Literary Landmark: Enid Public Library - Marquis James
Enid, Okla.
September 17, 2016
Partners: Empire State Center for the Book, the Children's Book Council.
Marquis James (1891-1955), an avid reader, used this public often. James, an American journalist and author, won two Pulitzer Prizes (1930, 1938) for biographies of notable Americans.
The dedication featured Master of Ceremonies Michael Wallis, award-winning writer, voice talent and Honorary Chair of Oklahomas Literary Landmarks, and Dr. Paul Vickery, Professor of History at Oral Roberts University who presented a Chautauqua performance as Marquis James. Remarks were provided by Marquis James grandchildren Karen Norwood Hoover of Round Lake Beach, Ill. and Chris Norwood of New York, N.Y. and great grand-niece Lisa Johnson of Chevy Chase, Md. Three other James family members attended the dedication: grand-nephew Peter Shockey of Nashville, Tenn., grand-niece Christine Shockey Lichter of Falls Church, Va., and great grand-niece Merida Hines-Tyler of Santa Rosa Beach, Fla. Mary Taffey Lichter, grand-niece, donated to the Enid Library a fine original oil painting of Marquis James by her aunt, artist Katharine Kay Shockey Harley, a niece of Marquis James. John Cromwell of Enid provided remarks from the J. Lee and Mary Cromwell family who funded the Marquis James Room at the Enid Library and were life-long friends of Marquis James.
Resources:
Dedication at library on Saturday (Enid News)
Literary Landmark Dedication: Marquis James -- Enid (OKHumanities)
Oklahoma honors two-time Pulitzer winner Marquis James with Literary Landmarks dedication (Pulitzer)
