List of U.S. states' Poets Laureate


Many of the states in the United States have established the post of poet laureate to which a prominent poet residing in the respective state is appointed. The responsibilities of the state poets laureate are similar to those of the Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom and the equivalent Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress in the United States, to make public appearances at poetry readings or literary events, and to promote awareness of poetry within their geographical region.
, 46 states and the District of Columbia have poets laureate, although a few are presently vacant. The terms can vary in length from state to state. Most states appoint a poet laureate for a one- or two-year term, fewer to several years, and some states appoint a poet to a lifetime tenure. Two states, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, previously had such posts but abolished them in 2003. Michigan had a single poet laureate from 1952–1959. There has never been an official State Poet Laureate in Massachusetts. While Idaho does not have a post of "poet laureate", per se, the state appoints a "Writer in Residence", which can be held by a novelist or poet. The current occupant of the Idahoan post is novelist and short-story writer Diane Raptosh.

List of state poets laureate

The following lists of state poets laureate below are divided by state. The name of the current poet laureate is in bold.

Alabama

Alabama has had an official poet laureate since 1930. The Alabama Writer's Conclave, described as "a voluntary organization of Alabama historians, playwrights, fiction writers, poets, and newspaper writers" first recommended Samuel Minturn Peck to Governor Bibb Graves. The state legislature approved a bill to create the office on March 5, 1931. After the death of Dr. Peck, the position was not filled and was revived in 1954 due to the efforts Mary B. Ward, the president of the Alabama Writer's Conclave, who became the state's second laureate.
At present, a poet selected must have been Alabama residents for at least 15 years prior to the appointment, and when commissioned by the governor, is appointed to serve one four-year term. Before 1983, neither the organization or the state statute provided for a specific term length. The Alabama Writers' Conclave will recommend candidate who is elected by the organization's membership at its annual meeting. The governor subsequently commissions the candidate. A candidate for poet laureate need not be a member of the Alabama Writers' Conclave to be nominated or selected.
#Poet laureateTerm beganTerm endedAppointed byNotes
1Samuel Minturn Peck
12 June 19303 May 1938 Gov. Bibb Graves
2Mary B. Ward21 November 19541958Gov. Gordon Persons
3Elbert Calvin Henderson
21 December 195915 September 1974 Gov. John Patterson
4William Young Elliott
August 19751982Gov. George Wallace
5Carl Patrick Morton
19831987Lt. Gov. William Baxley
6Morton Dennison Prouty, Jr.
19881991Gov. H. Guy Hunt
7Ralph Hammond19921995Gov. H. Guy Hunt
8Helen Friedman Blackshear
1 January 19951999Gov. Jim Folsom, Jr.
9Helen Norris19992003Gov. Don Siegelman
10Sue WalkerAugust 2003December 2012Gov. Bob Riley
11Andrew Glaze20137 February 2016 Gov. Robert J. Bentley

Alaska

The current Alaska's State Writer Laureate is Frank Soos. Originally created as the position of Poet Laureate in 1963. The official name was changed in 1996 to recognize and honor all genres of writing. The position is selected by the Alaska State Council on the Arts.
#Poet laureateTerm beganTerm endedAppointed byNotes
1Margaret Mielke
19631965–
2Oliver Everette19651967–
3John Haines1969––
4Ruben Gaines1973––
5Sheila Nickerson1977––
6Richard Dauenhauer1981––
7Joanne Townsend19881994–
8Tom Sexton1995––
9Richard Nelson20002002–
10Anne Hanley20022004–
11Jerah Chadwick2004September 2006–
12John StraleyOctober 2006September 2008–
13Nancy Lord1 October 2008September 2010–
14Peggy Shumaker1 October 2010September 2012–
15Nora Marks Dauenhauer10 October 20122014–
16Frank Soos29 Jan 2015Present–

Arizona

The current poet laureate of Arizona is Alberto Rios.

Arkansas

Charles T. Davis was the first until his death on December 21, 1945. The position was vacant from 1946 until 1953, when Rosa Zagnoni Marinoni was appointed. Upon Marinoni’s death in 1970, Governor Winthrop Rockefeller named Ercil Brown interim laureate. When legislature reconvened, three candidates had emerged: Anna Nash Yarborough, Lily Peter, and Brown. The legislature declined to decide and instead in 1971 passed Act 90, which assigned the responsibility to the governor. Governor Dale Bumpers announced Lily Peter’s appointment on October 6, 1971. Following Peter’s death, Verna Lee Hinegardner was appointed by Governor Bill Clinton on October 4, 1991, serving until 2003. In 2003, Governor Mike Huckabee appointed Peggy Vining. Before this time, the poet laureateship had been considered a life appointment and publicity ensued but in the end the appointment stood. Peggy Vining served as Poet Laureate from 2003 until her death in 2017. The Legislature changed the term for Arkansas Poet Laureate during 2017 to 4 years. The current Poet Laureate of Arkansas is Jo McDougall of Little Rock, Arkansas.

