California Poet Laureate Explained

The California Poet Laureate is the poet laureate for the state of California. In 2001, Governor Gray Davis created the official position. Each poet laureate for the State of California is appointed by the Governor of California for a term of two years and must be confirmed by the senate. Previous to Governor Davis' action in creating the position, the title was unofficial and the position was held for life. The program is run by the California Arts Council.

Poets laureate

• Ina Donna Coolbrith, appointed on June 30, 1915. Held the title until her death in 1928.^[1]
• Henry Meade Bland, 1929–1931^[2]
• John Steven McGroarty, 1933–1944
• Gordon W. Norris, 1953–1961
• Charles B. Garrigus, 1966–2000
• Quincy Troupe, June 11, 2002 – October 2002.
• Al Young, May 12, 2005 – 2008
• Carol Muske-Dukes, November 14, 2008 – 2011
• Juan Felipe Herrera, March 21, 2012^[3] – 2014
• Dana Gioia, December 4, 2015 – 2018^{[4] [5]}
• Lee Herrick, November 18, 2022 – Present ^[6]

See also

• Poets laureate of U.S. states
• List of poetry awards
• List of American literary awards
• List of municipal poets laureate in California
• United States Poet Laureate

External links

• California Poet Laureate website
• California Poets Laureate at Library of Congress

Notes and References

1. Web site: California State Government. California Arts Council. California State Poet Laureate. California State Government. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130726233416/http://www.cac.ca.gov/programs/poetlaureate.php. July 26, 2013.
2. Web site: Past Laureates . 10 April 2022 . California Poet Laureate.
3. http://ucrtoday.ucr.edu/4265 Juan Felipe Herrera Named California Poet Laureate
4. Web site: To rhyme's no crime, says poet Dana Gioia. March 22, 2016. July 23, 2016.
5. Web site: Hitting the Road With California's Poet Laureate. July 10, 2016. en-US. July 23, 2016.
6. Web site: Governor Newsom Appoints Lee Herrick as California Poet Laureate . 2023-01-12 . California Arts Council . en-US.