Hindsight: Panel Discussion about Poetry Series

If you would like to know the story behind the Friends of the Scranton Public Library Poetry Series collection, you may be interested in this recent video. David Elliott, Brian Quinn, Carol Gargan, and Jerry Grealish, who were all instrumental in establishing and carrying out the original series, talk to moderator Scott Thomas about how the series originated and its signficance and share stories about the poets.

Poetry Reading by Robert Bly

One of the more unusual performances in the Friends of the Scranton Public Library Poetry Series was by Robert Bly on November 10, 1985. Not content to merely read his work, Bly incorporated his own lute playing and a classical Indian dance performance by Neena Gulati. At around 6:28 Bly asks "David" for a Kleenex. This would be David Elliott, Professor of English at Keystone College and one of the driving forces behind the series. Mr. Bly, wanting to be clean- shaven for his reading, had apparently cut himself and was not fully healed by the time he reached the podium. Please note that Mr. Bly's performance, due to its length, is split into Part One and Part Two.

Poetry Reading by Gary Snyder

This reading by Pulitzer Prize winner Gary Snyder from October 17, 1978 is the earliest in the Friends of the Scranton Public Library Poetry Series. Snyder was actually the fourth reader in the series, but was the first poet whose performance was filmed. The reading was held in the Everhart Museum. You can see paintings in the background. Note that, during David Elliott's introduction, he mentions the Scranton Area Foundation as a funder for the series. They also, 34 years later, funded this restoration project. We were not aware of this when we approached them for funding. Why were we not aware? Because we were unable to play the film reels. Thanks to the Scranton Area Foundation, we now have access to these historic readings. Snyder's performance mixes his interest in Zen Buddhism and a concern for the environment with irreverent humor. One can assume that the "Batman Song" at 20:40 is non-canonical. Here is a direct link to the reading.

New LVDA Collection: Friends of the Scranton Public Library Poetry Series

From 1978 through the early 2000’s, the Friends of the Scranton Public Library Poetry Series brought nationally renowned poets to the Scranton area to read their work. Poets included such literary giants as Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Gary Snyder, Robert Bly, Scranton native W.S. Merwin, and nearly 50 others. Most of these readings were filmed. Thanks to a grant from the Scranton Area Foundation, the library has restored the original films. They are now available for checkout on DVD at the Albright Library and are being streamed from the Lackawanna Valley Digital Archives.

RT. Rev. Michael J. Hoban

RT. Rev. Michael J. Hoban was consecrated Bishop of the Diocese of Scranton in 1896.  He also served on the Scranton Public Library Board of Directors in the early 1900's.  The picture above was believed to have been taken when he served on the board for the library.

Rt. Rev. Hoban was born on June 6, 1853 in New Jersey, but grew up in Hawley Pennsylvania.  Educated at home and having attended many collages and seminary's including the American College in Rome.  He was ordained a priest on May 22, 1885 and became a pastor at St. John's Church in Troy. During his time he served on many institutions including president of St. Patrick's Orphan Asylum, director of the State Hospital, and West Mountain Sanatorium. 

*The information obtained for this article was gathered from Frederick Hitchcock's History of Scranton.*

Printers Honor Ben Franklin in 1906

In December of 1906 it seems that anyone who was involved with printing in the City of Scranton participated in a banquet to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Benjamin Franklin's birth. As one might expect, the accompanying program, available in the from Lace Makers to Coal Miners collection, is not your run-of-the-mill two page affair. Instead, it is an elaborate, beautifully designed, and expertly printed monograph. The dinner was held at Elk's Hall, and there were plenty of toasts from dignitaries. The menu page contains a quote from Franklin: "Better to go to bed supperless than rise in debt." Given the menu of oyster cocktail, salmon patties, Niersteiner wine, tenderloin of beef, roast turkey stuffed, brick ice cream, Polish nectar, and cigars, the attendees certainly did not go to bed supperless. One can assume from the quote that the bill was satisifed by the end of the night.

First Library Patrons

From what we can tell, this photograph, which is part of the From Lace Makers to Coal Miners collection, dates from 1893 when the Albright Memorial Library was first opened to the public. On the back of the photo are the names Stanley Sassiewicz and Shenko Patnovich. We cannot confirm that these were indeed the first patrons and if the names are even correct, but it is interesting to note that the names are Eastern European in nature. These ethnic groups were not widely represented in the power struture of Scranton at the time, and the inclusion of the names, whether staged or genuine, demonstrate how the library was intended to serve everyone regardless of class and ethnicity.