North Carolina

Current Laureate:
Joseph Bathanti

Start of Term:
September 20, 2012 (named to position August 30, 2012)

Position History:
Position estbalished 1935 (General Assembly Resolution No. 60). First laureate was Arthur Talmadge Abernethy. The laureate is appointed by the governor with the advice of a committee assembled by the North Carolina Arts Council. The term of office, formerly lifetime, and then five years, is now two years.

Previous Laureates:
Arthur Abernethy (appointed 1948)
James Larkin Pearson (1953-1981)
Sam Ragan (1982-April 1996)
Fred Chappell (December 10, 1997-December 2002)
Kathryn Stripling Byer (February 24, 2005-February 2009)
Cathy Smith Bowers (February 10, 2010-June 30, 2012)

Further Resources:

• Publications by Joseph Bathanti in the Library's online catalog.
• The North Carolina Arts Council includes a history of the state's poetry laureate program and biographical information on past North Carolina poets laureate.

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