PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 13, 2007

CONTACT: Alexander Eubanks
(301)314-9142
aeubank2@umd.edu

Poets Laureate Exhibit Open in Hornbake Library

College Park, MD - The lobby of Hornbake Library at the University of Maryland in College Park has been hosting an exhibit on the eight Poets Laureate of Maryland to date, featuring unpublished works of poetry and prose, manuscripts and drafts, correspondence, personal artifacts and memorabilia and editions of published work.

The exhibit is titled “The Catbird Seat: Maryland Poets Laureate.” Being in the “catbird seat” is an expression which means occupying a prominent position, one of ease and favor, which describes the position of laureate.

The exhibit mainly focuses on Roland Flint and Reed Whittemore. Extensive materials in the collections are a lens on Whittemore’s and Flint’s well recognized achievements and will remain of continuing value to scholars and students of contemporary poetry.

Some features of the displays include a Sept. 1946 and an Aug. 1965 copy of The New Yorker containing poems of Whittemore, a Brother WP-760D Processor which Whittemore used for writing, and a poem inscribed on a ceramic plate created by Roland Flint.

One section of the exhibit entitled “Evolution of a Poem” follows the process of writing poetry from a professional poet’s point of view. From left to right, scribbled thoughts, rough drafts and eventually books and magazines are displayed to give a clear picture of the process and work involved in poetry publication.

The exhibit is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It will remain open until August 7.