Scope and Content Note
The records of the Poetry Office Series, Library of Congress Archives, span the years 1915-1990, with the bulk of the material dating from 1947 to 1985. The collection documents the establishment of the position Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress (later Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry), the work carried out by the incumbents of that position, the operations of the Poetry Office, and the various poetry and literature programs sponsored by or held at the Library of Congress including those sponsored through the Gertrude Clarke Whittall Poetry and Literature Fund. It should be noted that the titles Consultant in Poetry in the English Language at the Library of Congress, Consultant in Poetry in English, Consultant in Poetry, Chair of Poetry, and later Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry, all refer to the same position. The collection is organized into eight series: Series A: General Office Files, 1915-1965; Series B: General Office Files, 1966-1970; Series C: General Office Files, 1971-1975; Series D: General Office Files, 1976-1980; Series E: General Office Files, 1981-1985; Series F: General Office Files, 1986-1990; Series G: Printing, 1946-1986; and Series H: Reference, 1950-1980.
The collection's series are listed and briefly described below. A fuller description of each series and a list of its contents can be accessed in the series descriptions within the container list.
Series A: General Office Files, 1915-1965 contains files documenting the work carried out by the Consultant in Poetry and the Poetry Office and the various poetry and literature programs held at or sponsored by the Library of Congress largely for the years 1937-1965.
Series B: General Office Files, 1966-1970 contains files documenting the work carried out by the Consultant in Poetry and the Poetry Office and the various poetry and literature programs held at or sponsored by the Library of Congress largely for those years.
Series C: General Office Files, 1971-1975 contains files documenting the work carried out by the Consultant in Poetry and the Poetry Office and the various poetry and literature programs held at or sponsored by the Library of Congress largely for those years.
Series D: General Office Files, 1976-1980 contains files documenting the work carried out by the Consultant in Poetry and the Poetry Office and the various poetry and literature programs held at or sponsored by the Library of Congress largely for those years.
Series E: General Office Files, 1981-1985 contains files documenting the work carried out by the Consultant in Poetry and the Poetry Office and the various poetry and literature programs held at or sponsored by the Library of Congress largely for those years.
Series F: General Office Files, 1986-1990 contains files documenting the work carried out by the Consultant in Poetry and the Poetry Office and the various poetry and literature programs held at or sponsored by the Library of Congress largely for those years.
Series G: Printing, 1946-1986 consists of programs and samples of invitations and tickets for various events held by the Poetry Office at the Library of Congress.
Series H: Reference, 1950-1980 consists of printed matter, primarily clippings.