Virginia

Current Laureate:
Sofia Starnes

Start of Term:
August 3, 2012

Position History:
Position established December 18, 1936; codified in Virginia Code, § 1-512. The text of the law follows:

The honorary position of Poet Laureate of Virginia is hereby created. Beginning in 1998, the Governor may appoint a poet laureate from a list of nominees submitted by the Poetry Society of Virginia. Each poet laureate shall serve a term of two years with no restrictions on reappointment.

(1997, c. 299, § 7.1-43; 2005, c. 839.)

The first Virginia state poet laureate was Carter Warner Wormeley, who served a lifetime appointment. Poets laureate from Charles Day to Ruby Altizer Roberts were appointed to one-year terms by the General Assembly.

Previous laureates include:
Carter Warner Wormeley (December 18, 1936-August 24, 1938)
Charles Day (appointed March 14, 1942)
Thomas Lomax Hunter (1948)
Leigh Buckner Hanes (1949)
Ruby Altizer Roberts (1950)
Guy Carleton Drewry (1970-1991)
Ruby Altizer Roberts (appointed Poet Laureate Emeritus in 1992)
Kathryn Forrester Thro (July 1, 1994-June 30, 1996)
Margaret Ward Morland (1996-1998)
Joseph Awad (1998-2000)
Grace Simpson (2000-2002)
George Garrett (July 9, 2002-2004)
Rita Dove (Sept. 20, 2004-June 25, 2006)
Carolyn Kreiter-Foronda (June 26, 2006-June 2008)
Claudia Emerson (August 26, 2008-July 28, 2010)
Kelly Cherry (July 29, 2010-June 30, 2012)

Further Resources:
Publications by Sofia Starnes in the Library's online catalog.

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