California

Current Laureate:
Juan Felipe Herrera

Start of Term:
March 26, 2012

Position History:
The unofficial position of poet laureate was established with the appointment of Ina Donna Coolbrith on June 30, 1915. The official position of Poet Laureate of California was created by Assemblymember Fran Pavley (D-Agoura Hills) under Assembly Bill 113, and was signed in 2001 by Governor Gray Davis. While the unofficial position carried a lifetime appointment, current laureates are appointed to two-year terms. After Quincy Troupe resigned from the position in 2002 for falsifying information on his resume, the position remained vacant until the appointment of Al Young by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on May 12, 2005.

Previous Laureates:
Ina Donna Coolbrith (1915-1928)
Henry Meade Bland (1929-1931)
John Steven McGroarty (1933-1944)
Gordon W. Norris (1953-1961)
Charles B. Garrigus (1966-2000)
Quincy Troupe (2002)
Al Young (May 12, 2005-2008)
Carol Muske-Dukes (November 13, 2008-2011)

Further Resources:

• Publications by Juan Felipe Herrera in the Library's online catalog.
• Detailedl information on the history of the position can be found on the California Arts Council Web site.
• Further information on previous California poets laureate can be found online through the Did You Know? files of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries.

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