Kansas Professional Communicators
Records, 1948 – [ongoing]

Manuscript Collection No. 223

Collection Summary

Repository: Kansas Historical Society (Topeka)

Creator: Kansas Professional Communicators.

Title: Kansas Professional Communicators records

Dates: 1948 – [ongoing]

Quantity: 40 ft. (73 boxes)

Abstract:

Statewide organization of Kansas communications professionals founded as Kansas Press Women in 1941 to promote high standards, foster professional development & the exchange of ideas, provide mutual assistance, and protect the rights of the press. Name changed to Kansas Professional Communicators in 2002 after opening membership to men.

Correspondence, subject files, financial records, membership files, reports, publications, conference materials, clippings, and other records of Kansas Professional Communicators. Included are files pertaining to legislative issues; awards & scholarships; leadership; writing competitions; youth programs; and the organization's history, planning, districts, & affiliation with the National Federation of Press Women.

Identification: Ms. collection no. 223

Language: Text is in English. Finding aid is in English.

Notes:

This finding aid describes materials held by the Kansas Historical Society. Materials may be used in the State Archives and Library during regular research hours. Support for telephone, mail, and online reference and research is limited.

In a continuing effort to improve the completeness and accuracy of finding aids, revisions are made as more or new information becomes available. Consequently finding aids in paper format, on microfilm, and on the society's web site may differ slightly.

History of Kansas Professional Communicators

Kansas Professional Communicators is a statewide organization of communications professionals including reporters, publishers, editors, public relations officers, advertising specialists, free-lance writers, website creators, journalism instructors, photographers, and communications consultants & business owners. The purposes of the organization are to promote the highest standards in communication practices & ethics, to foster professional development & the exchange of ideas, to help each other & the next generation of professionals realize their goals, and to actively protect First Amendment & Freedom of Information rights.

Kansas Professional Communicators was founded in 1941 as Kansas Press Women by women who wanted to exchange ideas and provide mutual support in a field where there were relatively few females at that time. Originally limited to "factual writers," membership expanded through the years to include other types of journalism professionals. The organization has always worked closely with the National Federation of Press Women. The name of the organization was changed to Kansas Professional Communicators in 2002 as a result of opening membership to men. The group is the only statewide organization representing both men and women in all facets of communications.

Organization of the Records

Records organized by accession or accretion, thereunder by subject or type of record.

Index Terms

Corporate Names

  • Kansas Press Women. (subject and co-creator)
  • Kansas Professional Communicators.
  • Kansas Professional Communicators – Awards.

Geographic Names

  • Kansas.
  • Kansas – Politics and government – 20th century.

Subjects

  • Awards – Kansas.
  • Contests – Kansas.
  • Journalism – Kansas.
  • Leadership – Kansas.
  • Legislation – Kansas.
  • Women in journalism – Kansas.
  • Women journalists – Kansas.

Document Types

  • Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
  • Correspondence. (Art and Architecture Thesaurus [AAT])
  • Files. (AAT)
  • Financial records. (AAT)
  • Proceedings. (AAT)
  • Publications.
  • Reports. (AAT)

Occupations

  • Authors, American – Kansas.
  • Journalists – Kansas.

Restrictions on Use

Notice: This material may be protected by copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code). The user is cautioned that the publication of the contents of this collection may be construed as constituting a violation of literary property rights. These rights derive from the principle of common law, affirmed in the copyright law of 1976 as amended, that the writer of an unpublished letter or other manuscript has the sole right to publish the contents thereof unless he or she affirmatively parts with that right; the right descends to his or her legal heirs regardless of the ownership of the physical manuscript itself. It is the responsibility of a user or his or her publisher to secure the permission of the owner of literary property rights in unpublished writing.

At the time each group of records was donated to the Kansas State Historical Society, Kansas Professional Communicators or its predecessor, Kansas Press Women, transferred all copyrights they owned. Copyright to some items in the collection, particularly materials sent to Kansas Professional Communicators or Kansas Press Women, may be owned by the items' authors, their heirs, or assigns.

Acquisition Information

Gifts: Kansas Press Women, Kansas Professional Communicators, ca. 1990 – 2007.

Processing Information

Original processing by Jim Reardon, Lela Barnes intern, 1999. This collection will be periodically reprocessed to incorporate accretions into existing series. Additional description by Robert L. Knecht, 2007.

