Hugo House, Seattle, Wash. The first official Literary Landmark in the state of Washington honors poet Richard Hugo (1923-1982). The Literary Landmark plaque has been installed outside the front doors of the new Hugo House, a writing center for emerging and established writers, at 1634 Eleventh Avenue on Seattle’s Capitol Hill. Dedicated September 17, 2018. Partners: Washington Center for the Book, Seattle Public Library, Washington State Library.
John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park, Tulsa, Okla. Dr. John Hope Franklin (1915-2009), born in Rentiesville, Oklahoma, was an American historian of the United States and former president of Phi Beta Kappa, the Organization of American Historians, the American Historical Association, and the Southern Historical Association. Best known for his book From Slavery to Freedom: A History of African Americans, 1st ed. 1947 and now in its’ 10th published edition. He received over 130 honorary degrees from universities across the United States. Dedicated May 31st, 2018. Partners: Tulsa City-County Library, the OSU Division of Institutional Diversity, Oklahoma Department of Libraries, University of Oklahoma Center for Democracy and Culture, Oklahoma Historical Society, Oklahoma Library Association, Tulsa Community College, Friends of Oklahoma Center for the Book, Duke University’s John Hope Franklin Center for Interdisciplinary & International Studies and John Hope Franklin Research Center, Magic City Books, Taylor Entertainment Group, Tulsa Artist Fellowship, Oklahoma Humanities, Tulsa World Media Company, Tulsa Community Foundation.
The Lawrence Library, Pepperell, Mass. Children's author Barbara Cooney lived in Pepperell with her husband, Dr. Charles Talbot Porter, while he practiced medicine in the town from 1946-1988. An author of 110 children’s books, she is best known for her picture book “Miss Rumphius,” which won the National Book Award in 1983 and features the Lawrence Library. Dedicated May 5th, 2018. Partners: Lawrence Library Board of Trustees, Friends of the Lawrence Library.
Spalding Gray House, Sag Harbor, N.Y. Writer/actor Spalding Gray (1941-2004) resided in Sag Harbor with his wife Kathleen Russo and their children Marissa, Forrest, and Theo from 2001-2004. Gray wrote 19 monologues for stage, film, and publication, including "Swimming to Cambodia" and "Morning, Noon and Night" (about his life in Sag Harbor). He is best known for being an American original that sat behind a desk with a glass of water, a notebook, and a microphone to tell the audience a story. Dedicated June 23rd, 2018. Partners: Empire State Center for the Book, Friends of the John Jermain Library, the Sherwin-Williams Company.
