Kentucky

Current Laureate:
Jane Gentry Vance

Start of Term:
April 24, 2007

Position History:
Position established 1926 by act of the General Assembly. First laureate was James T. Cotton Noe. Prior to 1990, poets were appointed by the General Assembly to lifetime terms, and several poets held the position simultaneously. In 1990, new legislation (Kentucky Code, Sec. 153.600) provided for appointment by the governor to a two-year term.

Previous Laureates:
James Thomas Cotton Noe (March 1926-Nov. 9, 1953)
Edward G. Hill (Oct 1., 1928-Nov. 8, 1937)
Louise Scott Phillips (1945-1983)
Edwin Carlisle Litsey (1954-Feb. 3, 1970)
Jesse Hilton Stuart (1954-1984)
Lowell Allen Williams (appointed 1956)
Lillie D. Chaffin (appointed 1974)
Tom Mobley (appointed 1976)
Agnes O'Rear (March 7, 1978-1990)
Clarence "Soc" Clay (appointed 1984)
Lee Pennington (appointed 1984)
Paul Salyers (appointed 1984)
Dale Faughn (appointed 1986)
Jim Wayne Miller (appointed 1986)
Henry E. Pilkenton (appointed 1986)
James H. Patton (appointed 1990)
James Still (1995-1997)
Joy Bale Boone (1997-1999)
Richard Taylor (1999-2001)
James Baker Hall (2001-2003)
Joe Survant (March 2003-2005)
Sena Jeter Naslund (April 14, 2005-April 23, 2007)

• Brief biographies of previous poets laureate can be found through the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. A more detailed history of the laureateship, along biographies of each laureate and samples of their poetry, can be found in Betty J. Sparks, Poets Laureate of Kentucky (Nicholasville, Ky.: Wind Publications, 2004).
• Publications by Jane Gentry Vance in the Library's online catalog.