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The Women's Press Club

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The Women's Press Club
Formation1943; 81 years ago (1943)
FoundersPhyllis Deakin
Defunct1968
TypePrivate members' club
Headquarters52 Carey Street, London
Region served
UK and the British Empire
MembershipFemale journalists
Official language
English
LeaderPhyllis Deakin, founder

The Women's Press Club (established 1943) was created in response to the prohibition of women from the men-only London Press Club. It was founded by journalist Phyllis Deakin and ran for 25 years, when, for financial reasons, it changed its name and began to accept men into its membership.[1] Prominent members included Phyllis Davies, Rebecca West and Marjorie Proops.

History

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The club's establishment was inspired by Eleanor Roosevelt's visit to England in 1943, when women on Fleet Street, with the exception of a few female magazine editors, were denied access to her.[2] Phyllis Deakin of The Times had expressed her "annoyance with the then official male-only Press Club's refusal to admit women"[3] and insisted that women should set up their own club,[4] saying, "As the men won't have us, we should have a club of our own.. What about it?"[5]

Sixty-two women attended an initial meeting at The Falstaff, Fleet Street on 1 April 1943.[6] The club was officially founded in August of that year, for women working in journalism, either on the editorial staff of a newspaper or magazine, or as an established freelancer. There were 200 members at the club's inception.[7] Clementine Churchill was guest of honour at the opening luncheon,[8] this being only the second time she had met a large group of female journalists (the first being in America).[9]

By 1944, membership had increased to 270.[10] The club planned to move into permanent premises – which included accommodation for women from Britain and around the Empire[11] – on Carey Street, London,[12] but the move was delayed by several months because of "fly-bomb attacks".[13] In 1945 a "christening party", attended by Lady Bonham Carter, Brendan Bracken and William Berry, 1st Viscount Camrose, was held to mark the official opening of the premises.[14]

By 1950, membership had risen to 500.[15] In 1958, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother,[16] the club's president, made an "informal visit". It was reported as being "the first time a member of the Royal family has met journalists in this way."[17] In 1967, suffering from financial issues, the club took the decision to allow men to join, and to change its name to the Writers and Press Club.[18] Marjorie Proops of the Daily Mirror became the renamed club's first president in 1968.[19]

Notable activities

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  • In 1946, the Women's Press Club suggested Buckingham Palace employ a female press secretary to exclusively look after press matters for the Queen and princesses. By July 1947 the new position had been filled.[20] In 1957, the club wrote a letter of protest to Buckingham Palace regarding the appointment of a 'non-journalist' as assistant press secretary.[21]
  • In 1959, Eleanor Roosevelt was made an honorary member of the club.[22]
  • In 1962, while visiting the USA, members of the club were invited on a tour of the White House.[23]
  • In 1964, the Prime Minister, Alec Douglas-Home attended a reception to celebrate the club's 21st birthday.[24]

