Welcome to the Mississippi Writers Page Newsletter for December 27, 2002-January 2, 2003

In this issue:

• This week in Mississippi Literary History
• Author events: readings, book signings, and appearances
• On the horizon: upcoming events to plan for

The following events all happened during this week in Mississippi history.

Year:
1843: Prentiss Ingraham, author of several hundred dime novels, as well as a number of plays, articles, and poems, was born near Natchez, Mississippi. (Dec. 28)

1912: Historian Lilian Baker Carlisle was born in Meridian, Mississippi. (Jan. 1)

1914: Actress Doris Johnson, who published a collection of letters written by her husband, film writer and journalist Nunnally Johnson, was born in Mississippi. (Dec. 27)

1923: Photographer and documentarian Florence L. Mars was born in Philadelphia, Mississippi. (Jan. 1)

1927: Art critic Barbara Cortright was born in Oxford, Mississippi. (Dec. 29)

1938: Tennessee Williams arrived in New Orleans, where he soon found a small room in the French Quarter at 431 Royal Street, where he would live until spring 1939, and began calling himself “Tennessee.” (Dec. 29)

1939: Poet James Seay was born in Panola County, Mississippi. (Jan. 1)

1940: Battle of Angels by Tennessee Williams premiered in Boston, starring Miriam Hopkins. It bombed. (Dec. 30)

1941: Writer and educator Otha Richard Sullivan was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. (Dec. 28)

1943: Psychologist Bryce Britton was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. (Jan. 1)

1950: The Rose Tattoo by Tennessee Williams premiered at the Erlanger Theatre in Chicago. (Dec. 29)

1950: Short Stories by Eudora Welty was published by Harcourt, Brace, & Company, New York. (Jan. 1)

1955: Novelist and outdoor writer Ernest Herndon was born in Memphis, Tennessee. (Dec. 29)

1958: Period of Adjustment High Point over a Cavern by Tennessee Williams opened at Coconut Grove Playhouse, Miami. (Dec. 29)

1960: William Faulkner willed his manuscripts to the William Faulkner Foundation. (Dec. 28)

1961: Night of the Iguana by Tennessee Williams opened at the Royale Theatre in New York. (Dec. 28)

1971: Journalist and editor P. D. East died. (Dec. 31)

1974: A Pageant of Birds by Eudora Welty was published by Albondocani Press, New York. (Dec. 31)

1982: The Wake of Jamey Foster, a play by Beth Henley, opened in its first staged production at the Hartford Stage Theatre in Hartford, Connecticut. The play would open on Broadway later that year. (Jan. 1)

1986: Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Dumas Malone died after a brief illness in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Dec. 27)

1991: Historian John K. Betterworth died in Starkville, Mississippi. (Dec. 31)

Jan. 9: Square Books, Oxford, Mississippi

Acclaimed novelist and short story writer Bobbie Ann Mason will read from her new biography of Elvis Presley. For more information, visit the Square Books web site, www.squarebooks.com.

Jan. 16: Bondurant Auditorium, University of Mississippi campus, Oxford, Mississippi, 7 p.m.

Tom Chandler, poet laureate of Rhode Island and author of Wingbones and Sad Jazz, reads from his poetry. Sponsored by the John and Renee Grisham Visiting Writers Series and the English Department. For more information, contact the department at (662) 915-7439, or online at www.olemiss.edu/depts/english.

Feb. 6: Bondurant Auditorium, University of Mississippi campus, Oxford, Mississippi, 7 p.m.

U.S. Poet Laureate (2001-2002) Billy Collins reads from his poetry and offers commentary on his work and other matters. Sponsored by the John and Renee Grisham Visiting Writers Series and the English Department. For more information, contact the department at (662) 915-7439, or online at www.olemiss.edu/depts/english.

Feb. 17: Old Chemistry Auditorium, University of Mississippi campus, Oxford, Mississippi, 7 p.m.

Clifton L. Taulbert, author of the acclaimed classic Once Upon a Time When We Were Colored, will speak. This event is in conjunction with Open Doors, the University of Mississippi’s yearlong observance of the 40th anniversary of the integration of higher education. Sponsored by the John and Renee Grisham Visiting Writers Series and the English Department. For more information, contact the department at (662) 915-7439, or online at www.olemiss.edu/depts/english.

If you know of upcoming literary events by or about Mississippi writers, please let us know by writing us at mwp@olemiss.edu. 

The following events are planned for the coming weeks and months. You may wish to begin planning now to attend or participate.

March 25, 2003

Poetry Reading by Andrew Hudgins, Bondurant Hall Auditorium, The University of Mississippi campus, in Oxford.

March 26-30, 2003

Seventeenth Annual Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival, New Orleans, Louisiana. For information, visit their web site at www.tennesseewilliams.net.

April 10-13, 2003

Oxford Conference for the Book, Oxford, Mississippi.

July 20-25, 2003

30th Annual Faulkner & Yoknapatawpha Conference, The University of Mississippi, Oxford, Mississippi

If you know of additional news items for this newsletter or if you have suggestions, please write us at mwp@olemiss.edu.

For more information about events in the Oxford and University of Mississippi community, see the Ole Miss Community Calendar:
www.olemiss.edu/calendar/

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