Celebrating 130 years
1891: The Women’s Press Club of Pittsburgh is founded.
1893: In December, the club is admitted into the International League of Press Clubs.
1898: The club is granted a charter.
1908: Gertrude Gordon, Pittsburgh’s first “sob sister,” joins the Pittsburgh Press and becomes one of the earliest bylined women journalists.
1916: Lillian Russell, known as the American Beauty during her years on stage, becomes a member.
1917: Russell joins other members for a gala at the Alvin Theater, with proceeds going to a fund to help members in need.
1922: Mystery writer Mary Roberts Rinehart, a Pittsburgher, becomes an honorary member, frequently attending meetings when she visited the city, even after moving to New York.
1934: Standing room only when Alexander Woollcott entertains members at the Hofbrau on Oct. 22.
1939: The club honors one of its own for the first time. Jeannette Jena of the Post-Gazette wins an award of $25.
1941: The club celebrates its golden jubilee. All radio stations carry talks by club members.
1945: The FBI takes an interest in one of the club’s speakers and questions members.
1956: Following the death of Gertrude Gordon in 1955, a memorial scholarship fund is established in her memory. Former ambassador to Luxembourg Perle Mesta is the guest speaker at the awards dinner held in the William Penn Hotel ballroom.
1961: Integration: Toki S. Johnson of the New Pittsburgh Courier becomes a member, as does Hazel Garland.
1971: Grayce E. Latus establishes another scholarship fund for journalism students in memory of her mother Grayce Druitt Latus.
1983: Madelyn Ross is appointed managing editor of the Pittsburgh Press. She was the first woman to hold the position.
1986: Woodene Merriman becomes assistant managing editor at the Post-Gazette.
1990: For the first time in 99 years, the club’s constitution is changed. The Women’s Press Club of Pittsburgh becomes a tax-exempt organization with the Internal Revenue Service, qualifying as a charitable organization.
1991: The club celebrates its 100th year.
2016: As the Gertrude Gordon scholarship contest celebrates its 60th year, the club celebrates its 125th anniversary.
1893: In December, the club is admitted into the International League of Press Clubs.
1898: The club is granted a charter.
1908: Gertrude Gordon, Pittsburgh’s first “sob sister,” joins the Pittsburgh Press and becomes one of the earliest bylined women journalists.
1916: Lillian Russell, known as the American Beauty during her years on stage, becomes a member.
1917: Russell joins other members for a gala at the Alvin Theater, with proceeds going to a fund to help members in need.
1922: Mystery writer Mary Roberts Rinehart, a Pittsburgher, becomes an honorary member, frequently attending meetings when she visited the city, even after moving to New York.
1934: Standing room only when Alexander Woollcott entertains members at the Hofbrau on Oct. 22.
1939: The club honors one of its own for the first time. Jeannette Jena of the Post-Gazette wins an award of $25.
1941: The club celebrates its golden jubilee. All radio stations carry talks by club members.
1945: The FBI takes an interest in one of the club’s speakers and questions members.
1956: Following the death of Gertrude Gordon in 1955, a memorial scholarship fund is established in her memory. Former ambassador to Luxembourg Perle Mesta is the guest speaker at the awards dinner held in the William Penn Hotel ballroom.
1961: Integration: Toki S. Johnson of the New Pittsburgh Courier becomes a member, as does Hazel Garland.
1971: Grayce E. Latus establishes another scholarship fund for journalism students in memory of her mother Grayce Druitt Latus.
1983: Madelyn Ross is appointed managing editor of the Pittsburgh Press. She was the first woman to hold the position.
1986: Woodene Merriman becomes assistant managing editor at the Post-Gazette.
1990: For the first time in 99 years, the club’s constitution is changed. The Women’s Press Club of Pittsburgh becomes a tax-exempt organization with the Internal Revenue Service, qualifying as a charitable organization.
1991: The club celebrates its 100th year.
2016: As the Gertrude Gordon scholarship contest celebrates its 60th year, the club celebrates its 125th anniversary.
Press club included in 200th Jane Grey Swisshelm celebration
The Edgewood Historical Society graciously invited the Women's Press Club of Pittsburgh to celebrate the 200th birthday of Jane Grey Swisshelm on Dec. 14, 2015.
A tablet in Downtown Pittsburgh and a historical marker at the corner of South Braddock and Greendale avenues commemorate the life of Jane Grey Swisshelm -- a journalist, publisher, abolitionist and women's rights advocate.
Born on Dec. 6, 1815, in Pittsburgh, Jane Grey Cannon later lived in Wilkinsburg and then in what is now Edgewood after marrying farmer James Swisshelm -- the family after which Swissvale is named.
Swisshelm founded newspapers in Pittsburgh, Minnesota and Washington, D.C., where she worked for the federal government during the administration of President Andrew Johnson. In 1881, she published an autobiography. Jane Grey Swisshelm died July 22, 1884, and is buried in Allegheny Cemetery. Pittsburgh's Swisshelm Park neighborhood is named in her honor.
"There is no other woman including Apassia among the ancients, and Pompadour among the moderns who exerted so powerful an influence on contemporary events as has Mrs. Swisshelm." -- St. Paul Daily Globe remembering Swisshelm just after her death in July 1884.
Here is the page from the April/May edition of the Edgewood borough newsletter recapping the event. The full newsletter can be found on the borough's website.
A tablet in Downtown Pittsburgh and a historical marker at the corner of South Braddock and Greendale avenues commemorate the life of Jane Grey Swisshelm -- a journalist, publisher, abolitionist and women's rights advocate.
Born on Dec. 6, 1815, in Pittsburgh, Jane Grey Cannon later lived in Wilkinsburg and then in what is now Edgewood after marrying farmer James Swisshelm -- the family after which Swissvale is named.
Swisshelm founded newspapers in Pittsburgh, Minnesota and Washington, D.C., where she worked for the federal government during the administration of President Andrew Johnson. In 1881, she published an autobiography. Jane Grey Swisshelm died July 22, 1884, and is buried in Allegheny Cemetery. Pittsburgh's Swisshelm Park neighborhood is named in her honor.
"There is no other woman including Apassia among the ancients, and Pompadour among the moderns who exerted so powerful an influence on contemporary events as has Mrs. Swisshelm." -- St. Paul Daily Globe remembering Swisshelm just after her death in July 1884.
Here is the page from the April/May edition of the Edgewood borough newsletter recapping the event. The full newsletter can be found on the borough's website.