California

The current poet laureate is Dana Gioia, appointed in 2015.

Colorado

Colorado Poets Laureate are appointed to four-year terms. They are nominated by Colorado Creative Industries and Colorado Humanities & Center for the Book, and chosen by the Governor.
#Poet laureateTermAppointed by-
1Alice Polk Hill1919-1921
2Nellie Burget Miller1923-1952
3Margaret Clyde Robinson1952-1954
4Milford E. Shields1954-1975
5Thomas Hornsby Ferril1979-1988
6Mary Crow1996-2010
7David Mason2010-2014
8Joseph Hutchison2014-2019
9Bobby LeFebre2019-Jared Polis

Connecticut

The Poet Laureate of Connecticut was established in 1985 by Public Act 85-221 of the Connecticut General Assembly. Five-year residents of the state with a demonstrated career in poetry are eligible for the honorary appointment as an advocate for poetry and literary arts.
The following have held the position:
and Albert Mills—twin brothers who are known as the "Twin Poets"—are the current Poets Laureates of Delaware. They were appointed on December 13, 2015. According to the Library of Congress, they are the first co-laureates appointed by a state and the first siblings to share the position.

District of Columbia

The nation's capital, the District of Columbia 19841989 Mayor Marion Barry2Dolores Kendrick14 May 1999presentAnthony A. Williams

Florida

was appointed in 1927 and died soon afterwards. Vivian Laramore Rader was appointed in 1931 and served until her death in 1975. Edmund Skellings was appointed in 1980. A stroke that impaired his speech and limited his ability to do all of his official duties. He died August 19, 2012, leaving the post vacant. currently holds this position and was appointed on June 15, 2015.

Georgia

The current poet laureate of Georgia is Chelsea Rathburn, appointed in 2019.

Hawaii

The current poet laureate of Hawaii is Kealoha, appointed in 2012 by Governor Neil Abercrombie.

Illinois

Illinois appointed its first poet laureate, Howard Austin, in 1936. It was a lifetime appointment. Following Austin for the rest of their lifetimes was Carl Sandburg, then Gwendolyn Brooks. The post is now a four-year renewable award. The Illinois poet laureate since 2003 has been Kevin Stein.

Indiana

Indiana has the unique situation of having two posts: an official "state poet laureate", created in 2005, that is occupied
by George Kalamaras, and the unofficial post of "premier poet" created in 1929 occupied by Cecil Tresslar.

Iowa

The current poet laureate of Iowa is Mary Swander, appointed in 2009.

Kansas

The current poet laureate of Kansas is Huascar Medina, serving from 2019 to 2021.

Kentucky

From the creation of the poet laureate position in 1926 until 1990, the state legislature appointed poets to lifetime terms as poets laureate. Several poets held the position at the same time. Since 1990, Kentucky state law provides for the appointment of a poet laureate or writer laureate to one two-year term selected by the governor. The statute, Kentucky Revised Statutes Section 153.600 provides for two duties: "Make a presentation on Kentucky Writers' Day" and "Act as a writing consultant to the State Department of Education and Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives". The position comes without salary, although the laureate "may be reimbursed for expenses". According to the Kentucky Arts Council, the Kentucky poet laureate is charged with "promoting the literary arts and leading the state in literary activities, including Kentucky Writers’ Day"—a holiday held on 24 April "to commemorate the birthday of Kentuckian Robert Penn Warren, the first poet laureate of the United States". The poet laureate is inducted on this date at the Writers' Day festivities every other year.
#Poet laureateTerm beganTerm endedAppointed byNotes
1James Thomas "Cotton" NoeMarch 19269 November 1953 legislature
2Edward G. Hill1 October 19288 November 1937 legislature
3Louise Scott Phillips19451983 legislature
4Edwin Carlisle Litsey19543 February 1970 legislature
5Jesse Hilton Stuart19541984 legislature
6Lowell Allen Williams1956–legislature
7Lillie D. Chaffin1974–legislature
8Tom Mobley1976–legislature
9Agnes O'Rear7 March 19781990 legislature
10Clarence "Soc" Clay1984–legislature
11Lee Pennington1984–legislature
12Paul Salyers1984–legislature
13Dale Faughn1986–legislature
14Jim Wayne Miller1986–legislature
15Henry E. Pilkenton1986–legislature
16James H. Patton, Jr.1990–legislature
17James Still19951996–
18Joy Bale Boone19971998–
19Richard Taylor19992000–
20James Baker Hall20012002–
21Joe Survant20032004–
22Sena Jeter Naslund20052006–
23Jane Gentry Vance20072008–
24Gurney Norman20092010–
25Maureen Morehead20112012–
26Frank X WalkerJanuary 20132014–
27George Ella Lyon20152016–
28Frederick SmockMay 1, 2017

Louisiana

The current poet laureate of Louisiana is Ava Leavell Haymon, appointed for the 2013 – 2015 two-year term.
Julie Kane served as poet laureate from 2011 – 2013 for a two-year term.

