Local Writing Club Awards Centennial Literary Prize
NOCCA Creative Writing Student Wins $5,000 Scholarship
Local Writing Club Awards Centennial Literary Prize
Louisiana’s arts conservatory, NOCCA is proud to share the news that current Academic Studio | Creative Writing student Clara Souvignier recently won the Centennial Literary Prize receiving $5,000 from local writing club, The Ruth McEnery Stuart Clan. Clara was chosen by the organization for her “very thoughtful, creative, empathetic and witty writing submissions.” As the winning selection, Clara’s work has been added to the collection in the Tulane Archive.
The Ruth McEnery Stuart Clan was founded in 1915 as a women’s literary and social club by Judith Hyams Douglas, who named the society after her friend, Ruth McEnery Stuart. Ruth McEnery Stuart (1856-1917) was a Louisiana-born short story writer who primarily featured Southern characters. She helped found the Stuart Clan in 1913-1914 while in New Orleans with a small group of women who enjoyed literary discussion.
Current members of the Ruth McEnery Stuart Clan — the second oldest literary group still in existence in New Orleans — kicked off its anniversary year at a Centennial Celebration dinner in mid-March at the Orleans Club. Other centennial year activities include an exhibition of items from the group’s archives in the Tulane University Library Special Collections Department.