| Poet Laureate of Mississippi | |
|---|---|
Incumbent Catherine Pierce since 2021 | |
| Type | Poet Laureate |
| Formation | 1963 |
| First holder | Maude Willard Leet Prenshaw |
The Poet Laureate of Mississippi is the poet laureate for the U.S. state of Mississippi.
Contents
| Poet Laureate of Mississippi | |
|---|---|
Incumbent Catherine Pierce since 2021 | |
| Type | Poet Laureate |
| Formation | 1963 |
| First holder | Maude Willard Leet Prenshaw |
The Poet Laureate of Mississippi is the poet laureate for the U.S. state of Mississippi.
| # | Poet laureate | Term began | Term ended | Appointed by | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maude Willard Leet Prenshaw | 1963 | 1971 (death) | Gov. Ross Barnett | [1] |
| 2 | Louise Moss Montgomery | 1973 | January 1978 (death) | Gov. William Waller | [1] |
| 3 | Winifred Hamrick Farrar | 31 July 1978 | 6 November 2010 (death) | Gov. Cliff Finch | [1] |
| 4 | Natasha Trethewey | January 2012 | 2016 | Gov. Haley Barbour | [1] |
| 5 | Beth Ann Fennelly | August 2016 | March 2021 | Gov. Phil Bryant | [2] |
| 6 | Catherine Pierce | April 2021 | present | Gov. Tate Reeves | [3] |
A poet laureate is a poet officially appointed by a government or conferring institution, typically expected to compose poems for special events and occasions. Albertino Mussato of Padua and Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch) of Arezzo were the first to be crowned poets laureate after the classical age, respectively in 1315 and 1342. In Britain, the term dates from the appointment of Bernard André by Henry VII of England. The royal office of Poet Laureate in England dates from the appointment of John Dryden in 1668.
Natasha Trethewey is an American poet who served as United States Poet Laureate from 2012 to 2014. She won the 2007 Pulitzer Prize in Poetry for her 2006 collection Native Guard, and is a former Poet Laureate of Mississippi.
The Poet Laureate of Nevada is the poet laureate for the U.S. state of Nevada.
The Poet Laureate of Alabama is the poet laureate for the U.S. state of Alabama. The position was established in 1931 by an act of the Alabama Legislature. Poets Laureate, who must have been Alabama residents for at least 15 years, are chosen by the governor, and serve 4-year terms.
The Poet Laureate of Alaska also known as Alaska State Writer Laureate is the poet laureate for the U.S. state of Alaska. The first Alaska Poet Laureate, Margaret Mielke, was appointed in 1963. The program expanded to include other kinds of writers in 1996.
The Poet Laureate of Colorado is the poet laureate for the U.S. state of Colorado. Colorado Poets Laureate are appointed to four-year terms. They are nominated by Colorado Creative Industries and Colorado Humanities & Center for the Book, and chosen by the Governor. The State of Colorado also appointed singer/songwriter John Denver in 1974.
The Poet Laureate of Connecticut is the poet laureate for the U.S. state of Connecticut. The Poet Laureate of Connecticut was established in 1985 by Public Act 85-221 of the Connecticut General Assembly. Five-year residents of the state with a demonstrated career in poetry are eligible for the honorary appointment as an advocate for poetry and literary arts.
The Poet Laureate of Delaware is the poet laureate for the U.S. state of Delaware. Poets are appointed to the position by the governor. Nnamdi Chukwuocha and Albert Mills—twin brothers who are known as the "Twin Poets"—were appointed 17th Poets Laureate of the State of Delaware on December 13, 2015. According to the Library of Congress, they are the first co-laureates appointed by a state and the first siblings to share the position.
The Poet Laureate of Idaho or Writer in Residence is the poet laureate for the U.S. state of Idaho. After 1982 the title was changed to Writer in Residence.
The Poet Laureate of Iowa is the poet laureate for the U.S. state of Iowa. The position was created July 1, 1999 by Subchapter 303.89 of the Iowa Code with a two-year renewable term.
The Poet Laureate of Wisconsin is the poet laureate for the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The position and nominating commission was created by executive order from Governor Tommy Thompson on July 31, 2000. On February 4, 2011, Governor Scott Walker discontinued state sponsorship and sent a letter to the members of the Wisconsin Poet Laureate Commission to inform them it has been terminated. The Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters assumed the role of the commission May of that year.
The State Poet of Rhode Island is the poet laureate for the U.S. state of Rhode Island. The program was established in 1987, is codified in Chapter 42-100 of the State of Rhode Island General Laws. The five-year appointment by the Governor carries an annual salary of $1,000.
The Poet Laureate of Utah is the poet laureate for the U.S. state of Utah. The Utah State Poet Laureate Program was established in 1997. As a joint project of the Governor's Office and the Utah Arts Council Literature Program, the Governor appoints the Utah Poet Laureate for a five-year term.
The Poet Laureate of South Dakota is the poet laureate for the U.S. state of South Dakota. The first poet laureate was appointed in 1937, and a permanent office of poet laureate of South Dakota was created by legislation in 1959. The Governor has the authority to appoint a candidate who has received a recommendation from the South Dakota State Poetry Society. The appointment was indefinite, "during the pleasure of the Governor", until 2015, when the term was set at four years. Past appointees have lifetime emeritus status.
The Poet Laureate of Maine is the poet laureate for the U.S. state of Maine. The Maine State Poet Laureate is appointed by the governor for a 5 year term, and the program is managed by the Maine Arts Commission. The program was established in 1995 via Maine Public Law 1995, Chapter 264 and codified via Maine Revised Statutes, Title 27, Chapter 15, Subchapter 2.
The Poet Laureate of Wyoming is the poet laureate for the U.S. state of Wyoming. The position of Poet Laureate was created by executive order in 1981 with a variable term of service. The post became a customary two-year term starting on statehood day.
The Poet Laureate of Ohio is the poet laureate for the U.S. state of Ohio. In 2014, Ohio enacted law creating the position of Ohio poet laureate starting July 1, 2016. The Ohio Arts Council provides a list of candidates to the governor for selection to serve a two-year term, with the possibility of reappointment.
The Poet Laureate of Montana is the poet laureate for the U.S. state of Montana. Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer signed Senate Bill 69 into law in 2005, creating the position.
The Poet Laureate of Nebraska is the poet laureate for the U.S. state of Nebraska.
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