Founded by Bertha Noyes in May 1916, its first president was Henry Kirke Bush-Brown; Mathilde Mueden Leisenring was among its original members,[1] as were Susan Brown Chase, Catharine Carter Critcher, Lola Sleeth Miller, Bertha E. Perrie, and Mary Gine Riley.

The club supports visual, performing, and literary arts in Washington, D.C.[3] It hosts a noon-time concert series.

First given in 2006, the prize's endowment was established by long-time Arts Club member Jeannie S. Marfield in honor of Florence Berryman and Helen Wharton.

[7] The award is given to the author of a nonfiction book about any artistic discipline (visual, literary, performing, or media arts, as well as cross-disciplinary works.

[6] Members of the club noticed that there was a lack of "good, accessible writing about the arts," according to former award administrator Sarah Browning.