Press Women of Texas

The Press Women of Texas was founded in 1893 as the Texas Press Women’s Association. While at a Texas Press Association convention in May of 1893, Aurelia H. Mohl of the Houston Post called for the organization of a women’s association of writers. One of the first statewide groups for women, the association originally was founded to promote and encourage Texas women writers and illustrators professionally. At first the membership of the organization was open to all kinds of writers including authors and poets, but after 1941 the membership was restricted to those women actively engaged in the newspaper industry. Early on, the association successfully lobbied the University of Texas at Austin to create a school of journalism.

In 1961, the organization incorporated as a nonprofit under the name Texas Press Women. However, in 1995 they changed their name again to Texas Professional Communicators. Since 2002, the organization has operated under the name, Press Women of Texas. and has been an affiliate of the National Federation of Press Women since 1938.

The Press Women of Texas defend First Amendment rights and promote professional excellence, ethical standards, and equal opportunity in the field of journalism. Today the membership of the Press Women of Texas include professional journalists, writers, or communicators working in the field of communication such as newspaper, magazine, radio, television, web, advertising, and marketing. Furthermore, the organization sponsors numerous scholarships, contests, and endowments to foster the improvement of the field.

Sources:

Anderson, H. Allen. “Texas Press Women,” Handbook of Texas Online Accessed April 21, 2011. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/TT/eat3.html.

Press Women of Texas. "Restated Bylaws," Press Women of Texas. Accessed on June 21, 2010. http://www.presswomenoftexas.org/Home/members-only.

The Press Women of Texas was founded in 1893 as the Texas Press Women's Association.

While at a Texas Press Association convention in May of 1893, Aurelia H. Mohl of the Houston Post called for the organization of a women's association of writers. One of the first statewide groups for women, the association originally was founded to promote and encourage Texas women writers and illustrators professionally. At first the membership of the organization was open to all kinds of writers including authors and poets, but after 1941 the membership was restricted to those women actively engaged in the newspaper industry. Early on, the association successfully lobbied the University of Texas at Austin to create a school of journalism.

In 1961, the organization incorporated as a nonprofit under the name Texas Press Women. However, in 1995 they changed their name again to Texas Professional Communicators. Since 2002, the organization has operated under the name, Press Women of Texas. and has been an affiliate of the National Federation of Press Women since 1938.

The Press Women of Texas defend First Amendment rights and promote professional excellence, ethical standards, and equal opportunity in the field of journalism. Today the membership of the Press Women of Texas include professional journalists, writers, or communicators working in the field of communication such as newspaper, magazine, radio, television, web, advertising, and marketing. Furthermore, the organization sponsors numerous scholarships, contests, and endowments to foster the improvement of the field.

Sources:

Anderson, H. Allen. "Texas Press Women," Handbook of Texas OnlineAccessed April 21, 2011. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/TT/eat3.html.

Press Women of Texas. "Restated Bylaws," Press Women of Texas. Accessed on June 21, 2010. http://www.presswomenoftexas.org/Home/members-only.