Home | Biography | Poetry | Invite the Poets | About the Program

About

Delaware’s Poet Laureate is an honorary position appointed by, and serving at the pleasure of, the Governor. The Poet Laureate serves as an advocate, educator, and presenter of poetry throughout the state.

The Delaware Division of the Arts promotes the Poet Laureate’s events and activities and manages the Poet Laureate’s calendar of appearances. The Division also provides a stipend to the Poet Laureate for appearances at nonprofit organizations.

Duties

  • Promoting the importance of poetry and the literary arts as part of Delaware’s cultural heritage
  • Speaking at such official state functions as the opening of state legislative sessions, the Governor’s Awards for the Arts, conferences, and public ceremonies
  • Presenting readings and poetry discussions in educational settings and community events across the state
  • Developing poetry programming and presentation opportunities in collaboration with the Division of the Arts to support the Division’s program goals

History

1947

Delaware General Assembly passes a resolution authorizing an annual appointment by the Governor of a Poet Laureate for the State of Delaware. No specific duties were assigned to the position at that time.

1964

An act to create the honorary office of Poet Laureate for the State of Delaware was passed by the General Assembly. The act authorized the Governor to appoint an individual to serve a two-year term and perform duties as requested by the Governor.

1970

The 1964 act authorizes the Governor to appoint the Poet Laureate for a two-year term, performing duties as requested by the Governor and the Secretary of State.

2000

A new bill passed in June to replace the two-year term limit of service with an open-ended, honorary position that serves at the pleasure of the Governor.

Present

Since 1947, the State of Delaware has had sixteen (16) Poets Laureate.

 

Previous Delaware Poets Laureate

Poets Laureate Appointed by Governor Term of Service
Edna Deemer Leach, Wilmington Walter W. Bacon 1947 – 1949
Jeannette Slocomb Edwards, Wilmington Elbert N. Carvel 1950 – 1954
Frances Shannon Flowers McNeal, Newark Caleb Boggs 1954 – 1955
Katherine King Johnson, Dover Caleb Boggs 1955 – 1956
David Hudson, Wilmington Caleb Boggs 1956 – 1960
Alison Kimball Bradford, Wilmington David P. Buckson 1961 – 1962
Marguerite Eleanor Weaver, Wilmington Elbert N. Carvel 1962 – 1963
Mother M. Aloysius Peach, O.S.U., Wilmington Elbert N. Carvel 1963 – 1965
Dr. Percival Rudolph Roberts, III, Newark Charles L. Terry, Jr. 1965 – 1966
Joyce M. Carlson, Wilmington Charles L. Terry, Jr. 1967 – 1968
Antonia Bissell Laird, Wilmington Charles L. Terry, Jr. 1969 – 1970
Dr. Harry O. Eisenberg, New Castle Russell W. Peterson 1971 – 1975
David Hudson, Wilmington Sherman W. Tribbitt 1975 – 1979
Jean Lanyon, Wilmington Pierre S. duPont IV 1979 – 1981*
Dr. Fleda Brown, Newark Ruth Ann Minner 2001 – 2007
Dr. JoAnn Balingit, Newark Ruth Ann Minner 2008 – 2015
Rep. Nnamdi Chukwuocha & Albert Mills, Wilmington Jack A. Markell 2015 – Present

*There were no Poets Laureate appointed from 1981 – 2001.