While we, of course, encourage everyone to read Rubini’s engaging biography of Virginia Hamilton chosen as this year’s Great Reads youth selection, we felt it would be helpful to post some readily available links to additional information on Virginia Hamilton’s life and works here online.
Article
The pathbreaking Virginia Hamilton and her “liberation literature” – An interview with Julie Rubini on her work with Library Of America edition of Virginia Hamilton’s work (Library of America: Interviews): https://www.loa.org/news-and-views/1907-the-pathbreaking-virginia-hamilton-and-her-liberation-literature/
Awards (Legacy)
“The Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement is named in memory of beloved children’s author Virginia Hamilton. The annual award is presented in even years to an African American author, illustrator or author/illustrator for a body of his or her published books for children and/or young adults, and who has made a significant and lasting literary contribution.” Readers can discover the past recipients of the award by visiting the American Library Association website: https://www.ala.org/cskbart/virginia-hamilton-award-lifetime-achievement
The Virginia Hamilton Literary Award, The Virginia Hamilton Essay Award, and The Virginia Hamilton and Arnold Adoff Creative Outreach Grants for Teachers and Librarians were awarded by the Advisory Board of the Virginia Hamilton Conference until 2024. Information about the awards and lists of past recipients are available at the Kent State University website: https://www.kent.edu/virginiahamiltonconference/about-awards
Historical Marker
Virginia Hamilton is commemorated with an Ohio Historical Marker placed at the Yellow Springs Community Library (415 Xenia Avenue). You can see photos and information, including a transcription of the inscription, on the Ohio History Connection website as well as the website of The Historical Marker Database, a grassroots organization dedicated to documenting historical markers.
Research Materials
Virginia Hamilton’s Papers are held primarily by the Library of Congress with a Finding Aid available to help researchers: https://www.loc.gov/item/mm2003084975/
Records of the Virginia Hamilton Conference are held in Kent State University’s Special Collections and Archives: https://www.library.kent.edu/special-collections-and-archives/virginia-hamilton-conference-records
Video & Audio
Virginia Hamilton (1978) – Profiles in Literature No. 40 – A rare television interview with Virginia Hamilton from 1978, hosted by the Free Library of Philadelphia: https://youtu.be/v88U7909bds?feature=shared
The Literary And Local Legacy Of Virginia Hamilton And Arnold Adoff – From WYSO (Yellow Springs) by Jocelyn Robinson, 2018. One can hear Virginia Hamilton’s voice in the audio file from a radio interview with Virginia Hamilton’s 1981 interview with Willa Seidenberg (29:41) included within this article: https://www.wyso.org/arts-culture/2018-06-03/the-literary-and-local-legacy-of-virginia-hamilton-and-arnold-adoff
Virginia Hamilton and the Transformation of American Children’s Literature – A Talk with Carla Hayden and Jacqueline Woodson (hosted by Library of America): https://youtu.be/HLoc7v5FFQ0?si=ptkOQNdl3CjrwJN_
