South Carolina Poet Laureate

Poet Laureate of South Carolina

Incumbent
Marjory Heath Wentworth

since 2003

Type| Poet Laureate
Appointer| Governor of South Carolina
Term length| None
Formation| 1934

The South Carolina Poet Laureate is the poet laureate for the state of South Carolina. As of October 2020[update], the position was vacant following the resignation of Marjory Heath Wentworth after 17 years in the post.[1] No term of office is set by law.[2][3] Laureates are appointed by the Governor of South Carolina.

## History

[edit]

The position was created by a joint resolution of the South Carolina General Assembly in 1934.[2] The term of office is not officially set, but generally it has been a life-time appointment. Governor Richard Wilson Riley changed this some during his term of office, limiting the laureateship to one-year terms.[4]

## Responsibilities

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The position was not given any clear, specific duties. The honorarium of the position was only $ 1,200 by 1984.[5] However, this honorarium was cut by Governor Mark Sanford in 2003 when Wentworth agreed to serve without the pay.[6]

## List of poets laureate

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Prior to the official creation of the position in 1934, William Gilmore Simms had been often recognized as South Carolina's poet laureate.[7][8]

The following is a list of official South Carolina poets laureate.[9]

* Archibald Rutledge (1934–1973; appointed by Ibra Charles Blackwood)
* Helen von Kolnitz Hyer (1974–1983; appointed by John C. West)
* Ennis Rees (1984–1985; appointed by Richard Wilson Riley)
* Grace Beacham Freeman (1985–1986; appointed by Richard Wilson Riley)
* Bennie Lee Sinclair (1986–2000; appointed by Richard Wilson Riley)
* Marjory Heath Wentworth (2003–2020; appointed by Mark Sanford)[3]

## See also

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* Poetry portal

* Poet laureate
* List of U.S. states' poets laureate
* United States Poet Laureate

## References

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1. ^ "Poet Laureate". State of South Carolina. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
2. ^ a b "South Carolina". U.S. State Poets Laureate. Library of Congress. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
3. ^ a b Hogan, Maura (October 2, 2020), "SC poet laureate Marjory Wentworth resigns from the position she has held for 17 years", The Post and Courier, retrieved 2020-10-11
4. ^ "Greenville native tapped as state's poet laureate". The Rock Hill Herald. AP. September 16, 1986. Retrieved December 20, 2012.
5. ^ "Wanted: Poet Extraordinaire To Fill S.C. Laureate Post". The Charleston News & Courier. AP. January 2, 1984. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
6. ^ Stanton, David (June 18, 2003). "Gov. Sanford releases budget vetoes". WIS TV channel 10. Retrieved December 20, 2012.
7. ^ "Simms, William Gilmore (1806-1870) (Two items from William Gilmore Simms) Decimalized". The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. Retrieved December 20, 2012.
8. ^ Elkins, J. "William Gilmore Simms". Lawyers and Poetry. J. Elkins. Retrieved December 20, 2012.
9. ^ "Poet Laureate". South Carolina Arts Commission. Retrieved December 8, 2012.

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South Carolina Poets Laureate

* Archibald Rutledge (1934–1973)
* Helen von Kolnitz Hyer (1974–1983)
* Ennis Rees (1984–1985)

* Grace Beacham Freeman (1985–1986)
* Bennie Lee Sinclair (1986–2000)
* Marjory Heath Wentworth (2003–present)

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