Written by: Genevieve Hammang
Edited by: Adina Vega and Michelle Sosa
Interior of the Poetry Foundation Library in Chicago, IL.
The Poetry Foundation’s history begins with Poetry magazine, a periodical that was created in 1912 by Harriet Monroe to print the best poetry of the day, regardless of style or genre. As of this writing, it is the longest-runningl monthly journal dedicated to verse in the English language. In 1941, the Modern Poetry Association was founded to archive the periodical’s past issues. After receiving a generous donation from philanthropist Ruth Lilly in 2003, the Modern Poetry Association became the Poetry Foundation and has functioned as a nonprofit ever since. In its current incarnation, the Foundation has both an online presence with a digital archive and a physical library.
Photograph of Harriet Monroe, founder of Poetry.
The physical building for the Poetry Foundation Library is the only library in the American Midwest dedicated to poetry. The collection currently contains over 40,000 volumes made up of poetry books, anthologies, journals, rare and limited editions, broadsides, criticism, prose, and biographies by and about poets. Of these, 3,000 titles are specifically for younger readers. Although it is not a lending library, visitors can freely browse the works on-site, while rare and fragile works in the special collections can be viewed by appointment. Visitors can also take advantage of private listening booths for audio or visual recordings. The library regularly hosts free exhibitions of poetry-related materials, interactive workshops and programs, and book clubs.
While not as comprehensive as the physical library, the Poetry Foundation’s digital archive offers a wide range of poetry, as well. Visitors to the site can read a new poem every dayeveryday with the Poem a Day feature or directly look up poems or poets by name with the search function. Or, if you’re in the mood to browse, poems are also organized by themes such as “spring,” “family and ancestors,” “translation,” and “form and craft,” or by the intended age of the audience. Collections can also be arranged into different schools and movements like confessional or symbolist poetry. Visitors interested in close readings can also take advantage of Poem Guides for select pieces, which not only provide line-by-line analyses but historical and cultural context, as well. The website also provides a wealth of educational resources, including informational articles, a lengthy glossary of poetic terms, and educator-specific information.
Photo of an author published by the University of Guam Press, one of the Poetry Foundation’s Grantee-Partners.
As part of its broader mission to support poets, the Poetry Foundation also offers annual grants, fellowships, and poetry prizes. Patrons can attend many of their events remotely, including poetry readings, musical performances, artist collaborations, literary festivals, and staged plays.
The Poetry Foundation is a remarkable institution that strives to support poets and make poetry as accessible as possible to the general public. If you’re looking for a reliable source of good poetry or even just more information about how to read and teach it, visit the foundation’s digital archive today!
0 Comments