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POET LAUREATE
In 1947 the General Assembly passed a resolution authorizing an annual appointment by the Governor of a Poet Laureate for the State of Delaware. No specific duties were assigned to the position at that time.¹ An act to create the honorary office of Poet Laureate for the State of Delaware was passed by the General Assembly in 1964. This act authorized the Governor to appoint an individual to serve a two-year term and perform duties as requested by the Governor.² This act was amended in 1970. The new act still authorized the Governor to appoint the Poet Laureate for a two year term, but the duties now included those requested by the Governor and Secretary of State. The newly created Department of State became responsible for providing any administrative and clerical services and furnishing office space requested by the Poet Laureate.³ The Poet Laureate also serves as a member ex-officio on the Council on Archives and Cultural Affairs which was established within the Department of State in 1970.⁴

N.B. For additional information on the earlier Poets Laureate, consult Profiles on Delaware’s Poet Laureate 1947-1965, compiled by Percival Roberts, III.

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POET LAUREATE

¹ 46 D.L., ch. 347.

² 54 D.L., ch. 267.

³ 57 D.L., ch. 608.

⁴ 57 D.L., ch. 570.
mt; October 31, 1989