The Chicago Press Veterans Association (CPVA) was founded in 1939 as an organization that brought together journalists who had a shared history of covering news in Chicago and beyond. It provided a forum for both men and women in the newspaper industry to foster camaraderie through shared professional experiences. The roots of the CPVA can be traced back to earlier reunions held by a group of journalists who covered the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893. This group, known as the Press Veterans of '93, met for the first time in 1933 at Chicago’s second World’s Fair, A Century of Progress. The following year, they reconvened, but it was in 1939 that Joseph G. Davis, an esteemed sports writer, formalized the Chicago Press Veterans Association with a broader membership base.

The first annual dinner of the CPVA was held in December 1939, marking the start of a longstanding tradition of annual gatherings that continued through the mid-20th century. In 1942, the organization became officially incorporated under Illinois law. The founders of the association, including William K. McKay, Warren K. Brown, John P. Brady, and others, aimed to create a social space where retired and active newspapermen and women could maintain friendly relations and reminisce about their careers.

The CPVA quickly became an important institution within the Chicago journalism community. It held regular meetings, annual banquets, and social events that were well-attended by prominent figures in the city's media.

Over time, the organization evolved, and in the [early 2000s,] it changed its name to the Chicago Journalists Association (CJA) to reflect the broader scope of its membership, which had expanded beyond just newspaper veterans. The CPVA/CJA has maintained a significant role in preserving the legacy of Chicago's journalism history through its archives, which include minute logs, dinner correspondence, newsletters, photographs, and books by and about Chicago journalists. In 2005, the CPVA collection was donated to Columbia College Chicago’s Albert P. Weisman Center for the Study of Chicago Journalism, where it remains a valuable resource for research into the city’s rich journalistic heritage.

The CPVA’s history is a testament to the enduring bonds formed among news professionals and the important role they played in documenting Chicago’s stories for over a century.