The National League of American Pen Women (NLAPW) is an organization of professional women in the arts, including artists, writers, and musical composers who celebrate and share creative work. The League's activities include national conventions, biennial conventions, exhibitions and contests, and branch meetings. Application to the organization must be completed with examples of applicant's work, including publications and/or juried artist shows.

When first founded in 1897, the organization was called the League of American Pen Women. Marian Longfellow O'Donohue began the organization with fellow professional press women Margaret Sullivan Burke and Anna Sanborne Hamilton. All three women were involved in the press: O'Donohue, niece of poet and literary artist Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, was a poet and writer for the Boston Transcript, the Boston Herald, and The Washington Post; Burke was a capital correspondent; and Hamilton was a Social Editor for The Washington Post and special proof reader for the United States government. These women wanted a literary and press organization for women, since other clubs were reserved for men. In June 1897, they met with seventeen professional women for the organization's first meeting. Artist/illustrator and member, Alice R. Morgan designed the official owl insignia.

The League's popularity and membership grew and is popular among women artists, writers, and musical composers still today. The League was incorporated in 1918, began its chartered local branches in 1921, and was renamed The National League of American Pen Women in 1926. Its headquarters is in Washington, D.C. and the organization consists of local branches. The Valley of Virginia Branch was organized and officially certified in 1950 for the Shenandoah Valley area of Virginia.