Tree Swenson
Encyclopedia
Tree Swenson is currently the President/Executive Director of the Academy of American Poets
. Throughout her life, she has been deeply involved with poetry
and independent publishing.
Holly Swenson was born in Utah and grew up in Montana. As a student at the University of California at Santa Barbara in the late 1960s, she began using the nickname "Tree" and became involved in the West Coast poetry scene.
Swenson met poet Sam Hamill at UCSB and, in 1972, they formed Copper Canyon Press
, an independent press based in Port Townsend, Washington that is dedicated to publishing poetry. Swenson was the Publisher and Executive Director of Copper Canyon Press for twenty years and helped publish the work of hundreds of poets, including Nobel Prize
winners Pablo Neruda
and Vicente Aleixandre
and Pulitzer Prize
winner, W.S. Merwin
In 1992, Swenson left Copper Canyon Press, moved to Boston and became Director of Programs for the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
Ms. Swenson became Executive Director of the Academy of American Poets in April, 2002 succeeding William Wadsworth
.
Academy of American Poets
The Academy of American Poets is a non-profit organization dedicated to the art of poetry. The Academy was incorporated as a "membership corporation" in New York State in 1934...
. Throughout her life, she has been deeply involved with poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
and independent publishing.
Holly Swenson was born in Utah and grew up in Montana. As a student at the University of California at Santa Barbara in the late 1960s, she began using the nickname "Tree" and became involved in the West Coast poetry scene.
Swenson met poet Sam Hamill at UCSB and, in 1972, they formed Copper Canyon Press
Copper Canyon Press
Copper Canyon Press is an independent, non-profit small press, specializing in the publication of poetry and located in the picturesque town of Port Townsend, Washington. Since 1972, the Press has published poetry exclusively and has established an international reputation for its commitment to...
, an independent press based in Port Townsend, Washington that is dedicated to publishing poetry. Swenson was the Publisher and Executive Director of Copper Canyon Press for twenty years and helped publish the work of hundreds of poets, including Nobel Prize
Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
winners Pablo Neruda
Pablo Neruda
Pablo Neruda was the pen name and, later, legal name of the Chilean poet, diplomat and politician Neftalí Ricardo Reyes Basoalto. He chose his pen name after Czech poet Jan Neruda....
and Vicente Aleixandre
Vicente Aleixandre
Vicente Pío Marcelino Cirilo Aleixandre y Merlo was a Spanish poet who was born in Seville. Aleixandre was a Nobel Prize laureate for Literature in 1977. He was part of the Generation of '27. He died in Madrid in 1984....
and Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
winner, W.S. Merwin
In 1992, Swenson left Copper Canyon Press, moved to Boston and became Director of Programs for the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
Ms. Swenson became Executive Director of the Academy of American Poets in April, 2002 succeeding William Wadsworth
William Wadsworth
William Wadsworth was an officer in the New York State militia, before and during the War of 1812. As a Brigadier General, he commanded the New York militia contingent in the American army at the Battle of Queenston Heights. He waived his right to command over Lieutenant Colonel Winfield Scott, of...
.
External links
- http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/33 Swenson's bio on the Academy of American Poets website
- http://www.coppercanyonpress.org/700_about_us/720_history/history.cfm# Copper Canyon Press Website