Our History
The summons by the National Federation of Press Women to “Make Washington Press Women Something to Crow About” went out at 2:00 p.m. in the Washington Athletic Club, May 12, 1946. Any woman in the State of Washington, “gainfully employed in press and radio activities relating to publishing, writing, producing, publicity, novel writing, editing advertising, freelancing and what have you” was asked to join and become a charter member. This was the beginning of what became the largest Press Women’s organization in the United States in 1976 with 308 members.
In 1972, the Washington Press Women became the first state to include men in its ranks. Photographer Phil Webbber of the Seattle P-I was the first male ‘card carrying’ Press Woman. The inclusion of men later prompted the organization to change its name to Washington Press Association. The first newsletter, Copyhook, published as a three-page mimeograph in 1946, carried as a column in the Washington Newspaper Publishers monthly magazine, then became and independent publication. In 2005, it appeared electronically on the organization’s website.
During its 60+ year history, the WPA has provided networking, workshops, scholarships, a professional writing contest and a contest for high school and college students. WPA is affiliated with the National Federation of Press Women (www.NFPW.org) and hosted the NFPW’s national contest in Seattle in 1951, 1972, 1986 and 2005.