US State Poet Laureates
US Symbols Online: State Poet Laureates.
Many US states have posts occupied by prominent poets and entitled Poet Laureate of .... The responsibilities are typically similar to those of the Poet Laureate and the Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress.
Most holders of the these titles reach pre-eminence by public competition, and use the office responsibly to further the knowledge and enjoyment of poetry and the written word by citizens of the states in which they hold office.
Listed are the names of all current state poets laureate of the United States with links to the Main Reading Room, Library of Congress, for the history of the laureateship in each state. Also, provide a comprehensive listing of all prior state poets laureate.
US State Poet Laureates |
|
|---|---|
History |
Poets Laureate |
| Alabama Poets Laureate | Andrew Glaze Term: January 2013 |
| Alaska Poets Laureate | Nora Marks Dauenhauer (official title: State Writer Laureate)
Term: October 10, 2012 |
| Arizona Poets Laureate | Alberto Ríos Term: January 20, 2014 |
| Arkansas Poets Laureate | Peggy Vining Term: 2003 |
| California Poets Laureate | Juan Felipe Herrera Term: March 26, 2012 |
| Colorado Poets Laureate | David Mason Term: July 1, 2010 |
| Connecticut Poets Laureate | Dick Allen Term: July 1, 2010 |
| Delaware Poets Laureate | JoAnn Balingit Term: May 14, 2008 |
| Florida Poets Laureate | Position vacant Term: |
| Georgia Poets Laureate | Judson Mitcham Term: May 4, 2012 |
| Hawaii Poets Laureate | Kealoha (Steven Kealohapau'ole Hong-Ming Wong) Term: May 3, 2012 |
| Idaho Poets Laureate | Brady Udall (Official Title: Writer-in-Residence) Term: July 1, 2010 (term ends June 30, 2013) |
| Illinois Poets Laureate | Kevin Stein Term: December 11, 2003 |
| Indiana Poets Laureate | George Kalamaras Term: January 1, 2014 |
| Iowa Poets Laureate | Mary Swander Term: February 18, 2009 |
| Kansas Poets Laureate | Wyatt Townley Term: May 23, 2013 |
| Kentucky Poets Laureate | Frank X Walker Term: January 2013 (formally inducted April 24, 2013) |
| Louisiana Poets Laureate | Ava Leavell Haymon Term: June 21, 2013 |
| Maine Poets Laureate | Wesley McNair Term: March 11, 2011 |
| Maryland Poets Laureate | Stanley Plumly Term: September 29, 2009 |
| Massachusetts Poets Laureate | Position does not exist. Term: |
| Michigan Poets Laureate | Position does not currently exist. Edgar A. Guest was the first and only Michigan Poet Laureate |
| Minnesota Poets Laureate | Joyce Sutphen Term: August 23, 2011 |
| Mississippi Poets Laureate | Natasha Trethewey Term: January 2012 |
| Missouri Poets Laureate | William Trowbridge Term: April 13, 2012 |
| Montana Poets Laureate | Sheryl Noethe Term: August 2, 2011 |
| Nebraska Poets Laureate | Twyla Hansen Term: December 1, 2013 |
| Nevada Poets Laureate | Vacant Term: |
| New Hampshire Poets Laureate | Alice B. Fogel Term: March 2014 |
| New Jersey Poets Laureate | Term: No position Term: The position no longer exists. It was created October 4, 1999, under P.L.1999, c.228 |
| New Mexico Poets Laureate | No position Term: |
| New York Poets Laureate | Marie Howe (official title: State Poet) Term: August 29, 2012 |
| North Carolina Poets Laureate | Joseph Bathanti Term: September 20, 2012 (named to position August 30, 2012) |
| North Dakota Poets Laureate | Larry Woiwode Term: 1995 |
| Ohio Poets Laureate | No position Term: |
| Oklahoma Poets Laureate | Nathan Brown Term: January 2013 |
| Oregon Poets Laureate | Paulann Petersen Term: April 26, 2010 |
| Pennsylvania Poets Laureate | No Position Term: Position established 1993. The first and only state poet laureate, Sam Hazon, was appointed May 24, 1993 by Gov. Bob Casey. |
| Rhode Island Poets Laureate | Term: Rick Benjamin Term: January 9, 2013 |
| South Carolina Poets Laureate | Marjory Heath Wentworth Term: 2003 |
| South Dakota Poets Laureate | David Allan Evans Term: June 15, 2002 |
| Tennessee Poets Laureate | Margaret Britton Vaughn Term: 1999 (lifetime appointment) |
| Texas Poets Laureate | Rosemary Catacalos Term: April 2013 |
| Utah Poets Laureate | Katharine Coles Term: May 5, 2012 |
| Vermont Poets Laureate | Sydney Lea Term: November 4, 2011 |
| Virginia Poets Laureate | Sofia Starnes Term: August 3, 2012 |
| Washington Poets Laureate | Kathleen Flenniken Term: February 9, 2012 |
| Washington, DC Poets Laureate | Dolores Kendrick Term: May 14, 1999 |
| West Virginia Poets Laureate | Marc Harshman Term: May 17, 2012 |
| Wisconsin Poets Laureate | Max Garland Term: January 3, 2013 |
| Wyoming Poets Laureate | Patricia Frolander Term: November 7, 2011 |
State Poet Laureates
Many US states have posts occupied by prominent poets and
entitled Poet Laureate of [STATE].
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