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U.S. State Poets Laureate: A Resource Guide

A comprehensive guide to all current and past state poets laureate of the United States. Includes a history of the laureateship in each state as well the District of Columbia.

Introduction

This guides provides a history of state poets laureate of the United States. It includes lists of current and past poets laureate for each state as well as the District of Columbia, and addresses many frequently asked questions received by the Library of Congress about state poets laureate.

The information on the following pages was compiled by consulting historical newspaper articles, state statutes, and the websites and staff of many organizations, including state arts councils, state libraries, and the National Federation of State Poetry Societies.

22nd U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith celebrates the conclusion of her laureateship in a conversation with state, city and county poets laureate Jeanetta Calhoun Mish (Oklahoma), Kealoha (Hawaii), Adrian Matejka (Indiana), Tina Chang (Brooklyn, NY) and Vogue Robinson (Clark County, NV), in a conversation moderated by Jennifer Benka, president and executive director of the Academy of American Poets, April 15, 2019. Photo by Shawn Miller.