Chicago Literary Hall of Fame (CLHOF) and Illinois Woman’s Press Association (IWPA) announced the induction of Chicago Tribune writer and critic Fanny Butcher into the CLHOF. A celebratory event was held at Newberry Library in Ruggles Hall on Thursday, May 11th, 2017. Keynote remarks were delivered by Liesl Olsen, Director of Chicago Studies at Newberry Library. John Bokum accepted the induction award on his aunt’s behalf. Elizabeth Taylor, Linda Bubon, IWPA Historian/Archivist Marianne Wolf-Astrauskas, Toni Nealie and Emily Victorson also gave tributes.Sponsors for the event include the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame, Newberry Library, The Guild Literary Complex, Chicago Writers Association, and Illinois Woman’s Press Association (iwpa.org).
For four decades longtime IWPA member Fanny Butcher (September 13, 1888 – May 1987) was a notable presence on Chicago’s literary scene. She moved to The Windy City as a
child and graduated from the University of Chicago. Throughout her career at the Tribune, she worked as a society editor, club editor, crime reporter, and fashion editor. She was also a praised book reviewer, and published her memoir Many Lives, One Love in 1971.