Rose O'Neill Literary House
Encyclopedia
The Rose O'Neill Literary House is one of three "Centers of Excellence" at Washington College
in Chestertown, Maryland
. With Director Mark Nowak and Assistant Director Kathryn Bursick, the house helps brainstorm and coordinate literature-centered programming as well as providing a place for students and student groups to gather.
In the past the house has been host to such notable writers as Allen Ginsburg, Toni Morrison
, John Barth
, Daniel Handler
, Neil Gaiman
, Patricia Smith and Isaac Asimov
.
A series of directors followed including English Professor Robert Mooney, who acted as director from 1997 to 2005. Novelist Benjamin Anastas then served as interim director during the 2005-2006 academic year. From 2006 to 2009 novelist Joshua Wolf Shenk took the position before Mark Nowak, current director, was installed.
A large part of this refurbishment was the cataloging and framing of posters, which provided an opportunity for the house community to vote on which posters they would like to see re-hung.
In 2008 writer/illustrator couple Matthew Swanson and Robbi Behr of Idiot's Books designed and installed the foyer mural "Six Degree of Sir Frances Bacon," outlining the comical relationships between literary figures form across cultures and time periods. The mural is a popular piece to observed by house visitors.
The Rose O'Neill House also operates in conjunction with the Sophie Kerr Committee, whose endowment brings a variety of popular authors to Washington College. Sophie Kerr weekend is an event each spring in which perspective students are invited to stay with current students in order to attend workshops and presentations from visiting authors. In the past Sophie Kerr weekend has hosted Jane Smiley
, Ted Kooser
, and Daniel Handler.
Other programs include participation in the Chestertown Book Festival each fall, and summer "Spoken Word Saturdays" in conjunction with the Spoken Word Assembly held in neighboring Kent County High Schools.
This years visitors have also included poets Claudia Rankine
and Patricia Smith and novelists Dan Chaon
, Debra Spark
, Mary Gordon
, Jeff Talarigo and James McBride
, as well as a variety of webcomic artists, humorists, historians, musicians, editors, and political reporters.
In the past students have been invited to complete both beginner and advanced workshops on setting type and operating presses. From the print shop comes Washington College's "Print Club" as well as the job titles of "Printer's Devil" and "Print Shop Apprentice."
Often the shop will create limited edition broadsides for guest authors as well as limited edition books including John Barth's 1992 speech Browsing, Ron Carlson's Beanball and Idiots' Books "Jericho." Select copies are available for purchase via the Print Shop website.
Part of the Print Shop also consists of a bookbinding area where students can learn the art of hand-binding books and journals.
Students are also able to voice their opinion about speakers and events by hanging the posters upside-down in order to show disapproval. In light of this, some authors have taken to signing the posters upside-down, while others, like playwright Israel Horovitz
, prefer to sign notes such as "if you hang this poster upside-down you will get a disease."- just in case.
English department, every year in the fall freshman are invited to share their work with the college community during the annual Freshman Reading. Any prose or poetry is accepted, and admission is free.
The same tradition happens in the spring for graduating seniors who would like the opportunity to show their growth. Both readings together paint a picture of the students' growth as writers during their time at the college.
The Review itself was at one time printed by the O'Neill Literary House Press, and still remains linked through the holiday party tradition.
Writers' Union has strong historic ties to the Literary House, going back to the original Richmond House which was started in part to house the events of the Writers' Union. Today the Union operates as a separate entity, but still hosts regular readings in the house as well as the annual Halloween Party and Blackhearts Ball.
Langston Hughes, a male cat found at the Washington College Boat House, has been adopted as Edith's successor.
Washington College
Washington College is a private, independent liberal arts college located on a campus in Chestertown, Maryland, on the Eastern Shore. Maryland granted Washington College its charter in 1782...
in Chestertown, Maryland
Chestertown, Maryland
Chestertown is a town in Kent County, Maryland, United States. The population was 4,746 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Kent County. The ZIP code is 21620 and the area codes are 410 and 443...
