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Posted by: Robert Casper
As I discussed in my last blog, Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry Natasha Trethewey began her residency by creating “Office Hours”—times when the public can visit her. The office has been busy scheduling the many requests she has already received, from poetry lovers of all ages. We have nailed down a schedule, and though many …
Posted in: Collections, Poets Laureate
Posted by: Peter Armenti
Today marks the 200th anniversary of the publication of the first volume of Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm’s Children’s and Household Tales (Kinder-und Hausmärchen), popularly known as Grimms’ Fairy Tales. The collection’s bicentennial has already been marked by the publication of a new retelling of fifty of the tales by His Dark Materials author Philip Pullman …
Posted in: Collections
Posted by: Peter Armenti
The following is a guest post by Abby Yochelson, English and American Literature Reference Specialist at the Library of Congress’s Main Reading Room, Humanities and Social Sciences Division. It is the first in a series that will feature the types of literary resources to be found throughout the Library. Many literary researchers visiting the Library …
Posted in: Collections, Guest Posts
Posted by: Robert Casper
The following is a guest post from Camila Escobar-Vredevoogd, the 2012 Junior Fellow at the Library of Congress Poetry and Literature Center. Over the past two weeks, all of the Junior Fellows at the Library have been wrapping up their projects for one final display to celebrate their time here. The display has come and …
Posted in: Collections, Guest Posts, News and Events
Posted by: Peter Armenti
The Library of Congress’s acquisition of Carl Sagan’s papers in late June presents researchers with new opportunities to learn about the noted astronomer and scientific communicator’s life and work. While the majority of research will presumably focus on his scientific activities, the Library’s initial release of several digitized items from the collection demonstrates that many …
Posted in: Collections
Posted by: Peter Armenti
Sunday, April 15, marks the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the RMS Titanic. For those of us who recall the tremendous outpouring of poetry written in response to the September 11 terrorist attacks, it is no surprise that in the days and weeks following the wreck, thousands of American and British citizens turned their …
Posted in: Collections, Digital Resources
Posted by: Peter Armenti
Here are two quick questions to consider on Major League Baseball’s Opening Day: 1) What is your favorite baseball poem? 2) What is your favorite baseball poem—other than “Casey at the Bat”? Most people can easily answer the first question, but are stymied by the second question because, in all likelihood, they’re unable to name …
Posted in: Collections, Digital Resources
Posted by: Peter Armenti
To mark the beginning of Women’s History Month, which follows on the heels of African American History Month, From the Catbird Seat would like to recognize Phillis Wheatley’s major impact on both literary history and women’s history. In 1773, Wheatley became the first African American woman to publish a book. Wheatley’s book, a volume of …
Posted in: Collections, Digital Resources
Posted by: Peter Armenti
From the Catbird Seat decided to combine our celebrations of Valentine’s Day and Presidents’ Day—not an easy thing to do!—by highlighting the youthful poetic efforts of George Washington. Yes, well before Washington was Commander in Chief of the Continental Army or President of the United States, he was just another teenage boy who turned to …
Posted in: Collections, Digital Resources