Members

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Committee members

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Other members

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References

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  1. ^ "Now they are all clubbing together". Nottingham Guardian. Nottingham, UK. 1967-10-09. p. 4.
  2. ^ Sebba, Anne (2013). Battling for news: women reporters from the Risorginmento to Tianamen Square. London, UK: Faber and Faber. p. 169. ISBN 9780571302376.
  3. ^ Kent, Sylvia (2009). The Woman Writer: The History of the Society of Women Writers and Journalists. Stroud, UK: History Press. p. 50. ISBN 9780752451596.
  4. ^ Chambers, Deborah (2004). Women and Journalism. London, UK: Routledge. p. 129. ISBN 0415274443.
  5. ^ Sebba, Anne (2013). Battling for news: women reporters from the Risorginmento to Tianamen Square. London, UK: Faber and Faber. p. 169. ISBN 9780571302376.
  6. ^ Sebba, Anne (2013). Battling for news: women reporters from the Risorginmento to Tianamen Square. London, UK: Faber and Faber. p. 169. ISBN 9780571302376.
  7. ^ "Women's Press Club". Berwick Advertiser. Berwick, UK. 1943-08-12. p. 6.
  8. ^ "To meet Mrs Churchill". Liverpool Daily Post. Liverpool, UK. 1943-10-06. p. 2.
  9. ^ "Mrs Churchill's Preferences". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. Leeds, UK. 1943-10-15. p. 2.
  10. ^ "Presswomen's club". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. Leeds, UK. 1944-07-12. p. 2.
  11. ^ "Women's Press Club". Berwick Advertiser. Berwick, UK. 1943-08-12. p. 6.
  12. ^ "In Carey Street". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. Leeds, UK. 1944-01-19. p. 4.
  13. ^ "Presswomen's club". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. Leeds, UK. 1944-07-12. p. 2.
  14. ^ "Christening Party of the Women's Press Club of London". The Tatler. London, UK. 1945-03-07. p. 26.
  15. ^ "Talk by woman reporter". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Huddersfield, UK. 1950-10-11. p. 3.
  16. ^ "Royal visitor". Eastbourne Herald. Eastbourne, UK. 1958-11-08. p. 6.
  17. ^ "Royal Meeting". Kent and Sussex Courier. Kent, UK. 1958-11-21. p. 1.
  18. ^ "Press Party". Kensington News and West London Times. London, UK. 1967-12-22. p. 7.
  19. ^ "Marjorie Proops". Wolverhampton Express and Star. Wolverhampton, UK. 1968-01-22. p. 1.
  20. ^ "Behind the scenes". Sunday Mirror. London, UK. 1947-07-20. p. 4.
  21. ^ "Palace post protest". Sussex Express. Sussex, UK. 1957-03-08. p. 6.
  22. ^ "Mrs Roosevelt praises UNO plain speaking". Bradford Observer. Bradford, UK. 1946-02-05. p. 1.
  23. ^ "US invitation". Scunthorpe Evening Chronicle. Scunthorpe, UK. 1962-04-12. p. 10.
  24. ^ "PM for Club's 21st birthday". Grimsby Daily Telegraph. Grimsby, UK. 1964-04-22. p. 1.
  25. ^ "Visit of woman journalist". Gateshead Post. Gateshead, UK. 1956-05-25. p. 5.
  26. ^ "Order of the British Empire". The Scotsman. Edinburgh, UK. 1959-01-02. p. 9.
  27. ^ "A guide to London's clubs". The Tatler. London, UK. 1951-01-03. p. 44.
  28. ^ "Indian Headdress Gift". Yorkshire Evening Post. Leeds, UK. 1951-11-01. p. 7.
  29. ^ "Loved clothes". Belfast News-Letter. Belfast, UK. 1953-03-16. p. 3.
  30. ^ "A guide to London's clubs". The Tatler. London, UK. 1951-01-03. p. 44.
  31. ^ "Famous women are set a poser". Portsmouth Evening News. Portsmouth, UK. 1959-09-18. p. 11.
  32. ^ "On writing books". Esher News and Mail. Esher, UK. 1961-05-26. p. 3.
  33. ^ "Thanks from Mrs Kennedy". Nottingham Evening Post. Nottingham, UK. 1962-06-28. p. 7.
  34. ^ Kent, Sylvia (2009). The Woman Writer: the History of the Society of Women Writers and Journalists. Stroud, UK: History Press. p. 51. ISBN 9780752451596.
  35. ^ "Modern Home Making". Torbay Express and South Devon Echo. Torbay, UK. 1951-11-19. p. 3.
  36. ^ "War and Women". Richmond Herald. London, UK. 1946-07-06. p. 11.
  37. ^ "Writers Given Useful Hints". Portsmouth Evening News. Portsmouth, UK. 1957-09-06. p. 16.
  38. ^ "Royal visitor". Eastbourne Herald. Eastbourne, UK. 1958-11-08. p. 6.
  39. ^ "More honour". Birmingham Daily Post. Birmingham, UK. 1966-09-22. p. 4.
  40. ^ "Big Day for WI Members". Newmarket Journal. Newmarket, UK. 1960-09-01. p. 2.
  41. ^ "Women's Press Club". Berwick Advertiser. Berwick, UK. 1943-08-12. p. 6.
  42. ^ "Journalist and Lecturer". Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette. Sunderland, UK. 1950-12-04. p. 2.
  43. ^ "Miss Suzanne Harrison and Mr Leonard A Smith to wed". Leicester Evening Mail. Leicester, UK. 1947-07-22. p. 4.
  44. ^ "Press Party". Kensington News and West London Times. London, UK. 1967-12-22. p. 7.
  45. ^ "Journalist Bride". Liverpool Echo. Liverpool, UK. 1945-06-02. p. 4.
  46. ^ "Artist found dead". Westminster and Pimlico News. Westminster, UK. 1957-03-08. p. 4.
  47. ^ "Taylor, Frances Beatrice". Simon Fraser University. Retrieved 2024-06-05.
  48. ^ Forster, Laurel (2020). Women's Periodicals and Print Culture in Britain. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. p. 237. ISBN 978-1474470001.
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