The Barbara Pym Society was founded 15 April 1994, following a literary weekend exploring the work of Barbara Pym, which was held at St. Hilda’s College, Oxford University, in 1993. Pym entered St. Hilda’s College as an undergraduate in 1931 and took her second-class honours B.A. in English Language and Literature in 1934. The Society is administered through the College, and holds its Annual General Meeting (AGM) there every September. In addition, the Barbara Pym Society holds a spring meeting in London, and the annual North American Conference is held in March in Cambridge, MA. Green Leaves, the Society’s newsletter, is published twice yearly.

The aims of the Society are to foster the appreciation and wider knowledge of the life and works of Barbara Pym; to secure the preservation of the manuscripts, letters and memorabilia of Barbara Pym in conjunction with the Bodleian Library; to encourage and support publications and theses on Barbara Pym, her life and work; and to provide a programme of literary events and regular communications concerning the work of Barbara Pym.

If you’re interested in becoming a member, CLICK HERE to go to the membership page. Membership entitles you to receive Green Leaves twice yearly, attend and vote at the Annual General Meeting and Dinner at St. Hilda’s College, and participate in all other events and activities organized by the Society.