Six years ago, the Poetry and Literature Center celebrated its historic 75th anniversary by introducing a host of new online features, including its Interview Series. Between 2012 and 2015, the Center’s staff, interns, and friends across the Library of Congress engaged 16 emerging and established literary writers in dynamic and thought-provoking conversation. Over the past year, with …
The following is a guest post by Maya Arthur, a summer 2018 intern in the Poetry and Literature Center. One of my favorite things to look out for when reading and listening to poetry is the transition. Whether the line breaks with an em dash, or carries over as an enjambment, or there’s a pause …
As the end of summer draws near, we’re ramping up for our fall event season here at the Poetry and Literature Center. Check out our “Upcoming Events” page for newly added programs, and stay tuned in the coming weeks for even more! Next Thursday, August 30, we kick off the season with an appointment ceremony …
At the end of this month, Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith will kick off her second-year project, “American Conversations: Celebrating Poems in Rural Communities,” with visits to communities around the state of Alaska. In the coming months, coordinated with Center for the Book state affiliates, she’ll also travel to rural communities in South Dakota, Maine, …
Last month, we kicked off our refreshed “Poetry of America” series with five new recordings. The series, originally launched in 2013 as a counterpart to the Library of Congress’ “Songs of America” project, comprises field recordings from contemporary American poets. Over the years, we’ve asked poets to choose a singular poem written by another American poet from …
We’re having a busy summer here at the Poetry and Literature Center as we gear up for our 2018-2019 event season (to be announced soon!). If you’re in need of some PLC literary programming to tide you over in the meantime, look no further: Our previous event seasons are archived online as webcasts and available …
The following is a post by Michelle Strizever, photography and digital content specialist in the Office of Art and Archives of the U.S. House of Representatives. It originally appeared on the House History, Art & Archives blog. During a Joint Meeting honoring the bicentennial of Congress in 1989, Minority Leader Robert Michel of Illinois suggested that what Congress needed …
The following post is part of our monthly series, “Literary Treasures,” which highlights audio and video recordings drawn from the Library’s extensive online collections, including the Archive of Recorded Poetry and Literature. By showcasing the works and thoughts of some of the greatest poets and writers from the past 75 years, the series advances the …
The following introduction is written by Marie Arana, curator of “La Voz Latina”; literary advisor to the Library of Congress; coordinator of the Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction; and literary director of the National Book Festival. This past weekend, at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, we were thrilled to …
