Jan 29, 2004

A league of their own
American Pen Women make their mark

By Miranda Schultz
Staff Writer

A dignified group of women are making their mark in Santa Clara County. About 50 local women are members of Santa Clara County’s branch of the National League of American Pen Women, founded in 1897.

The organization promotes the development of the creative talents of professional women artists, writers, dramatists, lecturers and composers in the fields of letters, art, and music.

American Pen Women groups are organized in 170 branches throughout the country and have a membership of more than 4,000 women. The group in Santa Clara County was founded in 1922 and currently is the largest group in Northern California.

Sharon Haugen, a painter and president of the Santa Clara Division, enjoys the atmosphere, feedback and understanding she receives through the organization.

“Being together with other professional women, all sharing an interest in the fields of letters, art or music is inspirational. Getting to know other women, where they started from and what they have accomplished really brings a sense of togetherness, finding similarity amongst many women. It’s a great group.”

The Santa Clara Pen Women meet every month from October through June for discussions and planning for attending events related to any of the fields. Every year the Pen Women of Santa Clara hold a luncheon where they honor nine women who have achieved professionalism as an artist, writer, composer, lecturer or dramatist. The honorees this year are Maralyn Miller, Judy Bingman and Therese May, who have excelled in the area of art. Achieving in letters are Jeanne Lewis, Diane Wilson and Kymberli Brady. Honorees in the area of music are Nancy Bloomer Deussen, Joyce Johnson-Hamilton and Sophie Chang.

This year, the luncheon will be held on Feb. 7 at the San Jose Elks Club, where they will hold their annual raffle and silent auction to raise money for schools, and high achieving females in their senior year of high school who excel in the areas of letters, art and music.

Not just anyone claiming to be an artist, composer, or writer can join the group. Being a Pen Woman is considered to be an established honor. Many distinguished women have been members in the past, such as Erma Bombeck, Louisa Kennedy, Ellen Longfellow and Gloria Vanderbilt. Many wives of presidents are also members; Hillary Clinton and Barbara Bush are currently Pen Women.

One must first be a native or nationalized citizen of the United States, must have received payment in a commercial market for at least three years and be invited to join by a current member. The candidate completes an application for membership, which is presented to the applicants branch committee, along with the required fees and the accompanying credentials qualifying the candidate for membership in Letters, Art, or Music.

The application is reviewed, and upon acceptance by the branch committee, the application packet is sent to the designated National Membership Chair by category for consideration.

The headquarters of the National League of American Pen Women is in Washington, D.C. in the Pen Arts Building, built in 1887. The building most famous owner was Robert Todd Lincoln, son of President Abraham Lincoln.