The MENCKEN SOCIETY was organized to encourage the reading of and to pursue research into the writings of Henry L. Mencken, as well as to provide a forum for opinions both spoken and written about the late journalist, author, editor, critic and iconoclast.
The Society was founded in 1976 and now numbers nearly 300 members from all across the United States as well as several foreign countries.
Meetings, all of which are open to the public, are held several times a year, usually in the Baltimore area. This includes the annual gathering of the membership in conjunction with the Enoch Pratt Free Library’s memorial program on or about the date of Mr. Mencken’s September birthday.
Many of our members have Mencken collections, so that the current availability of books and memorabilia by and about him are often discussed at Society meetings.
All members of the Society receive the quarterly publication Menckeniana (published by the Enoch Pratt Free Library, Baltimore, MD) which contains articles of reminiscence, criticism and/or transcripts of addresses, as well as frequent bibliographical updates, all relating of course to Mr. Mencken. The Society itself publishes an informative president’s letter to all members several times a year.
When we are able to, we contribute time and/or funds to the Mencken Room in the Pratt Library. And once a year we host an informal “Saturday Night Club“ social gathering open to all interested members.
Memberships in the Society are for the calendar year; anyone who joins during the year is classed as a full member for the current year. For further information on membership or other matters relating to the Society, please direct your inquiry to the address below.
THE MENCKEN SOCIETY
Edward A. Martin, President
P. O. Box 16218 Baltimore, MD 21210
Website address: www.mencken.org ** E-mail address: president@mencken.org