The Poetry Foundation

61 West Superior Street, Chicago

Harriet Monroe started a humble poetry magazine in 1912, and a century later her work has grown into one of our country’s finest cultural institutions. Monroe’s first offices were at 543 Cass Street (now N. Wabash Ave.) in Chicago, and there she attracted a distinguished roster of contributors. From the early years through today, Poetry has discovered many important poets, or at least played an instrumental…

Harriet Monroe started a humble poetry magazine in 1912, and a century later her work has grown into one of our country’s finest cultural institutions. Monroe’s first offices were at 543 Cass Street (now N. Wabash Ave.) in Chicago, and there she attracted a distinguished roster of contributors. From the early years through today, Poetry has discovered many important poets, or at least played an instrumental role in the rise of their careers. Poetry is now the English speaking world’s oldest poetry monthly and remains true to Monroe’s original “Open Door” policy, “to print the best poetry written today, in whatever style, genre, or approach,” according to the Poetry Foundation website, which also claims, justly, that the magazine has published “virtually every significant poet of the 20th and 21st centuries.” The Modern Poetry Association was established in 1941 to support the publication of Poetry, and that evolved into the Poetry Foundation upon receipt of philanthropist Ruth Lilly’s $100 million donation in 2003. Lilly’s gift, meant to fund Poetry in perpetuity, enabled the construction of new headquarters on Superior Street and also allowed for the expansion of programming. The Chicago Literary Hall of Fame has partnered with the Poetry Foundation since 2014 on its annual Fuller Award ceremony honoring a Chicago writer for lifetime achievement.

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