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November 2nd, 2009
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Caroline Henry, retired English teacher, writer and painter, applies a light wash to her pen drawing at Tillie's on Monday in Lodi. The drawing is a continuous line effect of the Hale Building on Pine Street. (Jennifer M. Howell/News-Sentinel)
Inspiring creativity
National League of American Pen Women promotes creative talents of women
Caroline Henry, of Morada, recently retired as an English teacher. She taught ESL classes at Lodi High School from 1983-92 and most recently at Delta Sierra Middle School.
The former Lodi High Flame advisor, who had a mission to be a newspaper writer, said she always had a tendency to overload herself. During her retirement, she plans to spend her extra time focusing on her passion — the arts.
Henry, an accomplished poet and artist, was recently installed as president of the Stockton-Lodi branch of the National League of American Pen Women.
Q: You're an accomplished poet and artist. Describe the work you have done.
A: I was a poet long before an artist. I've done a number of things but it has been awhile. I've been focusing on art. I've done a lot of different media. I started with watercolor and did that for a number of years. I also do oil, pastel, pen and ink, and color pencil. I entered a contest in a magazine one time, where I designed a quilt of California birds.
Q: How did you get involved in the Pen Women?
A: It is a group for women who have achievements in arts and letters. I was invited to come to their meeting to read my poems. My art was more current because I sold it and won some awards. That was how I applied.
Q: You're a retired teacher. How do you feel about retirement so far?
A: I'm just beginning to realize that I'm retired. I've been doing things that I normally wouldn't do. My friends that are teaching are now getting their classrooms ready. I'm realizing I don't need to do that this year.
Q: What did you enjoy most about teaching?
A: Seeing the kids light up when they got something. That's great when you work with them and they start to get it.
• Founded in 1897 by a niece of Poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and two other women journalists who were forbidden to join the all-male National Press Club.
• Stockton Branch, which was renamed Stockton-San Joaquin and then recently Stockton-Lodi, was started at the College of the Pacific in 1950 by Ellen Deering and a group of friends.
• Artists make up about 45 percent of the club's membership
• Organization headquarters is located in the historic, castle-style Pen Arts Building in Washington D.C.
• Some famous letters members included Eleanor Roosevelt, Erma Bombeck, Pearl Buck, Jessamyn West and Eudora Welty.
• Today's famous letters members include Anne Tyler, Rosalynn Carter, Barbara Bush, Hillary Clinton and Helen Thomas.
• Gloria Vanderbilt is an art member. Sculptor Vinnie Ream, whose statue of Abraham Lincoln is in the U.S. Capitol building, was a member along with music member composer Ellen Taaffe Zwilich.
• Stockton Branch, which was renamed Stockton-San Joaquin and then recently Stockton-Lodi, was started at the College of the Pacific in 1950 by Ellen Deering and a group of friends.
• Artists make up about 45 percent of the club's membership
• Organization headquarters is located in the historic, castle-style Pen Arts Building in Washington D.C.
• Some famous letters members included Eleanor Roosevelt, Erma Bombeck, Pearl Buck, Jessamyn West and Eudora Welty.
• Today's famous letters members include Anne Tyler, Rosalynn Carter, Barbara Bush, Hillary Clinton and Helen Thomas.
• Gloria Vanderbilt is an art member. Sculptor Vinnie Ream, whose statue of Abraham Lincoln is in the U.S. Capitol building, was a member along with music member composer Ellen Taaffe Zwilich.
Ellen Deering 1950-52
Alice Belghley Fick 1952-54
Irene Holmes 1954-56
Ellen Deering 1956-58
Irene Holmes 1958-60
Margaret Woolley 1960-62
Claire Sprague 1962-64
Ellen Deering 1964-66
Lee Cahill 1966-68
Margaret Van Alstyne 1968-70
Martha O'Brion 1970-72
Lucille Sandberg 1972-74
Dorothy Tye 1974-76
Jean Rossi 1976-78
Zenobia Brake 1978-80
Lura Francis 1980-82
Helen Seymour 1982-84
Alice Belghley Fick 1984-85
Kathy Young 1985-88
Mabel Myers 1988-80
Marilyn Eger 1990-91
Gwinnett Mitchell Paden 1991-92
Louise Clark 1992-94
Edith Malan 1994-96
Gwinnett Mitchell Paden 1996-98
Naomi McCallum Carey 1998-2002
Barbara Bennett 2002-04
Gwinnett Mitchell Paden 2004-06
Kay L. Owen 2006-07
Alice Belghley Fick 1952-54
Irene Holmes 1954-56
Ellen Deering 1956-58
Irene Holmes 1958-60
Margaret Woolley 1960-62
Claire Sprague 1962-64
Ellen Deering 1964-66
Lee Cahill 1966-68
Margaret Van Alstyne 1968-70
Martha O'Brion 1970-72
Lucille Sandberg 1972-74
Dorothy Tye 1974-76
Jean Rossi 1976-78
Zenobia Brake 1978-80
Lura Francis 1980-82
Helen Seymour 1982-84
Alice Belghley Fick 1984-85
Kathy Young 1985-88
Mabel Myers 1988-80
Marilyn Eger 1990-91
Gwinnett Mitchell Paden 1991-92
Louise Clark 1992-94
Edith Malan 1994-96
Gwinnett Mitchell Paden 1996-98
Naomi McCallum Carey 1998-2002
Barbara Bennett 2002-04
Gwinnett Mitchell Paden 2004-06
Kay L. Owen 2006-07
Ann Anderson
Barbara Bennett
Kay Owen
Gwinnett Paden
Marjorie Preszler
The Stockton-Lodi branch of the National League of American Pen Women recently had their officer installation. Officers installed include Caroline Henry, president; Ann Anderson, vice-president; Elizabeth Parrish, secretary and membership; Majorie Preszler, treasurer; Barbara Bennett, newsletter; Janet Schulz, historian; Gwinnett Mitchell Paden, yearbook.
The goal of the club is to promote the development of creative talents of professionally qualified women and to offer scholarships. Membership is open to women who have received payment in the commercial world for original work of professional standard in art, letters or music. For more information about becoming a member, call 931-0682.
Q: You're a member of the Lodi Community Art Center. What have you done in the center?
A: I joined just before they had to leave Hutchins Street Square. I've been in it since the mid 1990s. I've done a lot of different jobs. I was the secretary, president and am now the treasurer.
Q: What else do you plan to do during retirement?
A: Other than a lot more art, my husband and I both enjoy gardening. Also, we'll probably do some traveling and go to place that are closer that we never got to go to, like San Diego and Yellowstone. I'll also have more time for family and friends.
Q: What are your goals for the club for the next two years?
A: Growth — there are not a lot of new members. Many of the original members of the local branch were the core of the grop until recently. I'd like to see a younger active group of women. Our involvement in national and regional levels could be more. I would like our group show to be on an annual basis. We didn't do it last year but we did the previous two years. We had a show at the library and we had a first Friday art hop. We also need to reinstate the scholarships.
Q: What have you enjoyed about being in the club?
A: One thing I really like is spending time with a group of intelligent and creative women. They are interesting because of who they are.
Q: Describe yourself in three words.
A: Creative, optimistic and responsible.
Q: If you could have had any other profession, what would it be?
A: A writer — when I was a kid I had a mission to be a newspaper writer. I would have liked to do more of the magazine journalism. I wrote for the Lodi Life and Times for awhile until I was ready to go back to teaching.
Q: What is the best decision you have ever made?
A: Marrying Tom Henry
Q: What is the last book you have read?
A: I just finished a Marcia Miller Sharon McCone mystery.
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