The position of Kentucky Poet Laureate was originally
established in 1926 by an act of the Kentucky General Assembly. James T.
“Cotton” Noe was selected for the position. Prior to 1990, Poets
Laureate were appointed to lifetime terms by the General Assembly. At times
several people held the position simultaneously.
In 1990, new
legislation was enacted (KRS 153.600) to provide for the gubernatorial
appointment of a state Poet Laureate for a two-year term. The Kentucky Poet
Laureate’s duties include promoting the literary arts and leading the
state in literary activities, including Kentucky Writers’ Day (KRS
153.620), which is celebrated annually on April 24th to commemorate the
birthday of Kentuckian Robert Penn Warren, the nation’s first Poet
Laureate.
The Kentucky Poet Laureate is selected following a public
call for nominations coordinated by the Kentucky Arts Council. Nominees for
this position must reside in Kentucky, have a long association with the
commonwealth and have a critically acclaimed published body of work that is
informed by living in Kentucky. The word "poet" in the position's title is
interpreted in its broadest sense to include persons whose accomplishments are
in any literary form. An independent panel reviews the nominations and submits
its recommendation(s) to the Governor for appointment.
The new Poet
Laureate is usually inducted on April 24th of odd-numbered years in conjunction
with Kentucky Writers’ Day celebrations. The Kentucky Poet Laureate serves
without salary, but receives a stipend for travel expenses. Past Poets
Laureate
Past Poets Laureate
1926
J.T. “Cotton”
Noe
1928 Edward G.
Hill*
1942 Louise
Phillips
1954 Edwin
Carlisle Litsey
1954
Jesse Hilton Stuart
1956
Lowell Allen Williams
1974
Lillie D. Chaffin
(Associate Poet Laureate)
1976
Senator Tom Mobley
1978
Agnes O’Rear
1984 Soc Clay
1984 Lee Pennington
1984 Paul Salyers
1986 Dale Faughn
1986 Jim Wayne
Miller
1986 Henry
E. Pilkenton
1990
James H. Patton, Jr.
1995-1996 James Still*
1997-1998 Joy Bale Boone*
 |
1999-2000 Richard Taylor* |
 |
2001-2002 James Baker Hall* |
 |
2003-2004 Joe Survant* |
 |
2005-2006 Sena Jeter Naslund* |
 |
2007-2008 Jane Gentry Vance* |
 |
2009-2010 Gurney Norman* PHOTO: © Tim Collins |
* Gubernatorial Appointment
Source: Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives and the Kentucky Arts Council.
Kentucky Arts Council
500 Mero
Street
21st Floor, Capital Plaza Tower
Frankfort, KY
40601
502-564-3757
Toll Free: 888-833-2787
FAX:
502-564-2839
Page Updated: 04/22/2009