Additional Notes

Organization's website (2007): http://www.kansasprofessionalcommunicators.org

Series Outline

Section 1. Accession : original

1.

Kansas Press Women records

2. National Federation of Press Women records

3.

Clippings

Section 2. Accretion 1995

1.

National Association of Press Women 1993 conference information

2. Alphabetical File
3. Communications Contest
4. Correspondence
5. Financial Material
6. Kansas Press Women Conferences/Meetings
7. Membership
8. National Federation of Press Women Conferences/Meetings
9. Publications

Section 3. Accretion 1998-228 : Miscellaneous materials of the Kansas Press Women, 1971-1997

Section 4. Accretion 1999-095 : Records of the Kansas Press Women, [1980-1999]

Section 5. Accretion 2001-243 : Records of the Kansas Press Women

Section 6. Accretion 2002-385.01 : Wichita Press Women newsletters, 1974-95; directory, 1998-99; member survey, 1997; scrapbooks, 1950-91

Section 7. Accretion 2002-385.02 : Records of the Kansas Press Women

Section 8. Accretion 2002-385.03 : Records of the Wichita Press Women

Section 9. Accretion 2003-116.01 : Records of Kansas Press Women, [ca. 1990]-1996

Section 10. Accretion 2003-116.02 : Records of Kansas Press Women, 1994-2000

Section 11. Accretion 2004-180.01 : 1 audiotape: oral interview with KPC member Marge Setter, March 1, 2003, conducted by the Wichita Chapter

Section 12. Accretion 2004-180.02 : Records of the Kansas Professional Communicators, Topeka Professional Communicators and National Foundation of Press Women, 1997-2004

Section 13. Accretion 2004-180.03 : Records of Kansas Professional Communicators & Wichita Professional Communicators ; 1 videotape, 1997-2003

Section 14. Accretion 2005-060.01 : Records of the Kansas Professional Communicators, 2002-2003

Section 15. Accretion 2005-060.02 : Records of Kansas Professional Communicators, 1990-2002 ; 7 color photos taken by KPC member Jennifer Latzke at the Spring Conference, Abilene, May 8, 2004

Section 16. Accretion 2006-418 : Records of the Kansas Professional Communicators, 2003-2006

Section 17. Accretion 2007-257.01 : Records of the Kansas Professional Communicators and Wichita Professional Communicators, 2001-2003

Section 18. Accretion 2007-257.02 : Records of the Kansas Professional Communicators, 2005-2007

Detailed Contents List

Section 1. Accession : original

Ser. 1

Kansas Press Women records

Box 1

Reports : A – H

Box 2

Reports : L – M

Box 3

Reports : N – Y

Box 4

Members : A

Box 5

Members : B – V
Correspondence : B – K

Box 6

Correspondence : L – W

Box 7

Financial records

Box 8

Conventions / Meetings

Box 9

Alphabetical files : Aa – Ha

Box 10

Alphabetical files : Hi – Yz

Box 11

Newsletters, 1957–1992

 
Ser. 2
National Federation of Press Women records

Box 12

Conventions, 1952 – 1988

Box 13

The Press Woman : 1951 – 1983

Box 14

The Press Woman : 1984– 1986

Box 15

The Press Woman : 1986– 1988
Directories : 1954 – 1984

Box 16

Directories : 1984 – 1986
Alphabetical file

 

 

Ser. 3

Clippings

Box 17

Kansas Press Women / National Federation of Press Women

Section 2. Accretion : 1995

Ser. 1
Box 18A 

National Association of Press Women 1993 conference information

Ser. 2
Boxes 18 B – 20

Alphabetical File, 1948 -1997 (bulk 1975 - 1997). 1 ft.
 

Some of the subject headings include Budgets, Constitutions, Patrons, Handbooks, and Woman of Achievement Award material. There is also a file entitled Historical Material which includes news clippings, programs, and directories from the1940s and 1950s.
 

Files are organized alphabetically by subject

1.

Blank Forms/Stationery
2.

Budgets
3.

Communicator of Achievement
4.

Constitutions
5.

Historian - 2 folders
6.

Historical Material - 2 Folders
7.

Historical Society
8.

Handbooks
9.

Leadership Manuals
10.

Legislative Issues
11.

