Women’s National Book Association celebrated its centennial in 2017. Since 1917 we have connected, educated, advocated, and led in the literary community. In our 100th year, we saluted all the ways in which we have done that, culminating in a Centennial event in New York City, where it all began.

Centennial program and events:

A year-long celebration of the WNBA and its origination included program and events which highlighted what is most important about the WNBA’s contributions to the book world.

Bookwomen Speak: A chapter-by-chapter lecture series throughout the centennial year presented by women who have championed the value of books in our society.

WNBA Second Century Prize: A grant to promote literacy and foster life-long reading.

Celebrating Women’s Voices:  Two book lists were developed —one in fiction/memoir/ poetry and one in nonfiction— listing the most influential books authored by women, as selected by the WNBA community. A related initiative was Books to Celebrate Women’s History Month, a book-a-day list, selected from the above, to be sent to members of Congress, the administration, and President Trump in March.

Women in the Literary Landscape: A Centennial Publication of the Women’s National Book Association:   A groundbreaking publication, exploring the history of American women as leaders and innovators in the book community, with highlights on the WNBA’s history, published by C&R Press.

WNBA Award:   In our centennial year, the WNBA awarded two women for their outstanding contributions to the book world. Carla Hayden, Librarian of Congress, and Louise Erdich, author.

Centennial Celebration:  A celebration in New York City was held on October 28, 2017, featuring a reception, awards, presentations, and a panel discussion.

Bookwomen Speak:

The WNBA Centennial Visionaries Series

This was a year-long, chapter-by-chapter, lecture/in-conversation series by visionary women who have championed the value of books in our society. Each speaker was selected based on their unique, innovative, or significant contributions in their field.
Chair: Susan Walker

January 7, 2017: San Francisco: “The Woman Warrior in All of Us: Maxine Hong Kingston in Conversation with Vanessa Hua”  Maxine Hong Kingston was interviewed by Vanessa Hua during a San Francisco event celebrating The Woman Warrior.” NBC News spotlighted the interview with an article about Kingston and the event.

February 8, 2017: South Florida: Discussion with Joanne Sinchuk, owner of Murder on the Beach Bookstore, and Linda Rosen, WNBA-NYC member

February 27, 2017: Charlotte: Carolinas Women Leaders in the World of Books program with speakers Betsy Teter, Founder and Executive Director of Hub City Press and Hub City Writers Project; Emoke B’Racz, Owner ofMalaprop’s Bookstore; and Wanda Jewell, Executive Director of SIBA

March 29, 2017: Washington, D.C.: “The Changing Role of Women in the Media” with Linda Kramer Jenning, former D.C. Bureau Chief of Glamour Magazine and past president of the Journalism & Women Symposium (JAWS), discussing the role of women in the media today; 6:00 pm at the Women’s National Democratic Club

May 21, 2017: Greater Philadelphia: A conversation with author and educator Beth Kephart; 2pm at Towne Book Center, Collegeville, PA

May 30, 2017: New Orleans: “Sassy Bookwomen of New Orleans,” A Story Circle led by Freddi Evans; George and Joyce Wein Jazz & Heritage Center

June 1, 2017: Boston: Megan Marshall, scholar and author of the Pulitzer-prize winning biography Margaret Fuller: An American Life; 6:30 pm at Boston Public Library

June 21, 2017: Los Angeles: A conversation between Jade Chang, Natashia Deon, and Lisa Mecham; 7:30 pm at Skylight Books

September 2017: Atlanta and East Lansing

October 2017: Nashville: Carole Bucy of Middle Tennessee State University, author with focus on women of the Progressive Era

October 2017: New York City: In-conversation on the “Transformative Role of Literature in Our Society” with guests:​

• Moderator, Deirdre Bair, renowned biographer of Simone de Beauvoir and Samuel Becket, among others

• Margo Jefferson, author and cultural critic (Negroland, 2016)

• Roxana Robinson, author (Sparta, 2013) and former head of the Authors Guild

• Emma Straub, author (Modern Lovers, 2017) and independent bookstore owner

Centennial Cocktails 

In anticipation of the Centennial Celebration’s cocktail party in October, the WNBA members minted new “centennial cocktails.” Initiated by the members of the national board at the annual meeting in June 2016 and with additional recipes developed by chapters, the results were tasted at the celebration on October 28, 2017.