I celebrate myself, and sing myself
Penn Today
March 16, 2019
Two centuries after his birth, Walt Whitman’s poetry still resonates with audiences today. The Penn Libraries is leading a region-wide, yearlong celebration of Whitman at 200.
Whitman is very much alive on Penn’s campus, where his works are featured in literary courses, symposia, and projects, including many at the Kelly Writers House. The Libraries has an extensive collection of original correspondence and printed works by and about Whitman, including fragments of handwritten drafts of his poetry and prose that are used by professors and students.
The “Whitman at 200: Art and Democracy” celebration is a region-wide series of exhibitions and cultural events meant to reassess Whitman and examine his impact on art and society. The large-scale project includes more than 50 partnerships and dozens of exhibitions, performances, and events—even a birthday cake-baking contest. Support includes a grant from The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage to the Libraries for several artistic commissions.
The Penn Libraries holds an extensive collection of original and rare manuscripts by Whitman, including handwritten letters and drafts of poems.
Read the full article here.