Poets Laureate of Alabama Gallery

The honorary position of Poet Laureate of Alabama was created by the state legislature with Act No. 92 of 1931. Since then 12 poets have held the honor, nominated by the Alabama Writers’ Conclave and commissioned by the governor. Poets laureate perform poetry readings and lectures across the state promoting poetry and educating young Alabamians on the merits of the artform.

Sue B. Walker

Sue B. Walker

Helen Norris

Helen Norris

Helen Blackshear

Helen Blackshear

Ralph Hammond

Ralph Hammond

Samuel Peck

Samuel Peck

Jennifer Horne

Jennifer Horne

Andrew Glaze

Andrew Glaze

Carl Morton

Carl Morton

Sue B. Walker

Sue Brannan Walker (ca. 1940- ) receives a pin from Gov. Bob Riley in 2003. Walker, a creative writing professor at the University of South Alabama, was the tenth Poet Laureate of Alabama (2003-07) and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for her poetry collection Blood Will Bear Your Name.

Courtesy of the Alabama Writers Conclave Archives
Sue B. Walker

Helen Norris

Montgomery native Helen Norris (1916-2013) was the ninth Poet Laureate of Alabama (1999-2003). She was an English professor at Huntingdon College for 13 years before moving to writing full time. Norris's novels, short stories, and poetry collections have won numerous awards, and one story, "The Christmas Wife," was adapted for television by HBO.

Courtesy of the Alabama Writers Conclave Archives
Helen Norris

Helen Blackshear

Tuscaloosa native Helen Friedman Blackshear (1911-2003) was the eighth Poet Laureate of Alabama (1995-99). She published several collections of poetry and nonfiction and taught English in Montgomery for 35 years.

Courtesy of the Alabama Writers Conclave Archives
Helen Blackshear

Hammond, Ralph

Ralph Hammond (1916-2010) was the seventh Poet Laureate of Alabama (1992-95), was president of the Alabama State Poetry Society, and served as chief of staff for Gov. James E. Folsom Sr. A native of Arab, Marshall County, he served two terms as the town's mayor.

Courtesy of the Birmingham News
Hammond, Ralph

Samuel Peck

Tuscaloosa native Samuel Minturn Peck (1854-1938) was the first Poet Laureate of Alabama, assuming the office in 1930 and receiving official confirmation in 1931. He served until his death in 1938 and published a number of poetry collections and short stories.

Appears In

Peck, Samuel

Peck, Samuel

Elisha Wolsey Peck

Elisha Wolsey Peck

Courtesy of the Birmingham Public Library Archives
Samuel Peck

Jennifer Horne

Poet and educator Jennifer Horne was named Alabama's twelfth Poet Laureate in 2017.

Appears In

Poets Laureate of Alabama

Poets Laureate of Alabama

Courtesy of Jennifer Horne
Jennifer Horne

Andrew Glaze

Andrew Glaze (1920-2016) was Alabama 's 11th Poet Laureate, beginning his tenure in 2013. He published eight books of poetry and wrote both long-form and short-form poetry that focused on the imagination and the human condition.

Appears In

Glaze, Andrew

Glaze, Andrew

Courtesy of Weld for Birmingham; photograph by Steven Atha
Andrew Glaze

Carl Morton

Leeds native Carl P. Morton (1920-1994) stands behind Alabama Gov. George Wallace as the governor signs the proclamation appointing Morton as the fifth Poet Laureate of Alabama in this 1986 photograph.

Courtesy of the Alabama Writers Conclave Archives
Carl Morton
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