United for Libraries to designate the Warren (Ohio)-Trumbull County Public Library a Literary Landmark

WARREN, Ohio – United for Libraries, in partnership with the Fine Arts Council of Trumbull County and the Friends of the Warren Library, will designate the Warren (Ohio)-Trumbull County Public Library a Literary Landmark in honor of Earl Derr Biggers on Saturday, Sept. 23 at 11 a.m.

Warren resident and mystery author Earl Derr Biggers (1884-1933) was a novelist and playwright. He graduated from Warren High School in 1903 and in 1907 from Harvard University. While in high school, he founded “The Cauldron,” a monthly school literary magazine.

Biggers worked as a journalist in Cleveland and Boston before pursuing fiction writing and relocating to New York and eventually California. He is best known for his mystery novels featuring fictional Chinese-Hawaiian detective Charlie Chan. Biggers presented Chan as an intelligent, heroic character at a time when popular literature negatively stereotyped Asians.

The Literary Landmark dedication festivities, held during Warren’s Homecoming weekend, will include a free lecture about the “Charlie Chan” creator, showings of movies based on his books, and unveiling of a Literary Landmark plaque.

The public is invited to the Main Library, 444 Mahoning Ave. NW in Warren, for the following Warren Homecoming events:

• Saturday, Sept. 23 at 11 a.m. – Unveiling of the bronze Literary Landmark plaque and a lecture about Biggers’ life and works presented by Jan Vaughn, Warren-Trumbull County Public Library assistant director.
• Sunday, Sept. 24 at 1:30 p.m. – Movie showing of a Charlie Chan film starring Warner Oland.
• Sunday, Sept. 24 at 3 p.m. – Movie showing of a 1929 film based on Biggers’ acclaimed first novel, “Seven Keys to Baldpate.”

All library events are free; no reservations required. For more information, contact the library at (330) 399-8807 ext. 128 or visit www.wtcpl.org.

The Literary Landmark program is administered by United for Libraries. Since the conception of the program in 1986, more than 160 Literary Landmarks across the United States have been dedicated. Any library or group may apply for a Literary Landmark through United for Libraries; visit www.ala.org/united/products_services/literarylandmarks.

United for Libraries: The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations, is a division of the American Library Association with approximately 4,000 personal and group members representing hundreds of thousands of library supporters. United for Libraries supports those who govern, promote, advocate, and fundraise for libraries, and brings together library trustees, advocates, friends, and foundations into a partnership that creates a powerful force for libraries in the 21st century. To join, please visit www.ala.org/united or call (800) 545-2433, ext. 2161.