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. 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 Kentucky Poets Laureate Richard Taylor, James Baker Hall,
Joe Survant and Sena Jeter Naslund.
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*
* 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: 06/26/2008