The Center for the Book has co-published a major new reference work about the "Rivers of America" book series.
The Rivers of America: A Descriptive Bibliography by Carol Fitzgerald is a comprehensive description of the 65-title series (1937-1974). The two-volume work is published by Oak Knoll Press and the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress.
In this authoritative and illustrated 1,020-page reference work, collector and bibliographer Carol Fitzgerald presents complete bibliographical descriptions of the nearly 400 printings of the 65 titles in the series and biographies of all of its 60 authors, 53 illustrators and eight editors.
"Carol Fitzgerald helped the Center for the Book and the American Folklife Center organize our 1997 celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Rivers of America series, and it's a pleasure to assist in the publication of this significant historical work," said Center for the Book Director John Y. Cole. "Carol's admirable achievement accurately and fully captures the unique nature of this remarkable series of books—which today is known for its excellent writers and illustrators and its intense and relatively early concern for the importance of regional and local history."
Conceived by Canadian-born poet, author and historian Constance Lindsay Skinner (1877-1939), the "Rivers of America" series began with Kennebec: Cradle of Americans (1937) by Robert P. Tristam Coffin and concluded with The American: River of El Dorado (1974) by Margaret Sanborn, who participated in the Center for the Book's 1997 conference. The series was published by Farrar & Rinehart and its corporate successors: Rinehart & Co. (1946-1960) and Holt, Rinehart and Winston (1960-1974).
The Library of Congress celebration, held on April 9-10, 1997, brought together at the Library 11 "Rivers of America" authors, illustrators and editors (see Information Bulletin, June 9, 1997). Several other authors and illustrators sent contributions or greetings, but were unable to attend.
In his preface to the Oak Knoll volumes, Mr. Cole recalled that "listening to the stories of the authors and illustrators of the Rivers books at the 1997 meeting was inspiring." Moreover, the gathering itself "was a major accomplishment for all concerned, including the participants, considering that this unique series had been launched 60 years earlier."
The meeting was supported in part through a contribution to the Center for the Book from Henry Holt and Co. Inc., made "in memory of the major role played by Henry Holt in the genesis of the original series."
The Rivers of America: A Descriptive Bibliography is available for $125 from Oak Knoll Press, 310 Delaware St., New Castle, DE 19720; telephone (302) 328-7232; toll-free (800) 996-2556; fax (302) 328-7274. It can be ordered online at http://www.oakknoll.com/detail.php?d_booknr=61955&d_currency=.
2001 "River of Words" Ceremony Held at the Library
The sixth annual awards ceremony for the winners and finalists of the "River of Words" environmental poetry and art contest took place in the Library's Mumford Room on April 28. Robert Hass, U.S. Poet Laureate 1995-97, moderated the program, encouraging the winning young artists to talk about their work and the young poets to read their poems.
The National Poetry Grand Prizes were awarded to: Travis Baker, age 7, Kennesaw, Ga.; Elsinore Smidth, age 11, Mill Valley, Calif.; Amanda Miller-Hudson, age 15, Vicksburg, Miss.; and Zachary England, age 17, Salt Lake City, Utah. Winners of the National Art Grand Prizes were: Shannon O'Keefe, age 7, Kennesaw, Ga.; Jamie Lyn Pase, age 9, Baltimore, Md.; Philip Cortese, age 14, Lafayette, La.; and Crystal Love, age 17, Decatur, Ga. The International Grand Prize (Art) went to Valeriy Polushkin, age 12, Zhtyomyr, Ukraine. Other awardees were Christian Jordan, age 8, Mill Valley, Calif. (Shasta Bioregion Prize); Alexandra Petri, age 12, Washington, D.C. (Anacostia Watershed Prize); and Peter Gavin, Kentfield, Calif. (Teacher of the Year).
On May 1 at the Library, River of Words, the Anacostia Watershed Society and the Center for the Book sponsored a hands-on environmental and arts education workshop for educators.
Founded in 1995, River of Words is an international poetry and art program created to promote literacy and environmental stewardship. The environmental poetry and art contest, cosponsored by River of Words and the Center for the Book, grows in popularity each year. Seven state centers for the book plus the District of Columbia Center for the Book are participating at the state level: Arizona, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming. The deadline for each year's contest is Feb. 15. For more information, contact River of Words, P.O. Box 4000-J, Berkeley, CA 94704, phone: (510) 548-POEM, email: info@riverof-words.org; or Web site: www.riverofwords.org.