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Posted by: Robert Casper
The following is a cross-post from the Library of Congress Blog, written by Senior Public Affairs Specialist Jennifer Gavin. E. L. Doctorow, a giant of American letters who uplifted the genre of the historical novel, died yesterday at the age of 84. The author of Ragtime, World’s Fair, Billy Bathgate, The March, Welcome to Hard …
Posted in: Guest Posts, News and Events
Posted by: Peter Armenti
Today marks the publication of Harper Lee’s Go Set a Watchman, the manuscript that Lee, with the help of editor Tay Hohoff, shaped over the course of several years into the classic American novel To Kill a Mockingbird. This publication event, although tinged with controversy, provides us with an opportunity to remind social studies and …
Posted in: Digital Resources, News and Events
Posted by: Peter Armenti
It’s been only two months since my previous state poets update, but since then three states have appointed new laureates: Peter Meinke was appointed Florida’s Poet Laureate on June 15; Lee Ann Roripaugh was appointed South Dakota Poet Laureate on July 1; and A. Rose Hill was appointed Poet Laureate of Wyoming on July 9 …
Posted in: State Poets
Posted by: Matt Blakley
The following guest post, part of our “Teacher’s Corner” series is by Rebecca Newland, Teacher in Residence at the Library of Congress. In 1903, 18 years after the Statue of Liberty arrived in New York, the poem “The New Colossus” was inscribed on a plaque that today is displayed in the Statue of Liberty Exhibit …
Posted in: Digital Resources, Teacher's Corner
Posted by: Peter Armenti
For most Americans today, Fourth of July celebrations involve some combination of cookouts, music concerts, movies, sports, games, and (of course!) fireworks. In the 19th century, however, one of the most important parts of many cities’ celebrations was the formal oration, in which an invited speaker would address either a selected group of citizens or …
Posted in: Digital Resources
Posted by: Matt Blakley
The following is a cross-post from the National Book Festival Blog, written by our very own Rob Casper. On June 10th, the Library of Congress announced the appointment of the 21st Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry, Juan Felipe Herrera. Herrera will begin his term as Laureate on September 1st, and his first official event as …
Posted in: Uncategorized
Posted by: Robert Casper
With Wednesday’s announcement of Juan Felipe Herrera as the Library’s 21st Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry, hundreds of articles and spotlights appeared–more than any one person could go through! Of course, the best place to start finding out about Juan Felipe is on the Library’s website–here’s his LC Web Guide, courtesy of fellow “Catbird” blogger …
Posted in: Digital Resources, Interviews, News and Events, Poets Laureate
Posted by: Robert Casper
Every year or two, I have a day like this: when the new Poet Laureate is announced. There’s a lot of build-up–from the many months that go into the selection process, and the weeks of publicity-related work after the Librarian of Congress has made his decision. We even do a “Laureate Orientation,” with the Laureate-to-be, …
Posted in: News and Events, Poets Laureate
Posted by: Matt Blakley
Preceding next week’s announcement of our 21st Poet Laureate, I thought it’d be nice to commemorate the lives and literary legacies of two former Consultants, Maxine Kumin and Gwendolyn Brooks–both of whom were born this first week of June. Each a powerful force for poetry in her own right, please enjoy the below compiled lists …
Posted in: Collections, Digital Resources, From the Archive, Poets Laureate