|
|
Overview
to SJSU's Legacy of Poetry
San José
State’s
Legacy of Poetry began in the 19th century as students studied works of
great poets and began to publish their own creative works in The Acorn
(1867), the Normal Index (1885), The Quill (1925), and
others. Literary societies existed from at least the 1870s and around the
start of the 20th century included the Browning Society with about 60
members meeting weekly to study the works of Robert Browning and to build
community on campus. Students also interacted with famous poets including
Joaquin Miller, Charles Keeler, Herbert Bashford, George Sterling, Ina
Coolbrith and alum Edwin Markham through trips by literary clubs, honorary
memberships in student clubs, campus visits, and contributions of poems to
student literary journals. Since at least the 1920s, students have
participated in campus poetry contests.
In
1899, Dr. Henry Meade Bland joined the English Department to teach
creative writing. He remained until his death in 1931. He helped students
develop a love of poetry and encouraged them to write. He helped students
form literary societies including Browning and the Short Story Club. He
helped the students create a professional quality literary journal
launched in 1925 as The Quill (which continues to this day as Reed). He introduced students to famous poets, worked with Senator James
D. Phelan to enable students to participate in public readings at
Phelan’s Villa Montalvo Estate and to obtain funding for literary awards
for students.
Dr.
Bland was born in
California
on
April 21, 1863. He loved
California
and many of his hundreds of poems are about its beauty.
Dr. Bland was appointed
California’s
Poet Laureate in 1929. He was the second poet to hold this title (Ina
Coolbrith was the first). There
is a plaque on the west side of Tower Hall (near one for Markham)
with Dr. Bland’s poem about the Tower.
Edwin
Markham, born on April 23, 1852, graduated from the California
State
Normal
School
in
1872 (a former name of SJSU). After he gained literary fame in 1899 with
his poem “The Man With the Hoe” and moved to New York,
he remained connected to the campus, most likely due to his friendship
with Dr. Bland and his love of California
where he lived and taught school for many years. His involvement included
delivering lectures on campus in 1915 and 1933, judging the student poetry
contest in 1928, and submitting some of his poems for inclusion in student
literary journals. When Mr.
Markham delivered a lecture on campus in 1915, President Dailey introduced
him to an audience of more than 400 as “the most distinguished
graduate” of the school. The
campus held assemblies to honor Mr. Markham on his 70th and 80th
birthdays.
Markham
was often referred to as the “Dean of American Poets.” In 1910, he
founded the Poetry Society of America.
Dr.
Bland worked to have Mr. Markham’s home on
8th
Street
near campus preserved. For
some time, starting in Dr. Bland’s tenure, the home was used by the
campus. The home is currently at San
José
History
Park,
serving as headquarters of Poetry Center San José and a plaque remains at
the original site (near the AS Child Development Center).
In
addition to Mr. Markham, other famous alumni poets include Sandra
McPherson and Lorna Dee Cervantes. In addition to Dr. Bland, faculty past
and present include several published poets. In addition, in recent times,
famous poets have frequented the campus through both the Center for
Literary Arts and the Lurie Professorship including Carolyn Kizer, Al
Young, Ishmael Reed, Adrienne Rich, Gary Soto, Mary Oliver and Billy
Collins. Mr. Young, current California Poet Laureate, penned a poem in
2007 commemorating SJSU’s Legacy of Poetry and 150th anniversary
(“Ways and Ways to San
Jose”).
In
2007, students formed the Poets and Writers
Coalition, as a student
organization to promote wider interest and participation in creative
writing of students.
-
Washington Square
article by Jody Ulate about SJSU's
Legacy of Poetry (2007)
-
State College Times article
on faculty and student poets of note - October 6, 1926
Poppy Poems
At least
4 poets connected with SJSU have written poems about poppies:
|
|
|
[2007] SJSU's Fabulous Literary History on Display
-
Societies, Publications & Celebrity Poets!
SJSU has a history of students publishing magazines of their work -
poems, short stories, essays, plays, parody and news. The first student
paper began in 1867 called The Acorn. In 1880, there was The
Class Paper and in October 1885 The Normal Index, a monthly
publication began. This was followed by The Normal School Pennant,
the The Quill in 1925, El Portal in 1932 and Reed in
1948 which is still published annually today. Each of these
magazines of student writings was also edited by the students with
assistance from the English Department and occasionally a panel of outside
judges.
In the late 1890's, students and faculty participated in several
different literary societies including the Browning Literary Club to study
the works of Robert Browning, the Shakespeare Club, and Ero Sophian to
"cultivate a love of good literature." By the 1930's, these
clubs that remained had become primarily social clubs. Ero Sophian
eventually became Alpha Phi, a sorority which still exists on campus
today.
From 1887 to at least 1892, some alumni of the Normal School
participated in the Alumni Reading Circle with extensive readings to help
them in their teaching and lifelong learning.
SJSU can also boast some famous poets including 1872 Normal School
graduate Edwin Markham, Dr. Henry Meade Bland - an English Professor who
became the California Poet Laureate in 1929, Professor Roberta Holloway,
and alum Sandra McPherson. Click here
for more information on SJSU's Legacy of Poets.
EVENT: Through June 2007, there is a display on the 5th
floor of the King Library illustrating SJSU's literary history with
several pieces of memorabilia about its societies, student publications
and celebrity poets.
|
|
