Born: 1951 Ohio connection: Resident Cleveland Poet and educator George Bilgere grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, and Riverside, California. He received a B. A. from the University of California, Riverside, and an M.A. in English Literature from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, before earning a Ph.D. in contemporary British and American poetry at the …
Read More George BilgereBorn: June 24, 1842Died: 1914, Chihuahua, Mexico Ohio connection: Birth Horse Cave Creek, Meigs County Ambrose Gwinett Bierce, known in his time as the “wickedest man in San Francisco” for his acid wit and punishing observations was born in a log cabin on Horse Cave Creek in Meigs County, Ohio, on June 24, 1842. The …
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On Saturday, February 25, 2017, the Ohio Center for the Book at Cleveland Public Library, in partnership with the Ohio Arts Council, will host the Poetry Out Loud NE Ohio Regional Semifinals at 2:00 p.m. in the Louis Stokes Auditorium at Cleveland Public Library, 325 Superior Avenue. This event is free and open to the public. Poetry …
Read More 2017 Poetry Out Loud: Listen to the Words . . .Born: June 23, 1900Died: October 25, 1993 Ohio connection: Birth Granville Minnie Hite Moody’s work encompasses that of author, editor, newspaper columnist, and radio broadcaster. Moody published five novels and wrote numerous poems, short stories, and articles that appeared in major periodicals. She loved sharing her view of Licking County heritage in her writing. Her …
Read More Minnie Hite MoodyBorn: 1965 Ohio connection: Resident Cleveland Paula McLain was born in Fresno, California in 1965. After being abandoned by both parents, she and her two sisters became wards of the California Court System, moving in and out of various foster homes for the next fourteen years. After aging out of the system, she supported herself by working …
Read More Paula McLainBorn: 1942 Ohio connection: Birth Bellaire Educator and poet, Ronald Earl McFarland, the son of Earl A. and Maxine (Stullenberger) McFarland, was born in Bellaire, Ohio, and grew up in Ohio and Florida. His education includes Brevard Junior College, A.A., 1962; Florida State University, B.A., 1963 M.A., 1965; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Ph.D., 1970. McFarland has …
Read More Ronald McFarlandBorn: 1954 Ohio connection: Resident Granville David Baker was born in Bangor, Maine, and grew up in Central Missouri where he earned a B.S.E. in 1976 and an M.A. in 1977. After earning a Ph.D. from the University of Utah in 1983, Baker made his way to Ohio to teach English as an assistant professor at …
Read More David Anthony BakerBorn: 1947 Ohio connection: Birth Columbus Katherine Ayres was born in Columbus to Ray and Betty Kent. Ayres has been a lover of books since early childhood, when she began inventing stories before she could write them. Ayres completed her undergraduate studies at the College of Wooster and earned an M.A. from Tufts University. Her childhood home state …
Read More Katherine AyresBorn: October 25, 1972 Died: February 15, 2019 Ohio Connection: Resident Columbus Born Elizabeth Atwood on October 25, 1972, Ellis Avery was raised in Columbus, Ohio. She attended the Columbus School for Girls until the age of eleven, when her family moved to Princeton, New Jersey. She legally changed her name to Ellis Avery when …
Read More Ellis AveryBorn: February 25, 1926 Died: August 15, 2024 Ohio connection: Birth Cleveland Poet, playwright, editor, and composer Russell Atkins was born in Cleveland, Ohio, to Perry Kelly and Mamie Bell Atkins. Admired for his “brilliant, idiosyncratic poetry and wide-ranging intellect,” Atkins’ writings challenged conventions of both form and content in poetry, drama, and literary theory. A …
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