Walt Whitman Weekend in Rhode Island
April 8th and 9th
2006

On April 8th  2006, URI Special Collections will introduce Ed Folsom, Carver Scholar from the University of Iowa, co-editor of the online, Walt Whitman Archive,  and editor of the Whitman Review, as part of New Leaves Presents lecture series. His lecture, entitled "Walt Whitman, the Maker of Books",  is a collaborative effort of  the Rhode Island bibliophilic community including the John Russell Bartlett Society, the Providence Athenaeum, Rhode Island Center for the Book, and the American Printing History Association , New England Chapter.  This event  is partially funded by grants from The Rhode Island Council for the Humanities and The University of Rhode Island Council for the Humanities and is a partnering event of the Rhode Island Center for the Book.

The talk will be held in The Galanti Lounge, University of Rhode Island Library, from 10- 12, with reception and tours of the Special Collections New Leaves Press following until 2 p.m.

In 2005, New Leaves sponsored a poetry contest commemorating the 150th anniversary of the first publication of Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman in April 1855.  The winning poem was submitted by graduating senior, Bonnie Taylor.  Her poem, "The Loud Ocean" was printed as a broadside and a copy was presented to her at a reception held in June 2005. The contest, open to all University of Rhode Island students, faculty and staff, is being held again this year. The selection will be announced to coincide with Prof. Folsom's talk on the 8th.  

This weekend is a truly collaborative effort and will culminate with Whitmania! at the Providence Athenaeum:  A marathon reading of the 1855 edition of  Leaves of Grass plus one will be held on Sunday, April 9th from 12- 6 p. m. 

Both events are free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. For information on special needs or directions , for the talk, contact srw@uri.edu or 401.874.4632.  Information on Whitmania! can be provided by contacting Christina Bevilacqua at cbevilacqua@providenceathenaeum.org  or 401.421.6970, x28.

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