. With Director Mark Nowak and Assistant Director Kathryn Bursick, the house helps brainstorm and coordinate literature-centered programming as well as providing a place for students and student groups to gather.
In the past the house has been host to such notable writers as Allen Ginsburg, Toni Morrison
Toni Morrison
Toni Morrison is a Nobel Prize and Pulitzer Prize-winning American novelist, editor, and professor. Her novels are known for their epic themes, vivid dialogue, and richly detailed characters. Among her best known novels are The Bluest Eye, Song of Solomon and Beloved...
, John Barth
John Barth
John Simmons Barth is an American novelist and short-story writer, known for the postmodernist and metafictive quality of his work.-Life:...
, Daniel Handler
Daniel Handler
Daniel Handler is an American author, screenwriter and accordionist. He is best known for his work under the pen name Lemony Snicket.-Personal life:...
, Neil Gaiman
Neil Gaiman
Neil Richard Gaiman born 10 November 1960)is an English author of short fiction, novels, comic books, graphic novels, audio theatre and films. His notable works include the comic book series The Sandman and novels Stardust, American Gods, Coraline, and The Graveyard Book...
, Patricia Smith and Isaac Asimov
Isaac Asimov
Isaac Asimov was an American author and professor of biochemistry at Boston University, best known for his works of science fiction and for his popular science books. Asimov was one of the most prolific writers of all time, having written or edited more than 500 books and an estimated 90,000...
.
History
The Rose O'Neill House started as the Richmond House by Professor Robert Day in 1970, shortly after his arrival at the college. It remained in its original structure until 1982, when the house was finally demolished. In 1985 a more structurally sound establishment, the Bell House was acquired in part thanks to Mrs. Betty Brown Casey '47 and her husband Eugene B. Casey. It was then renamed in honor of Eugene Casey's mother Rose O'Neill Casey. It continued to be directed by Professor Day until his retirement from the house in 1997.A series of directors followed including English Professor Robert Mooney, who acted as director from 1997 to 2005. Novelist Benjamin Anastas then served as interim director during the 2005-2006 academic year. From 2006 to 2009 novelist Joshua Wolf Shenk took the position before Mark Nowak, current director, was installed.
Renovations
In 2007 the Lit House underwent its first phase of major renovations including a new kitchen, library bookshelves, a wider sliding door, and a new ceiling over the Mary Wood reading room. New couches, chairs and carpets were also purchased. Other accents include a chalkboard wall in the kitchen, sticky cork-board in the foyer, and a lamp where students and guests can write notes and hang them for the rest of the community to see.A large part of this refurbishment was the cataloging and framing of posters, which provided an opportunity for the house community to vote on which posters they would like to see re-hung.
In 2008 writer/illustrator couple Matthew Swanson and Robbi Behr of Idiot's Books designed and installed the foyer mural "Six Degree of Sir Frances Bacon," outlining the comical relationships between literary figures form across cultures and time periods. The mural is a popular piece to observed by house visitors.
Programming
The House hosts a number of lectures and sit-down "tea & talks" each year with visiting authors. In addition to these talks, there are also a number of fellowships and residencies sponsored by the House including:- PEN World Voices Fellow The house also annually hosts a PEN World Voices Fellow in conjunction with the PEN American CenterPEN American CenterPEN American Center , founded in 1922 and based in New York City, works to advance literature, to defend free expression, and to foster international literary fellowship. The Center has a membership of 3,300 writers, editors, and translators...