Miscellaneous
12.

News Clippings
13.

Patrons
14.

Photos (without identification)[identifiable photos removed]
15.

Scholarships
16.

Topeka Press Women
17.

Unrelated Material
18.

Videos and Tapes [removed]
19.

Woman of Achievement
20.

Writing Contests
21.

Youth Programs
 

 

Ser. 2
Boxes
21 – 22

Communications Contest, 1988-1994. 0.8 ft.
 

Includes Contest Entry Forms, Entry Fee Forms, Judging Sheets, and Personal Information Sheets. This series also includes files for blank contest forms and a miscellaneous file.
 

Organized alphabetically by subject
1.

Blank Contest Forms
2.

Compilation Lists
3.

Contest Brochures
4.

Entries by Category
5.

Contest Expense Receipts/Bank Statements
6.

Fee Forms
7.

Judge Lists
8.

Judging Sheets - 2 Folders
9.

Miscellaneous
10.

Official Entry Forms
11.

Personal Information Sheets
 

 

Ser. 3
Boxes
23 – 25

Correspondence, 1970 -1997 (bulk 1985 -1997). 1 ft.
 

The correspondence series is divided into two groups. The first group is correspondence by the Kansas Press Women. The second group is correspondence by the KPW’s parent organization the National Federation of Press Women. Within these two groups the files are organized alphabetically by subject. Correspondence within each subject group is organized by date, earliest too latest with dateless material at the back of each subject group. Some of the larger subjects are correspondence on conferences/meetings, membership, public relations, and officers.
Subseries 1

Kansas Press Women

1.

Colby Press Women
2.

Conferences - 2 Folders
3.

Contests
4.

Dodge City Media Pros
5.

Drop Lists
6.

Dues
7.

Financial
8.

Handbooks
9.

Historian
10.

Legislative Issues
11.

Mailing Procedures
12.

Membership - 2 Folders
13.

Officers
14.

Patrons
15.

Public Relations/Promotions
16.

Publications
17.

Thank You Cards and Letters
18.

Topeka Press Women
19.

Woman of Achievement Award
Subseries 2

National Federation of Press Women
1.

Conferences
2.

Membership
3.

Officers
 

 

Ser. 4
Boxes
26 – 30

Financial Material, 1985-1996. 2 ft.
 

This series includes Financial and Treasury Reports that were not presented at Board meetings. There are also a few lists of donors. However, the largest segments of material in this series are receipts, invoices, canceled checks, and bank statements. These segments of material take up approximately 16 in. of the series.
 

Organized alphabetically by subject, thereunder by date.
1.

Donor Lists
2.

Financial Reports
3.

Receipts/Bank Statements
4.

Treasurers Reports
 

 

Ser. 5
Boxes
31 – 35

Kansas Press Women Conferences and Meetings, 1972 -1997 (bulk 1985 -1997). 2 ft.
 

Organized by the conference or meeting which they are associated with. For example, all the reports for the 1996 Fall Board of Directors meeting would be located together.

 

There are three types of meetings. The first are Board of Directors meetings which meet quarterly.  The second type of meeting are the general membership conferences which are held twice a year in the Fall and Spring. These conferences usually coincide with Board of Directors meetings. The final type of meeting is the district meeting, but these meetings are not heavily represented in this series. All of the meetings are organized by the date of the meeting. Some of the materials in this series include, Meeting Minutes, Membership Reports, Contest Reports, and Tourist Information. It should be noted that the dates on many of the reports do not have the same date as the meeting they are associated with. Often the author of the report used the date the report was written rather than the date the report was presented.
 

Material is organized by date of meeting
 

Some, but not all, of the reports in this series:
 
  • Agendas
 
  • Contest Reports
 
  • District Reports
 
  • Long Range Planning Reports
 
  • Meeting Minutes
 
  • Membership Reports
 
  • Tourist Information
 
  • Treasurer’s Reports
 

 

Ser. 6
Boxes
36 – 42

Membership, 1971 -1996 (bulk 1987 - 1996). 3 ft.
 

Subject headings for this series include, Membership Announcements, Applications, Drop Lists, Rules and Procedures, and Officer Lists. The two largest subject headings are Dues Reports which take up 13 in. and Mailing Lists which take up 6 in. Within each subject heading there is little organization.
 