Maine

The current poet laureate of Maine is Wesley McNair, appointed in 2011 to a five-year term ending in 2016.

Maryland

The current poet laureate of Maryland is Grace Cavalieri, appointed in 2018.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts has never had an official poet laureate.

Michigan

was the first and only Michigan Poet Laureate, a title he held from 1952 until his death in 1959.

Minnesota

#Poet laureateTerm beganTerm endedAppointed byNotes
1Margarette Ball Dickson193421 July 1963Poet Laureates League
2Laurene Tibbetts-Larson14 May 19746 December 1999unofficial election
3Robert Bly27 February 200822 August 2011Gov. Tim Pawlenty
4Joyce Sutphen23 August 2011presentGov. Tim Pawlenty

Mississippi

The current poet laureate of Mississippi is Beth Ann Fennelly.
#Poet laureateTerm beganTerm endedAppointed byNotes
1Maude Willard Leet Prenshaw19631971 Gov. Ross Barnett
2Louise Moss Montgomery1973January 1978 Gov. William Waller
3Winifred Hamrick Farrar31 July 19786 November 2010 Gov. Cliff Finch
4Natasha TretheweyJanuary 20122016Gov. Haley Barbour
5Beth Ann FennellyAugust 2016presentGov. Phil Bryant

Missouri

Missouri's poet laureate was established by an executive order from the governor. The order outlined a post with a two-year term, to be filled by "a published poet, a resident of Missouri, be active in the poetry community, and be willing and able to promote poetry in the state of Missouri". The order requires that the appointee "promote the arts in Missouri by making public appearances at public libraries and schools across the state" and "compose an original poem in honor of Missouri" Missouri's poet laureate serves without compensation.
#Poet laureateTerm beganTerm endedAppointed byNotes
1Walter Bargen20082010Gov. Jeremiah W. "Jay" Nixon
2David Clewell3 March 201031 January 2012Gov. Jeremiah W. "Jay" Nixon
3William Trowbridge13 April 201231 January 2014Gov. Jeremiah W. "Jay" Nixon

Montana

The current poets laureate of Montana are Melissa Kwasny and M.L. Smoker, appointed in August 2019.

Nebraska

The current Nebraska State Poet is Matt Mason, serving 2019-2023. Twyla Hansen served from 2013-2018, following William Kloefkorn who was the first Nebraskan to be given the title "Nebraska State Poet," which he held from 1982-2011. John Neihardt, who was appointed Nebraska poet laureate in 1921, retains the title of Poet Laureate of Nebraska "in perpetuity".

Nevada

This post is currently vacant. Mildred Breedlove was named poet laureate in 1957, but disputed with officials over a commissioned work. Norman Kaye, a songwriter, was appointed in the 1960s although he had not published any poetry. He was named "laureate emeritus" in 2007 but no replacement was announced.

New Hampshire

The current poet laureate of New Hampshire is Alexandria Peary, appointed October 2019.

New Jersey

New Jersey no longer has a poet laureate position. It existed for less than four years and was abolished by the legislature effective 2 July 2003.
The state legislature created in 1999 the post as part of a biennial award called the New Jersey William Carlos Williams Citation of Merit. The 1999 act, codified as N.J.S.A. 52:16A-26.9, provided for a panel of four poets from New Jersey selected by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts the New Jersey Council for the Humanities would convene to select candidates for the position for the consideration of the state's governor. An incumbent poet laureate would be the fifth member of the panel that selected his successor. The governor alone would appoint the poet laureate by presenting him or her with the New Jersey William Carlos Williams Citation of Merit. The poet laureate, serving for a two-year term, was expected to "engage in activities to promote and encourage poetry within the State" and "give no fewer than two public readings within the State each year".
The state legislature and governor abolished the post after the second poet laureate, Amiri Baraka incited a public controversy soon after his appointment with a public reading of his poem "Somebody Blew Up America" The poem was controversial and met with harsh criticism by literary critics, politicians, and the public. The poem was highly critical of racism in America, includes angry depictions of public figures, claimed Israel was involved in the World Trade Center attacks, and supported the theory that the United States government knew about the 9/11 attacks in advance. Critics accused Baraka of racism and anti-Semitism. Baraka refused to resign, and because the statute did not allow the governor to remove him from the post, the state legislature and governor enacted legislation to abolish the position on 2 July 2003.
#Poet laureateTerm beganTerm endedAppointed byNotes
1Gerald Stern
17 April 2000July 2002Gov. Christine Todd Whitman
2Amiri Baraka
28 August 20022 July 2003 Gov. James E. McGreevey

