Tribute to James T. Whitehead to be Held at Nightbird Books

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For, From, About James T. Whitehead: Poems, Stories, Photographs, and Recollection

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – When James T. Whitehead passed away in 2003, Fayetteville and the University of Arkansas lost one of its finest poets and beloved teachers. On Wednesday, September 9, from 7:00-9:00, Whitehead will be remembered at Nightbird Books in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Friends and colleagues of Whitehead’s will gather to celebrate his memory and his work which was recently captured in the book For, From, About James T. Whitehead: Poems, Stories, Photographs, and Recollection, edited by Michael Burns, with photographs by Bruce West (paperback, $15.99). The book is published by Moon City Press at Missouri State University and distributed by the University of Arkansas Press. Participants and contributors to the book will be reading a poem or two or a prose passage from Whitehead’s work to share with the audience.

In 1965, Whitehead joined with his friend William Harrison, and later Miller Williams, to found the university’s Creative Writing Program. He taught there for the next thirty-four years, from 1965 to 1999. With his untimely passing, Whitehead left a large body of unpublished work, some of which is included in this book.

Poet Beth Ann Fennelley says in her piece that Whitehead “gave himself to us, and if we went on to become writers, he writes through us.” And in his remembrance University of Arkansas M.F.A. professor Donald S. Hays writes: “Jim Whitehead was big, fierce, passionate ... a magnificent teacher, an underappreciated poet, the author of a powerful, original novel, a lifelong offensive tackle who, fully suited, went after God as if He were a knockdown linebacker.”

Michael Burns is emeritus professor of English at Missouri State University and the author of a number of books, including the poetry collection, It Will Be All Right in the Morning, published by the University of Arkansas Press.