2013 Literary Landmarks

  • Richards Free Library, Newport, N.H. The Sarah Josepha Hale Memorial Park, on the grounds of Richards Free Library, honors Newport native Hale (1788-1879), a prominent 19th century editor who promoted the education of women and their important role in society. As editor of “Godey’s Lady Book,” she nurtured the careers of Catherine Beecher, Edgar Allan Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Oliver Wendell Holmes. Her many contributions to American culture include a successful campaign to establish Thanksgiving as a national holiday. Partner: Richards Free Library Board of Trustees. Dedicated Nov. 23, 2013.
     
  • Lafayette County & Oxford Public Library, Oxford, Miss. Larry Brown, award-winning author of Joe and Big Bad Love, was a frequent patron and strong supporter of the library, establishing the Larry Brown Writers Series that brought a number of authors to the library for public readings and writing workshops. Born in Lafayette County, Brown gave the keynote address at the re-opening of the library after renovations in 1997. Partner: Friends of the Lafayette County & Oxford Public Library. Dedicated Nov. 11, 2013.
     
  • Boyhood home of Sinclair Lewis, Sauk Centre, Minn. Harry Sinclair Lewis (1885-1951) spent his formative years in this home. He was an American novelist, short story writer, and playwright who became the first writer from the United States to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. His works are known for their insightful and critical views of American society and capitalist values, as well as for their strong characterizations of working women. Partners: Minnesota Association of Library Friends, Sinclair Lewis Foundation. Dedicated July 16, 2013.
     
  • Windmill at Stony Brook, Southampton, N.Y. In the summer of 1957, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tennessee Williams (1911-1983) lived in the windmill at Stony Brook and wrote an experimental play, The Day on Which a Man Dies, responding the to death of his friend, abstract expressionist painter Jackson Pollock. Partners: The MFA Programs at Stony Brook Southampton, Empire State Center for the Book. Dedicated July 13, 2013.
     
  • Beluthahatchee, Fruit Cove, Fla. Author and award-winning journalist and activist Stetson Kennedy (1916-2011) created Lake Beluthahatchee and its surrounding wildlife sanctuary. It was there Kennedy wrote portions or complete manuscripts of his books and articles. Partner: Florida Center for the Book.
     
  • Stroud Public Library, Stroud, Okla. Born near Stroud, Wilma Elizabeth McDaniel (1918-2007) felt wrenched from her home in 1936 when her family migrated to California, where she became known as the Okie poet. Anthologized in American working-class literature, her poetry reveals an appreciation for everyday people and her deep love for Oklahoma, friends, and family. She sent some of her books and papers to Stroud Public LIbrary for preservation. Partner: Friends of Libraries in Oklahoma. Dedicated April 28, 2013.
     
  • Emily J. Pointer Public Library, Como, Miss. Como-born Stark Young (1881-1963) was a drama critic, novelist, playwright, and poet. So Red the Rose, his best-known work, was adapted to film in 1935. Partners: Friends of Emily J. Pointer Public Library, Town of Como. Dedicated March 28, 2013.
     
  • Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center, Corona, N.Y. The library was the first public institution to be named for (James) Langston Hughes, African American poet, journalist, essayist, playwright, novelist, and social activist. Partners: New York State Education Department, New York State Council on the Arts, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, Queens Council on the Arts, Queens Borough President's Office. Dedicated Feb. 23, 2013.
     
  • Syd Hoff home, Miami Beach, Fla. Cartoonist and children's book author Syd Hoff (1912-2004) lived at this home from 1957 to 2001. Hoff published more than 500 cartoons in The New Yorker, and is the author of many HarperCollins I CAN READ books, including Danny the Dinosaur and Sammy the Seal. Partner: Florida Center for the Book. Dedicated Feb. 10, 2013.