Exhibits in Special Collections

Celebrating Wisconsin Poetry: 75 Years of the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets

June 1, 2025 – July 31, 2025

UW-Madison Memorial Library Lobby, 728 State Street, Madison, WI 53706

Poetry in Wisconsin is as early as statehood. Even before 1848, the reading and writing of verse was deemed important and encouraged. Poetry was used to promote emigration to Wisconsin as well as tourism, and was written in languages reflecting the desire of immigrants to keep in touch with their mother tongues. And by 1937, a partial list of Wisconsin poets compiled for the Literature Department of The Woman’s Club of Madison had noted 65 nineteenth and early twentieth century poets in the state.

This exhibit focuses on the people, history, and publications of the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets, the oldest continuous organization in the state devoted to poetry. The exhibit also touches on other poetic voices before and during WFOP’s existence. Featured are materials from WFOP, the Wisconsin Historical Society, UW-Madison Libraries and Archives, and private collections. The exhibit celebrates the 75th anniversary of WFOP whose conference takes place in Madison, June 12-15, 2025. For more information, visit the WFOP conference website.

The exhibit, located just inside the Memorial Library main entrance, is free and open to the public. For library hours, see the Memorial Library website. Created by members of WFOP and the Department of Special Collections at UW-Madison.

Please click here to view a checklist of items on display.