clippings, photographs, press releases, publications (for both the New Mexico Press Women and the National Federation of Press Women) reports and scholarship materials. The addition also included a 1988-1989 scrapbook, containing news clippings, photographs, correspondence, pamphlets and publications.

The unprocessed addition of April 2024 (unprocessed Box 2) includes materials related to yearly conferences, board meeting minutes and agendas, treasurer records, fundraising, Zia book awards, copies of the Broadsheet and other publications and more, dated 1999-2022.

Dates

  • 1949-2009

Language of Materials

English.

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Copy Restrictions

Limited duplication of CSWR material is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance wth all copyright, privacy, and libel laws. Permission is required for publication or distribution.

Organizational History

New Mexico Press Women (NMPW) was founded in 1950. It was based on an earlier organization of the working women of the New Mexico press called the Albuquerque Women's Press Club. The founder and first president of the New Mexico Press Women was Ann Conger. NMPW's constitution was formally adopted on Jan. 28, 1951, to "promote the highest ideals of journalism; and to promote the exchange of journalistic ideas and experiences; and to coordinate editorial opinion on matters of interest to women."

In 1953, the NMPW initiated the Zia award, to honor a woman who performed outstandingly in the New Mexico media. Winners of this award include Erna Fergusson (1955), Ina Sizer Cassidy (1956), Bertha Dutton (1971), and Leslie Marmon Silko (1980).

The New Mexico Press Women is a chapter of the National Federation of Press Women, which was founded in 1937. The state organization remains active in the 21st century, with an expanded membership and amended, but similar goals, including promoting professional standards in journalism, establishing specialized education programs, and obtaining better salaries for press women.

Sources: Encyclopedioa of Associations: National Organizations Of The United States, 37th Editions, 2001; New Mexico Press Women History, 1949-1989, by Sandy Schauer, 1990.

Extent

8 boxes (7.5 cu. ft.) + 1 oversize folder

Abstract

The New Mexico Press Women collection consists of scrapbooks, newspaper clippings, membership lists, and histories of the New Mexico Chapter of the National Federation of Press Women.

Arrangement

Two series: Organizational Records and Scrapbooks

Related Material

Women in Communications Records Center for Southwest Research. General Library. University of New Mexico. Virginia Dooley Papers Center for Southwest Research, University Libraries, University of New Mexico

Processing Information

Addition processed in June 2012.

Please contact CSWR reference staff for access to one box of unprocessed material added in Juanuary 2019 (with materials dated 1960s to 2015) and a second box added in April 2024 (see preliminary description in the Scope and Contents note). Both boxes are shelved on B3-13B.
Title
Finding Aid of the New Mexico Press Women Records, 1949-2009
Status
Approved
Author
Processed by M. LaCroix, Reprocessed with additions by: I. Renfro
Date
©2002, ©2012
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid is in English

Revision Statements

  • June 28, 2004: PUBLIC "-//University of New Mexico::Center for Southwest Research//TEXT (US::NmU::MSS 678 BC::New Mexico Press Women Records)//EN" "nmu1mss678bc.sgml" converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02.xsl (sy2003-10-15).
  • Monday, 20210524: Attribute normal is missing or blank.

Repository Details

Part of the UNM Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections Repository

Contact:
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451