History

The concept of a Poet Laureate originated in England in the 1600s. The laureate description refers to the ancient Greek tradition of placing a laurel wreath or crown as recognition for significant achievements, from military accomplishments to literary triumphs.

Early lawmakers in California recognized the importance of a statewide Poet Laureate at the beginning of the twentieth century. Ina Donna Coolbrith was appointed the first honorary California Poet Laureate by Governor Hiram Warren Johnson on June 30, 1915. Ms. Coolbrith was later recognized by the California State Senate as the "Loved Laurel Crowned Poet of California" by a resolution in 1919, and she retained the title until her death in 1928. More details on Ms. Coolbrith can be found from the California Association of Teachers of English, and the University of California has an extensive online archive of her work.

The state Senate honored another California poet, English professor Dr. Henry Meade Bland, with the Laureate title in 1929, and he served for two years until his death in 1931. In 1933 lawmakers recognized through resolution another California literary artist: John Steven McGroarty, a poet, playwright, historian, Los Angeles Times writer, presidential candidate, and member of Congress from southern California between 1935 and 1939. More information is available from the Journal of San Diego History article on McGroatry.

The next writer to be honored officially by the state was Gordon W. Norris, appointed by the Legislature in 1953. He served until his death on December 18, 1961. Norris was followed by Charles Garrigus, a member of the California legislature and recognized by his colleagues in 1966, who served until the year 2000. Both of these appointments were made from the state Legislature through resolutions. An informative article on the history of the honorary Poets Laureate of California can be found from Metro Active, a Silicon Valley weekly.

After Garrigus' death, lawmakers opted to change the state's approach to the role of California Poet Laureate and make it an official appointed position rather than an honorary title. On September 1, 2001, Governor Gray Davis signed AB 113 by Assemblywoman Fran Pavley, establishing the position of "California Poet Laureate" as a permanent part of the California Government Code. Under this new law, the Poet Laureate would no longer hold the title for life, but would instead serve a two-year term (time determined from the date of confirmation by the Senate) and would be limited to two terms.

On June 11, 2002, Governor Gray Davis appointed Quincy T. Troupe as California's first official Poet Laureate. Mr. Troupe briefly served without Senate confirmation. In 2005, Al Young was appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and confirmed by the senate in March of 2006. He will leave office in August of 2008.

California's poets are among the most prestigious in the nation. They have received numerous significant awards including Nobel Prize, Pulitzer Prize, National Book Award and some have served as United States' Poets Laureate, like Robert Haas, a San Francisco native, and Robert Pinsky who attended Stanford University. California's poets also come from every ethnic, religious, and geographic region of the state, and have provided a great source of inspiration to their communities, students, and the people of California.