The WNBA Award is presented by the members of the WNBA to a “living American woman who derives part or all of her income from books and allied arts and who has done meritorious work in the world of books beyond the duties or responsibilities of her profession or occupation.”
The award has been presented continuously since 1940. Originally, the award was named the Constance Lindsay Skinner Award. Its namesake was a playwright, critic, editor, and author active from early in the 20th century until her death in 1939. Constance Lindsay Skinner was a member of the New York City chapter, one of the founders of our Bookwoman Newsletter, and one of the first female editors in adult book publishing in the United States.
The award was originally awarded annually. Since 1976, it has been presented every other year.
The WNBA Award’s Origins
The award was formerly known as the Constance Lindsay Skinner Award. Its namesake was a playwright, critic, editor, and author active from early in the 20th century until her death in 1939.
Constance Lindsay Skinner (CLS) was a member of the New York City chapter, one of the founders of our Bookwoman Newsletter, and one of the first female editors in adult book publishing in the United States.
Constance Lindsay Skinner was a WNBA beacon who envisioned expanding the organization’s membership across the country. In addition to her professional work as a writer, she provided initial funding for Bookwoman, which led to the formation of chapters in different cities.
This capsule biography offers a taste of her life:
“Born in 1879 at a trading post in British Columbia, CLS became famous as a novelist, historian, juvenile book author, dramatist, and at the time of her death in 1939, editor of the Rivers of America series. Her American frontier stories included ‘Silent Scot: Frontier Scout’ (1925) and ‘Red Man’s Luck’ (1931) and the historical ‘Adventures in Oregon’ (1920). She spent her childhood among fur traders, Indians, and mounted police. She attended school in Vancouver, wrote her first story when she was 5, produced her own 3-act operetta at 14, contributed to newspapers at 16, and while still in her teens got a job on a Los Angeles newspaper. Later she moved to New York and wrote fiction, poetry, and historical books. Articles and motion pictures made of her works are still in use in schools.” (Bookwoman, Vol. 27, no. 1, May 1964)
The Constance Lindsay Skinner Award was awarded the year after her death to honor her contributions to the literary world.
In 1980, the WNBA wrote the book Constance Lindsay Skinner: Author and Editor to help keep this literary pioneer’s memory alive.
Read the award announcements for our most recent winners:
WNBA Award Winners
Year
Name
2023
Eve Bridburg, Founder and Executive Director, GrubStreet
2021
Hannah Oliver Depp, Owner of Loyalty Book Stores in Washington, D.C. and Silver Spring, Maryland
2019
Lisa Lucas, Executive Director of the National Book Foundation
2017
Carla Hayden, 14th Librarian of Congress
Louise Erdrich, author, bookstore owner, and voice for indigenous communities
2015
Amy King, Poet, professor, and activist
2012
Ann Patchett, Author and bookstore owner
2010
Masha Hamilton, International journalist, author, women’s activist.
2008
Kathi Kamen Goldmark, Author, musician and Rock Bottom Remainders founder
2006
Perri Klass, MD, promoter of literacy, and professor of pediatrics
2004
Nancy Pearl, Author, librarian, book reviewer, and radio talk show personality.
2002
Patricia McKissack, Author
2000
Hon. Patricia Schroeder, Former Congresswoman, President and CEO, Assn. of American Publishers
1998
Doris Kearns Goodwin, Historian, author
1996
Carolyn Heilbrun, Author, feminist scholar
1994
Janet Palmer Mullaney, Founder and publisher, literary journal
1992
Jessie Carney Smith, Author, librarian
1990
Barbara Bush, First Lady, literacy advocate
1988
Claire Friedland, Book production specialist
1986
Ann Heidbreder Eastman, Bookwoman
1984
Effie Lee Morris, Librarian
1982
Barbara Tuchman, Author
1980
Anne Pellowski, Librarian, author
1978
Mary Stahlman Douglas, Book reviewer
1976
Frances Neal Cheney, Educator, author
Helen Honig Meyer, Publisher
Barbara Ringer, Lawyer, Register of Copyrights
1975
Margaret K. McElderry Children’s book editor
1973
Mary Virginia Gaver, Librarian, educator
1972
Ursula Nordstrom, Children’s book editor
1971
Augusta Baker, School and public librarian
1970
Charlemae Hill Rollins, Librarian, author
1969
Victoria S. Johnson, Public relations professional
1968
Ruth Hill Viguers, Librarian, author
1967
Mildred L. Batchelder, Children’s librarian
1966
Blanche W. Knopf, Publisher
1965
Virginia Mathews, School library consultant
1964
Polly Goodwin, Children’s book reviewer
1963
Rachel Carson, Author
1962
Catherine Drinker Bowen, Author
1961
Eleanor Roosevelt, Former First Lady; author
1960
Pearl Buck, Author
1959
May Hill Arbuthnot, Editor, critic
Marchette Chute, Author
1958
Edith Hamilton, Author
1957
Anne J. Richter, Editor
1956
Mary Ellen Chase, Author
1955
Fanny Butcher, Book reviewer
Bertha Mahoney Miller Editor
1954
Elizabeth Gray Vining, Author, teacher
1953
Lillian C. Gurney, Bookseller
1952
Margaret C. Scroggin, Young people’s librarian
1951
Dorothy Canfield Fisher, Author
1950
May Massee, Children’s book editor
1949
Lucile Micheels Pannell, Bookseller
1948
May Lamberton Becker, Book reviewer
1947
Emily P. Street, Book sales and advertising
1946
Amy Loveman, Editor
1945
Lillian Smith, Author
1944
Mildred C. Smith, Editor
1943
Mary Graham Bonner, Author
1942
Irita Van Doren, Book review editor
1941
Blair Niles, Author
1940
Anne Caroll Moore, Librarian
