How Eyewitness Edna Wilson Becsey Describes the Formation of the Sacramento Branch of the California Writers Club

It was a Saturday night. Some 40 years earlier, county government secretary Edna Becsey, seen then as an emerging published writer, had the privilege of serving as the first president of the Sacramento Branch of the California Writers Club. On this Saturday, four decades later on May 16 of 1964, she returned to the club for a dinner meeting where she would recount the formation of the organization, giving eye-witness testimony of the 1925 events unfolding within Sacramento’s literary community. Much of her recollection of those early days was typed on branch letterhead and preserved in club archives. Below is that excerpt of her talk, presented as it was typed word for word, comma for comma —  inclusive of inconsistently applied apostrophes and spelling variations.

ORIGIN OF SACRAMENTO BRANCH NO. ONE, CALIFORNIA
WRITERS’ CLUB

by Edna Wilson Becsey

The beginning of our Sacramento Branch #1 parallels that of the Mother Club.

The California Writers Club was the first of its kind in the United States. It was organized in 1907 as a Press Club by a small group of publishing writers living around San Francisco Bay. The purpose of the club was to bring together professional writers in such ways as to further the interests of the members. Also to encourage and stimulate literary efforts. Members of the first group were Jack London, Judge St. Sure, Ray Danforth, Augusta B. Fowler, Agnes Moreley Cleveland and Torrey Connor. In 1913, this Press Club was incorporated under the name of California Writers Club. Torrey Connor called it the “club with personality.” (Incidentally. Agnes Morely Cleveland and Torrey Connor were still members of the club when we affiliated.) They chose as their emblem, “Columbus’ Ship” and their motto “On sail on.” Joaquin Miller whose famous Poem ‘Columbus’ is their inspiration, was a member of the Press Club when they incorporated.

In 1922, the nucleus of Sacramento Branch No. One was the banding together of about twenty students following the completion of a short story course given by Prof. Raymond of the University of California Extension Division. We called our group the Sacramento Writers Club. Mrs. Milo N. Wood, a member of the California Writers Club, was president and Blance Ashley Ambrose, Secretary. We met twice a month in the home of members for criticism of our work. As our group enlarged, we changed to the Business and Professional women’s Clubroom in the St. Francis Hotel at 10th, and I Sts. We conducted our criticism then as we do now.

Three years later in the spring of 1925, Mary Mills West, a member of the California Writers’ Club and on the faculty of the Extension Division of the University of California came to Sacramento to conduct a class in writing. She was so impressed by the work of our group who were selling to periodicals of more than local circulation that she wanted all of us to apply for membership in the California Writers’ Club. Mrs. Wood said that was impossible as the distance was too great to attend meetings. She, her husband and mother, all members of the Club, had not attended one meeting in the five years they had been in Sacramento. Returning to Berkeley, Mrs. West reported the situation to the Board, also stressed the desirability of our becoming members. Harry Noyes Pratt, then president, suggested that they charter a branch in Sacramento. The Board agreed. Negotiations for Sacramento Branch #1 were started. We were sent queries on the work we had done, publications, payment, etc. Mrs. Wood handled all the correspondence until on the first Wednesday in June, I as incoming president, took over. Before summer ended, those qualifying, were admitted. We were advised to set up our monthly study meeting and our monthly dinner in conformity with theirs. Our charter was signed by Harry Noyes Pratt at our Affiliation Dinner, October 31, 2925, held in the Senator Hotel.

Excerpt of the talk given at dinner in Hotel El Rancho, May 16, 1964.