Lorene Flanders, Dean of Libraries at the University of West Georgia from 2005 to 2017, was the driving force behind the creation of the Penelope Melson Society. At her instigation, the organization was established in 2007 to enhance UWG's program opportunities and, beginning in 2009, Dr. John Ferling served for a decade as the Society's president. In the period from January 2008 to April 2019, the Melson Society hosted 11 exhibits and 44 programs, most of which were promoted through posters jointly created by the Library and University Communications and Marketing (UCM).