Georgia Writers Hall of Fame

A scholar of southern culture and two poets will come together Nov.  5 to discuss their craft and more at the Author Discussion Series, a moderated panel discussion and  prelude to the Georgia Writers Hall of Fame induction ceremony Nov. 6.

Moderated by Hugh Ruppersburg, University Professor Emeritus, of the UGA English department, the discussion will take place at 5 p.m.  in the auditorium of the Richard B. Russell Building Special Collections Libraries. A reception will follow.

Folksinger, scholar, and creative writer Dianne Dugaw, professor of English and Folklore at the University of Oregon, will give the keynote address at the Spring Book Symposium, "Living Texts" Feb. 23.

The symposium begins at 9:30 a.m. with UGA faculty participating in a roundtable discussion on "Making Archival Material Come Alive in the Classroom."

At 11 a.m., Dugaw, the author of books and articles on early modern and 18th-century literature and culture, especially exploring gender and sexuality in folksongs, literature, and history, will speak on "Fighting and Sailing Women in Anglo-American Prints, Songs, and History (1600--present)." 

A workshop with participants examining and discussing rare books will take place at 2 p.m. following a lunch break.

All events take place in Room 277 of the Russell Special Collections Libraries. 

The second Lillian E. Smith Symposium on Arts and Social Change will examine the role of public art—murals, graffiti, outdoor art installations, and more—as a form of cultural expression and inspiration for social justice.

The one-day conference will be held at Piedmont College in Athens on Saturday, March 18, and will include a panel discussion of artists moderated by author Barbara Brown Taylor. Registration is $45 and includes breakfast and a box lunch. For more information, visit piedmont.edu/symp or contact Craig Amason at 706-894-4204 or camason@piedmont.edu. The Piedmont campus is located at 595 Prince Avenue in Athens.

Speakers for the symposium will include

A scholar of southern culture, two poets, and an historical novelist will be inducted into the Georgia Writers Hall of Fame at its 2017 ceremony in November.

Established by the University of Georgia Libraries in 2000, the hall seeks to honor Georgia writers past and present.

“It is always exciting to share the Georgia Writers Hall of Fame judges’ selections each year,” said P. Toby Graham, university librarian and associate provost. “And each year it is our privilege to remind Georgia readers of the wealth our state’s literary heritage.”

Judith Ortiz Cofer, a retired University of Georgia professor, member of the Georgia Writers Hall of Fame, and University of Georgia Press author, passed away on December 30th. 

Lisa Bayer, director of the Press, offers a remembrance of Cofer on their site.

Five new members, including the first African-American to win a Pulitzer Prize, will be inducted into the Georgia Writers Hall of Fame Nov. 7 at the University of Georgia Libraries.

The ceremony will be at 10 a.m. at the Richard B. Russell Building Special Collections Libraries. This year’s honorees include humorist Roy Blount Jr., novelist Brainard Cheney, social activist Katharine Du Pre Lumpkin, short-story writer James Alan McPherson and journalist Bill Shipp.

“The Georgia Writers Hall of Fame events are always a highlight of the year for the UGA Libraries,” said P. Toby Graham, university librarian and associate provost. “We consider it a privilege to recognize the contributions of Georgia writers to the world of literature and beyond.”