Colleen J. McElroy (October 31, 1935, in St. Louis, Missouri – December 12, 2023)[1] was an American poet, short story writer, editor, memoirist.[2][3]

Colleen J. McElroy
BornSt. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
DiedDecember 12, 2023(2023-12-12) (aged 88)
Seattle, Washington, U.S.
LanguageEnglish
NationalityAmerican
Alma materKansas State University
Notable worksSidewalk Games
Notable awardsAmerican Book Award

Life

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She graduated from Kansas State University (1958) and from the University of Washington with a Ph.D. (1973).[1][4] She was a Professor Emeritus at the University of Washington, where she was the first African-American woman to serve as a full-time faculty member. From 1995 to 2006, she edited The Seattle Review, first in the role of Poetry Editor, then as Editor-in-Chief.[5][6] She lived in Seattle, Washington,[7] until her death in December 2023.[8]

Awards

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Works

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Poetry

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  • Sidewalk Games'[9]
  • Webs and Weeds[10]
  • Out Here Even Crows Commit Suicide[11]
  • Lothar's Wife[12]
  • Sleeping with the moon: poems[13]
  • Travelling music[14]
  • Bone Flames: Poems[15]
  • Music from home: selected poems[16]

Memoirs

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  • A Long Way from St. Louie[17]
  • Over the Lip of the World: Among the Storytellers of Madagascar[18]

Short stories

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  • Driving under the cardboard pines and other stories[19]
  • Jesus and Fat Tuesday: and other short stories[20]

Anthologies

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  • Best American Poetry 2001[21]
  • Oxford Anthology of African American Literature[22]
  • While Poets Are Watching[23]
  • Caution: This Woman Brakes for Memories [24]
  • Paris Subway Tango[25]
  • Crossing the Rubicon at Seventy[26]
  • Furlough[27]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Who's Who Among African Americans". Biography in Context. Gale. 2011. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
  2. ^ Page, Yolanda Williams (2007). Encyclopedia of African American Women Writers, Yolanda Williams Page. Abc-Clio. ISBN 9780313334290. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
  3. ^ "Readings and Lectures: Colleen McElroy | English | University of Portland". College.up.edu. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
  4. ^ "University Press of New England | Redirect Page". Upne.com. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
  5. ^ "Colleen J. McElroy". The Poetry Foundation. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  6. ^ "History & Mission". The Seattle Review. University of Washington. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  7. ^ "Colleen J. McElroy | Directory of Writers | Poets & Writers". Pw.org. June 9, 2008. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
  8. ^ Yoon-Hendricks, Alexandra (January 1, 2024). "Colleen McElroy, renowned poet and UW's first full-time Black female faculty member, dies". The Seattle Times. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  9. ^ Trueblood, Valerie. "Sidewalk Games by Colleen J. McElroy". The Poetry Foundation. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
  10. ^ Trueblood, Valerie. "Webs and Weeds by Colleen J. McElroy". The Poetry Foundation. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
  11. ^ Trueblood, Valerie. "Out Here Even Crows Commit Suicide by Colleen J. McElroy". The Poetry Foundation. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
  12. ^ Trueblood, Valerie. "Lothar's Wife by Colleen J. McElroy". The Poetry Foundation. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
  13. ^ Sleeping with the moon: poems. University of Illinois Press. 2007. ISBN 978-0-252-07476-9.
  14. ^ Travelling music. Story Line Press. 1998. ISBN 978-1-885266-65-1.
  15. ^ Bone Flames: Poems. University Press of New England. 1987. ISBN 978-0-8195-5172-6.
  16. ^ Music from home: selected poems. Southern Illinois University Press. 1976. ISBN 978-0-8093-0774-6.
  17. ^ A Long Way from St. Louie. Coffee House Press. 1997. ISBN 978-1-56689-059-5. (travel memoirs)
  18. ^ Over the Lip of the World: Among the Storytellers of Madagascar. University of Washington Press. 2001. ISBN 978-0-295-98115-4. (field notes and translations of Malagasy poems and stories).
  19. ^ Driving under the cardboard pines and other stories. Creative Arts Book Co. 1990. ISBN 978-0-88739-073-9.
  20. ^ Jesus and Fat Tuesday: and other short stories. Creative Arts Book Co. 1987. ISBN 978-0-88739-023-4.
  21. ^ Robert Hass; David Lehman, eds. (August 21, 2001). Best American Poetry 2001. Scribner. ISBN 978-0-7432-0384-5.
  22. ^ Arnold Rampersad, Hilary Herbold, ed. (October 1, 2005). Oxford Anthology of African American Literature. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-512563-4.
  23. ^ "While Poets Are Watching". Ploughshares. Spring 1981.
  24. ^ "Caution: This Woman Brakes for Memories". Ploughshares. Spring 1993.
  25. ^ "Paris Subway Tango". Ploughshares. Spring 1993.
  26. ^ "Crossing the Rubicon at Seventy". Ploughshares. Winter 2007–08.
  27. ^ "Furlough". Ploughshares. Winter 2007–08.
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