Press Club of New Orleans Papers

The Press Club of New Orleans was founded February 14, 1958. Its stated purpose was to "promote the journalism profession and provide opportunities for its members to communicate with each other, and the general public, through exchanges of information and participation in professional development activities." A list of Charter Members reads like a "Who's Who" of the local communications field of that day. All major media are represented along with public relations and advertising practitioners from major companies, corporations and institutions. The Press Club successfully maintained a clubhouse from 1959 until the early 1970s. The clubhouse served as a gathering place for the members. It included a bar with food service, meeting room, card room and office. In The Club's first year of existence the Annual Journalism Awards Program, to recognize professional achievement among the local media, was established. The program has become an important annual event and has been expanded to include recognition for those members working in the field of public relations. The Club has consistently organized and sponsored professional development and information programs for its members and other segments of the community. Foremost among these are the Newsmaker Luncheons, Judicial Seminars, Media Spectrum, Silver Scribe and High School Journalism Workshop. The social aspect of bringing members together was never neglected and a pattern of annual and special social events evolved. On March 4, 1966 a group of Press Club members founded the Gridiron Club as a separate and independent corporation. Its purpose was to produce the annual Gridiron Show and publish the annual "Grit" to spoof elected officials and community leaders. This annual fundraising event provided an important portion of The Press Club's operating budget. The Gridiron Club was established as a separate corporation to protect The Press Club from litigious action by persons "roasted" in the annual show. In 1996 The Gridiron Club and The Press Club agreed to formally merge with the former serving as a standing committee of The Press Club. On October 8, 1998 The Press Club Board of Directors voted unanimously to establish the Archives of Loyola University as the permanent repository of the Club's records and archival material. The material was formally presented to Loyola at the Club's Annual Awards Dinner May 15, 1999. Additional material and artifacts in the collection were presented to the University by past presidents and active members of The Press Club and The Gridiron Club.

Note written by Gaulene, Joan