Writer in Residence - History

In 1923, spurred by the State Federation of Women's Clubs and the State PTA, Governor C. C. Moore appointed Irene Grissom as Idaho's first poet laureate-a life term. A native of Greeley, Colorado, and a graduate of Colorado State Teacher's College, she wrote three novels and an equal number of verse collections with titles such as Verse of the New West (1931). Grissom lived near Idaho Falls until her death in 1946.

The position was vacant until 1949 when Governor C. A. Robins appointed Sudie Stuart Hager, an Oklahoman educated in Oregon who taught school in Kimberley, Idaho. Her best known collection was Earthbound (1947). Hager was the last of the laureates.

Following her death in 1982, Governor John Evans appointed a five-member panel of Idahoans, who were joined by western poets Brewster Ghiselin, Drummond Hadley, and William Stafford, to select a new laureate. Instead, the panel recommended the selection of a writer-in-residence to serve a two-year term; that the position be open to writers of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction; that the writer be required to give readings during his or her term; and that the writer be paid $5,000 annually. In 1983 their recommendations were adopted by an executive order establishing the writer-in-residence panel.

With guidance from the Governor's panel, the program was initiated, developed, and administered by the Sun Valley Center for the Arts and Humanities. Financial support was contributed by the Idaho Commission on the Arts, the Association for the Humanities (now the Idaho Humanities Council), and private gifts. In June 1986, program responsibility transferred to the Idaho Commission on the Arts. The award was for $10,000 over two years and required twelve readings. In 1998, the Commission extended the term to three years and because of budget cutbacks reduced the award to $8,000.

Selection of the writer is made from Idaho applicants whose anonymous writing samples are judged by a panel of three out-of-state writers. Submissions are judged 60% for artistic excellence, 20% for contributions to the field, and 20% for oral presentation. The panel makes recommendations to the Commission and the Governor approves the choice.

Former writers-in-residence include:
Tony Doerr, Boise (current)
Kim Barnes, Lewiston (2003)
Jim Irons, Twin Falls (2001)
Bill Johnson, Lewiston (1999)
Lance Olsen, Moscow (1996)
Clay Morgan, McCall (1994)
Daryl Jones, Boise (1992)
Neidy Messer, Boise (1990)
Eberle Umbach, McCall (1988)
Robert Wrigley, Lewiston (1986)
Ron McFarland, Moscow (1984)

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