California Poet Laureate

A fine charcoal portrait of Ina Coolbrith in her 30s or 40s, shown from the neck up, wearing a garment with a high, open collar made of lace, with hair curled and secured atop the head, looking slightly to the left. A fountain pen signature is below the portrait, reading "Ina Coolbrith", the letter "c" writ large to sweep underneath the next five letters.
Ina Coolbrith was the first poet laureate.

The California Poet Laureate is the poet laureate for the state of California. In 2001, Governor Gray Davis created the official position. Each poet laureate for the State of California is appointed by the Governor of California for a term of two years and must be confirmed by the senate. Previous to Governor Davis' action in creating the position, the title was unofficial and the position was held for life. The program is run by the California Arts Council.

Poets laureate

Grave marker in Inglewood Park Cemetery for Gordon W. Norris
  • Ina Donna Coolbrith, appointed on June 30, 1915. Held the title until her death in 1928.[1]
  • Henry Meade Bland, 1929–1931[2]
  • John Steven McGroarty, 1933–1944[2]
  • Gordon W. Norris, 1953–1961[2]
  • Charles B. Garrigus, 1966–2000[2]
  • Quincy Troupe, June 11, 2002 – October 2002.
  • Al Young, May 12, 2005 – 2008[2]
  • Carol Muske-Dukes, November 14, 2008 – 2011[2]
  • Juan Felipe Herrera, March 21, 2012[3] – 2014[2]
  • Dana Gioia, December 4, 2015 – 2018[2][4][5]
  • Lee Herrick, November 18, 2022 – Present [6]

See also

  • iconPoetry portal

References

  1. ^ California State Government. "California Arts Council". California State Poet Laureate. California State Government. Archived from the original on July 26, 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "Past Laureates". California Poet Laureate. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  3. ^ Juan Felipe Herrera Named California Poet Laureate UCR Today, March 21, 2012
  4. ^ "To rhyme's no crime, says poet Dana Gioia". March 22, 2016. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  5. ^ "Hitting the Road With California's Poet Laureate". July 10, 2016. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  6. ^ "Governor Newsom Appoints Lee Herrick as California Poet Laureate". California Arts Council. Retrieved January 12, 2023.

External links

  • California Poet Laureate website
  • California Poets Laureate at Library of Congress
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California Poet Laureate


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