. These fellows spend up to a week in residence at the House in order to give talks and interact informally with student writers. Past Fellows have included Somoli novelist Nuruddin FarahNuruddin FarahNuruddin Farah is a prominent Somali novelist.-Early years:Born in Baidoa, Somalia, Farah is the son of a merchant father and a poet mother. As a child, he attended school at Kallafo in the Ogaden, and studied English, Arabic, and Amharic. In 1963, three years after Somalia's independence, Farah...
in 2008, French writer and illustrator Emmanuel Guibert in 2009, and Spanish-language author Rodrigo FresanRodrigo FresánRodrigo Fresán is a fiction writer and journalist.He has published Historia argentina, Vidas de santos, Trabajos manuales, Esperanto, La velocidad de las cosas, Mantra and Jardines de Kensington and El fondo del cielo. They have been translated into many languages.Mantra, a portrait of Mexico City...
in 2010.
- Mary Wood Fellow The House awards the Mary Wood Fellowship bi-annually to one young female author, giving them an extended stay on the Washington College campus and the chance to connect in class and one-on-one fashion with young student writers. In the past the programs has awarded authors Hannah TintiHannah TintiHannah Tinti is an American writer and the editor of One Story magazine.Her first novel, The Good Thief, published in 2008, received the American Library Association's Alex Award and the John Sargent Sr. First Novel Prize. She also published a short story collection, Animal Crackers, which was...
and Irina ReynIrina ReynIrina Reyn is an American novelist. Her novel, What Happened to Anna K., was selected as the tenth best fiction book of 2008 by Jennifer Reese of Entertainment Weekly, and won the 2009 Goldberg Prize for Jewish Fiction by emerging writers....
.
- Cave Canem Residency Starting in 2011 the House will play host to one Cave Canem fellow for a month-long residency in July.
The Rose O'Neill House also operates in conjunction with the Sophie Kerr Committee, whose endowment brings a variety of popular authors to Washington College. Sophie Kerr weekend is an event each spring in which perspective students are invited to stay with current students in order to attend workshops and presentations from visiting authors. In the past Sophie Kerr weekend has hosted Jane Smiley
Jane Smiley
Jane Smiley is a Pulitzer Prize-winning American novelist.-Biography:Born in Los Angeles, California, Smiley grew up in Webster Groves, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis, and graduated from John Burroughs School. She obtained an A.B. at Vassar College, then earned an M.F.A. and Ph.D. from the...
, Ted Kooser
Ted Kooser
Ted Kooser is an American poet. He served as Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress from 2004 to 2006.-Early Life:...
, and Daniel Handler.
Other programs include participation in the Chestertown Book Festival each fall, and summer "Spoken Word Saturdays" in conjunction with the Spoken Word Assembly held in neighboring Kent County High Schools.
This years visitors have also included poets Claudia Rankine
Claudia Rankine
Claudia Rankine is an American poet and playwright born in 1963 and raised in Kingston, Jamaica and New York City. She has taught at Case Western Reserve University, Barnard College, University of Georgia, and in the writing program at the University of Houston. As of 2011, Rankine is the Henry G...
and Patricia Smith and novelists Dan Chaon
Dan Chaon
Dan Chaon is an American writer.His first novel was You Remind Me of Me . His short-story collections Fitting Ends and Among the Missing were both well-received; the latter was a finalist for a National Book Award and was also named one of the year's ten best books by the American Library...
, Debra Spark
Debra Spark
Debra Spark is an American short story writer, essayist, and editor. She teaches at Colby College and at Warren Wilson College.-Biography:Debra Spark was born in Boston, Massachusets in 1962...
, Mary Gordon
Mary Gordon
Mary Catherine Gordon is an American writer and is the McIntosh Professor of English at Barnard College. She is best known for her novels, memoirs and literary criticism...
, Jeff Talarigo and James McBride
James McBride
James McBride may refer to:*James McBride , early Liverpool F.C. player*James McBride , American settler & amateur scientist*James McBride , American politician and doctor in Oregon...
, as well as a variety of webcomic artists, humorists, historians, musicians, editors, and political reporters.