New Mexico

New Mexico appointed its first poet laureate, Levi Romero in 2020.

New York

The current New York State poet is Yusef Komunyakaa, appointed in 2014 to a two-year term ending in 2016.
The current poet laureate emeritus of New York State is Joseph Tusiani, appointed in 2014 to a two-year term ending in 2016.

North Carolina

The current poet laureate of North Carolina is Shelby Stephenson, appointed to a two-year term in December 2014

North Dakota

The current poet laureate of North Dakota is Larry Woiwode, appointed in 1995.

Ohio

In 2014, Ohio enacted law creating the position of Ohio poet laureate starting July 1, 2016. The Ohio Arts Council provides a list of candidates to the governor for selection to serve a two-year term, with the possibility of reappointment. The current Ohio Poet Laureate is Kari Gunter-Seymour, appointed to a term beginning June 10, 2020. Previous Ohio Poets Laureate are Amit Majmudar and Dave Lucas.

Oklahoma

is the 2017–2018 Poet Laureate of Oklahoma. Oklahoma has appointed poets laureate since 1923.

Oregon

The current poet laureate of Oregon is Kim Stafford, appointed in 2018.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania appointed one poet, Samuel John Hazo, in 1993. He held the position for ten years before it was eliminated.

Rhode Island

The State Poet of Rhode Island, established in 1987, is codified in Chapter 42-100 of the State of Rhode Island General Laws. The five-year appointment by the Governor carries an annual salary of $1,000.
The following have held the position:
The current poet laureate of South Carolina, generally a lifetime position, is Marjory Heath Wentworth appointed in 2003 by Governor Mark Sanford pursuant to SC Code, Sec. 1-3-230

South Dakota

The first poet laureate was appointed in 1937, and a permanent office of poet laureate of South Dakota was created by legislation in 1959. The Governor has the authority to appoint a candidate who has received a recommendation from the South Dakota State Poetry Society. The appointment was indefinite, "during the pleasure of the Governor", until 2015, when the term was set at four years. Past appointees have lifetime emeritus status.
The following have held the position:
The 87th Tennessee General Assembly appointed Richard M. "Pek" Gunn as first poet laureate for life in it 1971–1972 session. He died in 1995. The current poet laureate of Tennessee is Margaret Britton Vaughn was appointed in 1999.

Texas

The current poet laureate of Texas is Carol Coffee Reposa, appointed in 2018.

Utah

The Utah State Poet Laureate Program was established in 1997. As a joint project of the Governor's Office and the Utah Arts Council Literature Program, the Governor appoints the Utah Poet Laureate for a five-year term.
Previous Laureates:
was the first poet named as Laureate by Joint House Resolution 54 of the Vermont General Assembly in 1961, less than two years before his death. The current position of State Poet, a four-year appointment, was created by Executive Order 69 in 1988. In 2007, the designation was changed to Poet Laureate.
The following have held the position:
The current poet laureate of is Virginia is Henry Hart, appointed in 2018 to a two-year term.

Washington

Although the Washington State Federation of Women's Clubs named Ella Higginson poet laureate in 1931, there was no official position until House Bill 1279 was signed into law in 2007. The position was unfilled for two years due to a budget shortfall, and resumed without state funding.
The following have served:
West Virginia established the position of Poet Laureate by statute in 1927. The appointment was defined by statue as "at the pleasure of the Governor", but has become an indefinitely renewable two-year term. The following have served:
The position and nominating commission was created by executive order from Governor Tommy Thompson on July 31, 2000. On February 4, 2011, Governor Scott Walker discontinued state sponsorship and sent a letter to the members of the Wisconsin Poet Laureate Commission to inform them it has been terminated. The Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters assumed the role of the commission May of that year.
The Poets laureate of Wisconsin are:
The position of Poet Laureate was created by executive order in 1981 with a variable term of service. The post became a customary two-year term starting on statehood day. The current poet laureate of Wyoming is Eugene M. Gagliano appointed in 2016 and reappointed in 2018.
The past poets laureate are: