The NWPA was founded on May 13, 1884, at the
World Cotton Centennial in
New Orleans,
Louisiana. Its aim was not only to be of practical assistance to newspaper writers, but ultimately, "to advance the interest of all professional, business, and working women of every grade." The association was founded by
Marion A. McBride, a journalist with
The Boston Post who was serving as superintendent of the press for the Women's Department. McBride planned to model its organization on that of the
Woman's Christian Temperance Union (W.C.T.U.), with every state in the union represented. The first president was
Eliza Jane Nicholson, publisher of the
New Orleans Picayune. Vice presidents were Lilla Stone Pavy of the
Missouri Republican, Florence M. Adkinson of the
Chicago Inter Ocean and the
Indianapolis Sentinel, and Mary McMillen of the
Anglo American. McBride was the first secretary. By 1885 the association had over 300 members. the
New England Woman's Press Association, the Missouri Woman's Press Association, the Indiana Woman's Press Association, NWPA became an international association in 1887. ==Notable people==