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Posted by: Anne Holmes
This “Literary Treasures” post, written by intern Megan Jenkins, examines an audio recording from the Archive of Recorded Poetry and Literature featuring Lucille Clifton reading her poems at the Library of Congress on December 2, 1999.
Posted in: Collections, Digital Resources, Guest Posts, Literary Treasures
Posted by: Anne Holmes
In commemoration of Juneteenth, Manuscript Division curator Barbara Bair explores Ralph Ellison's unfinished second novel. First published posthumously in 1999 as "Juneteenth," and a decade later (in 2010) as "Three Days Before the Shooting...," Ellison's novel takes a deep dive into the complexities of race and violence and prices of transformation in America.
Posted in: Collections, Digital Resources, Guest Posts, News and Events
Posted by: Anne Holmes
Looking forward to the 2020 National Book Festival? In the meantime, you can watch past festival presentations by exploring our full National Book Festival video collection—which includes this video of poet Kevin Young reading and discussing his poems on the Poetry & Prose stage at the 2015 festival.
Posted in: Collections, Digital Resources
Posted by: Anne Holmes
For Jewish American Heritage Month, Manuscript Division curator Barbara Bair explores Philip Roth’s novel "The Plot Against America" (and its recent television adaptation). Set between 1940 and 1942, when Roth himself was a child, the novel examines the status of being Jewish and being American in a particularly perilous time period in American and world history.
Posted in: Collections, Digital Resources, Guest Posts, Jewish American History
Posted by: Anne Holmes
May is the month of Walt Whitman’s birth and also of Memorial Day, when the nation is asked to pause and delve mindfully into remembrance of past wars and service and sacrifices rendered. Library of Congress Manuscript Division curator Barbara Bair explores Whitman's experiences and remembrances of war, isolation, suffering, and a turn to art in times of crisis—and how these themes connect to the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Posted in: Collections, Digital Resources, Guest Posts, Walt Whitman
Posted by: Anne Holmes
Kaleena Black, educational resources specialist in the Library’s Learning and Innovation Office, offers teachers and students suggestions for identifying and exploring sources of inspiration and creativity by watching Poet Laureate Joy Harjo's inaugural event.
Posted in: Collections, Digital Resources, Guest Posts, Poets Laureate
Posted by: Anne Holmes
Intern Brooke Biastock explores a recording of Audre Lorde and Marge Piercy reading their poetry in the Coolidge Auditorium in 1982. This recording was just added as part of our annual release, during National Poetry Month, of 50 newly streaming recordings to the online Archive of Recorded Poetry and Literature.
Posted in: Collections, Digital Resources, Guest Posts, Literary Treasures
Posted by: Robert Casper
Today, on the last day of National Poetry Month, we are thrilled to report that the Librarian of Congress has appointed Joy Harjo for a second term as U.S. Poet Laureate.
Posted in: Collections, News and Events, Poets Laureate
Posted by: Anne Holmes
On Friday, May 1, at 3 PM ET, the Library of Congress Learning and Innovation Office and By the People crowdsourcing team will partner with the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) to host a Walt Whitman and crowdsourcing themed webinar.
Posted in: Collections, Digital Resources, Guest Posts, News and Events, Walt Whitman