Organized alphabetically by subject.
1.

Address Cards - 4 Folders
2.

Membership Announcements - 2 Folders
3.

Applications
4.

Drop Lists
5.

Dues
6.

Dues Reports - 8 Folders
7.

Dues of the Topeka Press Women
8.

Mailing Lists/Membership Lists - 3 Folders
9.

New Member Lists
10.

Officers
11.

Rules and Procedures
12.

Surveys
 

 

Ser. 7
Boxes
43 – 44

National Federation of Press Women Conferences/Meetings, 1975-1997. 0.8 ft.
 

The material in this series is associated with the NFPW’s National Conventions which are held annually, usually in June. There is a great deal of tourist information from states that hosted the NFPW conventions in this series. There are also programs, agendas, and convention applications. The largest convention file in this series is for the 1993 convention which was sponsored by the Kansas and Missouri Press Women and held in Kansas City.
 

Organized by meeting date.
 

Organized like series 5                                                                               

 

Some, but not all, of materials included in this series:
 
  • Agendas
 
  • Applications
 
  • Hotel Advertisements
 
  • Tourist Information
 

 

Ser. 8
Boxes
45 – 47

Publications. 1 ft.
 

This series includes newsletters and magazines of the National Federation of Press Women, the Kansas Press Women, and district organizations such as the Wichita Press Women. Some of the publication s include the KPW’s CommuniKPW, the NFPW’s NFPW Agenda, and the Wichita Press Women’s NWSBRFS. There is also an extensive collection of publications that do not relate to the Kansas Press Women.
 

Organized by publishing organization (KPW or NFPW), then alphabetically by title, then by date of issue.
Subseries 1

Kansas Press Women - organized by title and date
1.

CommuniKPW

2.

The Kansas Press Women’s Newsletter
3.

N W Dist. News
4.

NWSBRFS: A Publication of the Wichita Press Women
5.

Topeka Press Women

Subseries 2

National Federation of Press Women
1.

Leader Letter
2.

NFPW Agenda
3.

Press Woman Agenda ; Press Woman: Magazine for Media Professionals

Subseries 3

Unrelated Publications - includes such titles as Lefthander Magazine, Kansas, and Minorities in the Newspaper Business.

Section 3. Accretion 1998-228 : Miscellaneous materials of the Kansas Press Women, 1971-1997

Section 4. Accretion 1999-095 : Records of the Kansas Press Women, [1980-1999]

Section 5. Accretion 2001-243 : Records of the Kansas Press Women

Section 6. Accretion 2002-385.01 : Wichita Press Women newsletters, 1974-95; directory, 1998-99; member survey, 1997; scrapbooks, 1950-91

Section 7. Accretion 2002-385.02 : Records of the Kansas Press Women

Section 8. Accretion 2002-385.03 : Records of the Wichita Press Women

Section 9. Accretion 2003-116.01 : Records of Kansas Press Women, [ca. 1990]-1996

Section 10. Accretion 2003-116.02 : Records of Kansas Press Women, 1994-2000

Section 11. Accretion 2004-180.01 : 1 audiotape: oral interview with KPC member Marge Setter, March 1, 2003, conducted by the Wichita Chapter

Section 12. Accretion 2004-180.02 : Records of the Kansas Professional Communicators, Topeka Professional Communicators and National Foundation of Press Women, 1997-2004

Section 13. Accretion 2004-180.03 : Records of Kansas Professional Communicators & Wichita Professional Communicators ; 1 videotape, 1997-2003

Section 14. Accretion 2005-060.01 : Records of the Kansas Professional Communicators, 2002-2003

Section 15. Accretion 2005-060.02 : Records of Kansas Professional Communicators, 1990-2002 ; 7 color photos taken by KPC member Jennifer Latzke at the Spring Conference, Abilene, May 8, 2004

Section 16. Accretion 2006-418 : Records of the Kansas Professional Communicators, 2003-2006

Section 17. Accretion 2007-257.01 : Records of the Kansas Professional Communicators and Wichita Professional Communicators, 2001-2003

Section 18. Accretion 2007-257.02 : Records of the Kansas Professional Communicators, 2005-2007

Processed: June 1999 by James R. Riordan, Lela Barnes Intern
Finding aid revised: 2007 by Robert L. Knecht


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