Poet Laureate of Virginia explained

The position of Poet Laureate of Virginia was established December 18, 1936 by the Virginia General Assembly.^[1]

Originally, the Poet Laureate of Virginia was appointed without outside consultation by the General Assembly, usually for one year, in a process that has been described being "more of a political thing".^[2]

As of 1996, the procedure was changed^[2] and most recently codified in 1998 in Virginia Code, Sec. 7.1–43, as follows:^[1]

7.1-43. Poet laureate.

The honorary position of Poet Laureate of Virginia is hereby created. Beginning in 1998, the Governor may appoint a poet laureate from a list of nominees submitted by the Poetry Society of Virginia. Each poet laureate shall serve a term of two years with no restrictions on reappointment.

(1997, c. 299.)^[1]

The Virginia General Assembly now confirms the governor's appointment.

List of Poets Laureate of Virginia

Current Poet Laureate:

• Margaret O. Daramola (named May 5, 2023)^[3]

Former Poets Laureate:

• Luisa Igloria (July 1, 2020 - June 30, 2022)^[4]
• Henry Hart (July 1, 2018 – June 30, 2020)^[5]
• Tim Seibles (July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2018)^[6]
• Ron Smith (July 1, 2014 – June 30, 2016)^[7]
• Sofia Starnes (July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2014)^[8]
• Kelly Cherry (July 1, 2010 – June 30, 2012)^[9]
• Claudia Emerson (August 26, 2008 – June 30, 2010)^[10]
• Carolyn Kreiter-Foronda (June 26, 2006 – June 30, 2008)^[11]
• Rita Dove (September 20, 2004 – June 25, 2006)^[12]
• George Garrett (July 9, 2002 – June 30, 2004)^[13]
• Grace Pow Simpson (2000–2002)^[14]
• Joseph Awad (1998–2000)^[2]
• Margaret Ward Morland (1996–1998)^{[2] [15]}
• Kathryn Forrester Thro (July 1, 1994 – June 30, 1996)^[16]
• Guy Carleton Drewry (1970 - 1991)^[17]
• Ruby Altizer Roberts (1950; poet laureate emerita, 1992)^[18]
• Leigh Buckner Hanes (1949)^[19]
• Thomas Lomax Hunter (1948)^{[20] [21] [22] [23]}
• Charles Day (1942 - 1948)^{[24] [25]}
• Carter Warner Wormeley (1936 - 1938)^[26]

See also

• Virginia literature

External links

• Poet Laureate of Virginia from the Library of Congress
• Welcome to Poet Laureate of Virginia Information Page (archived from The Poetry Society of Virginia website)

Notes and References

1. Web site: Virginia Current Laureate . The Library of Congress . 17 September 2018.
2. News: Baker . Donald P. . For Virginia, a New Poet Laureate . 17 September 2018 . Washington Post . March 17, 1999.
3. Web site: beverly . 2023-05-05 . Governor Glenn Youngkin Announces Margaret O. Daramola as Poet Laureate . 2023-11-04 . Hampton University Home . en-US.
4. News: 3 August 2020 . Latest gubernatorial appointments for Aug. 3 . en . Richmond Times-Dispatch . Richmond Times-Dispatch . 3 August 2020.
5. News: Ducibella . Jim . Henry Hart has a new title: poet laureate of Virginia . 17 September 2018 . William & Mary News & Media . June 21, 2018.
6. News: Hewitt . Jeff . Norfolk's Tim Seibles Sworn in as Poet Laureate at Virginia's State House . 17 September 2018 . AltDaily . October 7, 2016.
7. News: Baldwin . Brent . Ron Smith, Virginia's Poet Laureate. 2016 Guest Writer . 17 September 2018 . Artemis . November 14, 2015.
8. News: Petrini . Andi . HRBook notes: Williamsburg poet releases 'Consequence of Moonlight' . 17 September 2018 . Daily Press . June 9, 2018.
9. News: Kelly Cherry named Va. poet laureate . . . January 28, 2011 . May 4, 2011.
10. News: Langer . Emily . Claudia Emerson, Pulitzer-winning poet who illuminated divorce and death, dies at 57 . 17 September 2018 . The Washington Post . December 6, 2014.
11. Web site: Carolyn Kreiter-Foronda, Virginia Poet Laureate Emerita . VMFA . 17 September 2018.
12. Web site: Rita Dov3 . 17 September 2018 . Virginia Women in History.
13. News: George Garrett, 78, Southern Novelist, Is Dead. Fox, Margalit. The New York Times. May 20, 2008. June 8, 2010.
14. News: Robertson . Ellen . Service set for Grace Pow Simpson, former Virginia Poet Laureate . 17 September 2018 . Richmond Times-Dispatch . March 8, 2016.
15. Web site: SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 42 2 Offered January 19, 1996 3 Designating Margaret Ward Morland of Lynchburg as Virginia ' s Poet Laureate for July 1, 1996, 4 through June 30, 1997. . LIS: Virginia's Legislative Information System . 17 September 2018.
16. Web site: 1995 Session HJ 466 Kathryn Forrester Thro; Poet Laureate. . LIS: Virginia's Legislative Information System . 17 September 2018.
17. News: Guy Carleton Drewry dies . 17 September 2018 . The Washington Post . Aug 6, 1991.
18. News: Moxley . Tonia . 'That's the way she was, like a bubbling spring' . 17 September 2018 . The Roanoke Times . May 29, 2004.
19. Book: Brooker . Peter . Thacker . Andrew . The Oxford Critical and Cultural History of Modernist Magazines: Volume II: North America 1894-1960 . January 24, 2017 . Oxford University Press . 9780199545810. II . 17 September 2018.
20. Pruitt, jr. . Paul M. . Virginia's latter-day cavalier Thomas Lomax Hunter of King George County . Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Magazine . December 2009 . 59 . 1 . 7167 . 17 September 2018.
21. News: Poets Laureate Named In Virginia Richmond, Va.. 17 September 2018 . Bluefield Daily Telegraph . Bluefield, West Virginia . March 13, 1948. 3. "A couple of Virginia poets laureates, one for 1948 and one for 1949, were named today by the house of delegates. If the senate agrees, Thomas Lomax Hunter, "Cavalier" columnist of the Richmond Times-Dispatch. will be the state’s official bard this year, and Leigh Hanes, of Roanoke, will have the versifying honors for 1949.".
22. News: Plaisance . Patrick Lee . Ambassador of Verse . 17 September 2018 . Daily Press . May 17, 1998.
23. Web site: Up for auction! . Belle Grove Plantation . 17 September 2018.
24. Web site: Poet Laureates of Virginia . Massanutten Regional Library . 17 September 2018. August 30, 2013.
25. Book: Day . Charles . Lights o'Day. A book of poems. . 1937 . C. Day . Norfolk, Virginia.
26. Book: Wormeley . Carter Warner . Poems . 1904 . Broadway Publishing Company . New York .