Print Shop
In 1987 the house opened its Letterpress Room, run by Printmaster Michael Kaylor. In 1992 it was reinstated as the Literary House Press and in 2003 received added support from the newly instated Jacoby Endowment. Today the shop uses a Vandercook 4, in addition to one motorized and two non-motorized Chandler and Price platen presses, and over 100 cases of type.In the past students have been invited to complete both beginner and advanced workshops on setting type and operating presses. From the print shop comes Washington College's "Print Club" as well as the job titles of "Printer's Devil" and "Print Shop Apprentice."
Often the shop will create limited edition broadsides for guest authors as well as limited edition books including John Barth's 1992 speech Browsing, Ron Carlson's Beanball and Idiots' Books "Jericho." Select copies are available for purchase via the Print Shop website.
Part of the Print Shop also consists of a bookbinding area where students can learn the art of hand-binding books and journals.
Fellowship Rooms
The House also offers a unique opportunity to six juniors or seniors each year, allowing them to reside in "Fellowship Rooms" located on the third floor of the house. Each room is given to two students as a quiet, personal space for them to work on portfolios or theses. In return each Fellow much propose a project in order to give back to the House Community.Posters
One of the most important traditions of the house is its posters. Lining the walls are various posters, covering everything from guest authors to student events. In 2007 and 2008 under the direction of then new director Joshua Wolf Shenk, the posters were re-framed, many of them professionally, and digitally cataloged. As of the 2009-2010 school year poester have been re-hung on all three floors of the House.Students are also able to voice their opinion about speakers and events by hanging the posters upside-down in order to show disapproval. In light of this, some authors have taken to signing the posters upside-down, while others, like playwright Israel Horovitz
Israel Horovitz
Israel Horovitz is an American playwright and screenwriter.-Theatre career:An American dramatist, Horovitz has written more than 70 produced plays, many of which have been translated and performed in more than 30 languages worldwide . The 70/70 Horovitz Project was created by NYC Barefoot Theatre...
, prefer to sign notes such as "if you hang this poster upside-down you will get a disease."- just in case.
Freshman and Senior Readings
In conjunction with the Washington CollegeWashington College
Washington College is a private, independent liberal arts college located on a campus in Chestertown, Maryland, on the Eastern Shore. Maryland granted Washington College its charter in 1782...
English department, every year in the fall freshman are invited to share their work with the college community during the annual Freshman Reading. Any prose or poetry is accepted, and admission is free.
The same tradition happens in the spring for graduating seniors who would like the opportunity to show their growth. Both readings together paint a picture of the students' growth as writers during their time at the college.
Holiday Party
The Lit House also hosts the English Department holiday party, at which time the college's preeminent academic and literary publication, the Washington College Review, is unveiled. It is a semi-formal event where students and professors can relax before the end of the semester.The Review itself was at one time printed by the O'Neill Literary House Press, and still remains linked through the holiday party tradition.
Writers' Union
The Washington CollegeWashington College
Washington College is a private, independent liberal arts college located on a campus in Chestertown, Maryland, on the Eastern Shore. Maryland granted Washington College its charter in 1782...
Writers' Union has strong historic ties to the Literary House, going back to the original Richmond House which was started in part to house the events of the Writers' Union. Today the Union operates as a separate entity, but still hosts regular readings in the house as well as the annual Halloween Party and Blackhearts Ball.
Writers' Theatre
In the spring of 1998, Writers' Theatre, a student group whose members write and perform original productions, used the Literary House as the staging ground for a murder mystery based on the movie Clue. This use of the Literary House has become an annual Writers' Theatre tradition.Edith Wharton
One of the most endearing elements of the Rose O'Neill House was Edith Wharton, cat-in-residence. Originally a gift to the students of the house after the death of a fellow classmate, Edith was a staple of the house, seen lounging at all hours of the day and often asking to be let in or out. She died at the age of 17 in May 2010 and was buried in the garden.Langston Hughes, a male cat found at the Washington College Boat House, has been adopted as Edith's successor.