Born in 1903, Marion Vannett Ridgway was a successful artist's representative in
New York City for about forty years. She
was one of the first women to forge her
way into this career, and she was known
for giving generously of her time to those
artists and authors who needed help
navigating the publishing world. It is in
memory of her helpful and generous spirit
that the Marion Vannett Ridgway Awards
were founded.

Ms. Ridgway was also the author of a children's book called Time to Eat

published in 1945 by Robert T. Weaver Associates and Howell, Soskin, Publishers Inc. (Her name on the cover was misspelled as “Ridgeway” with an e.) After a life rich with friendships and a rewarding career, Marion Vannett Ridgway passed away in 1992.

The Marion Vannett Ridgway Award was founded in 1993 by
Elizabeth Park, a long-time friend of Marion’s. Ms. Park oversaw
the awards for the first several years. In 1998, she asked one of the
judges at the time, painter and children’s book author and illustrator
Mark Shasha to become the new administrator of the national award.
In 2005, Mark passed the administrative baton to Christine Alfano,
who has written regularly about children’s literature for The Hungry
Mind Review, Ruminator Review, and Riverbank Review.