American Studies Program Klapper Hall Room 345 / Telephone 718-997-4633 Walt Whitman in Queens

Following is an expanded outline of the major exhibit topics, showing some of the highlights:

• Walt Whitman in Queens --- approximately 1839-1841
  
• 1840 Census - Jamaica, NY / page with information about Walt Whitman
  
• Much later photos of location believed to be that of Jamaica Academy where Whitman once taught - site currently located at the Queens College campus
  
• Whitman's own and others' writings / chronologies related to his experiences in Queens
  
• Teacher
• Newpaper man
• Writer
  
• Political campaigner
• Images of Walt Whitman
  
• From books
  
• Brochure for Queens Borough Public Library / Long Island Division's Newspaper Collection - Image of Whitman on cover
• Portrait of Whitman by his friend Thomas Eakins of Philadelphia, PA - Whitman was living nearby in Camden, NJ (from the PAFA web site) - poster reproduction of this painting was reportedly in Whitman Hall at Queens College
  
• Leaves of Grass
• Two editions
  
• Emory Holloway edition
  
• 150th Anniversary edition - 2005
• Excerpts
• Walt Whitman Birthplace / Commemorative Poster for the 150th
  
• Maps of Queens (Mid-19th century, early 20th century, and current) - indicating current location of Queens College
• Around the Same Time... (early 1840s and following)
  
• NY Public Schools - Common Schools with a Board of Education - 1842
  
• The Free Academy (predecessor of CUNY) - 1847
  
• Note the newsletter header for CUNY Matters accompanying the Fall 2005 Whitman article - reference to the Free Academy 1847
  
• From the Free Academy to CUNY: Illustrating Public Higher Education in New York City, 1847-1997, by Sandra Shoiock Roff, Anthony M. Cucchiara, Barbara J. Dunlap
• Flushing Library Association - 1858
• Page from Lighting the Way: A Centennial History of the Queens Library, by former Queens College instructor Jeff Kroessler
  
• Selected Whitman Commemorative Events in Queens (1939 to present)
• Queens College's "A" Building Renamed Walt Whitman Hall - 1939
  
• Images of Walt Whitman Hall and campus
• Articles in local and student papers
• Naming appropriate according to Dean Margaret Kiely due to Whitman's local connections
  
• Building to house WPA art
• Related announcement of current 2005-2006 Queens Borough Public Library / Central Library exhibit on WPA art
  
• Worlds Fair 1939-1940 / Walt Whitman Statue Dedication
• Leadership Role of former Queens College Professor / English Department Chair and 1927 Pulitzer Prize Winner Emory Holloway in a variety of Whitman commemorations
• March - May 1992 / Democracy's Poet: Walt Whitman - Celebration with events all around NYC,  including at Queens College
  
• Queens College Dedicates Walt Whitman Garden - 2005
• Photos
• CUNY Matters coverage - Fall 2005
  
• Poetry is Alive and Well in Queens Today 
  
• Walt Whitman Image on a "Support Your Local Poet" Button (see image at top right corner of this web page)
  
• At Queens College
• Poetry Fest / Friends of the QC Library - November 17, 2005
• Poetry Reading / College Now  - November 16, 2005
• Professors keeping alive the literary legacy of Walt Whitman and other poets
• QC Professor John Tytell's book Reading New York
  
• At the Queens Borough Public Library
• Open Mic for Poets - Central Library - see entries for some Sundays on Central Library events calendar
  
• Borough of Queens Poet Laureates
  Selection of The Borough's Poet Laureate is coordinated by the Friends of the Queens College Library, in conjunction with the Office of the Borough President. The Poet Laureate serves for a 3-year term. There have been three so far:
• Stephen Stepanchev (1997-2000) - Queens College Professor Emeritus of English
• Hal Silowitz (2001-2004)
• Ishle Yi Park (2005-present)