Three Literary Landmarks to be dedicated in New York

BRYN MAWR, Pennsylvania – United for Libraries, in partnership with Empire State Center for the Book, will dedicate three Literary Landmarks in the coming weeks that will commemorate the rich literary heritage of New York State. The three landmarks are Steepletop (Austerlitz, N.Y.) on Oct. 23, the Society of Illustrators (New York, N.Y.) on Oct. 27 and the home of Frank Sullivan (Saratoga, N.Y.) on Nov. 3. New York State’s Center for the Book works with United for Libraries in dedicating sites that have significance relationship to an author, book or literary activity.

This will bring the number of literary landmarks up to 22 in New York State.

Steepletop, the home of Edna St. Vincent Millay will be dedicated a Literary Landmark on Sun., Oct. 23 at noon. It will recognize Millay as a Pulitzer Prize winner in celebration of the Pulitzer Centennial.

The Literary Landmark plaque will be unveiled at the Society of Illustrators headquarters at 128 East 63^rd St. the evening of Thurs., Oct. 27. The unveiling will take place at the opening of the society’s Original Art exhibit that showcase illustrations from the year’s best children’s books published in the U.S. It is because of this event that the society is receiving Literary Landmark designation.

On Thurs., Nov. 3 during the New York Library Association Annual Conference, a Literary Landmark plaque designating the home of New Yorker writer Frank Sullivan will be unveiled. Sullivan, who was also known as the “Sage of Saratoga,” was a member of the Algonquin Roundtable and contributed 42 Christmas poems to the New Yorker from 1932 to 1974.

The Empire State Center for the Book, the New York State affiliate for the Library of Congress Center for the Book, has been proactive in dedicating Literary Landmarks. In recent years the center has been the lead in the designation of the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine in honor of Madeleine L'Engle, the author of "A Wrinkle in Time," and the windmill at the Southampton campus of SUNY Stony Brook, where Tennessee Williams resided for a summer. In 2014 a public school on East 88th Street in New York City was landmarked in honor of Bernard Waber, the creator of the picture book character Lyle the Crocodile. Lyle first appeared in a book titled "The House on East 88th Street.”

The Literary Landmark program is administered by United for Libraries. More than 150 Literary Landmarks across the United States have been dedicated since the program began in 1986. Any library or group may apply for a Literary Landmark through United for Libraries. More information is available on the United for Libraries website.

United for Libraries: The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations, is a division of the American Library Association that supports those who govern, promote, advocate, and fundraise for libraries. United for Libraries brings together library trustees, advocates, friends and foundations into a partnership that creates a powerful force for libraries in the 21st century. For more information or to join United for Libraries, visit the United for Libraries website or contact Jillian Wentworth at (312) 280-2161 or jwentworth@ala.org.