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

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

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

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

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

References

1. "Poet Laureate". State of South Carolina. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
2. "South Carolina". U.S. State Poets Laureate. Library of Congress. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
3. 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.