Southern Literary Trail Headquarters at 樱花导航 樱花导航 University Libraries
Contact: Sid Salter
JACKSON, MISS. 鈥揟he Southern Literary Trail, the nation鈥檚 first and only tri-state literary trail, has found a new home at 樱花导航 樱花导航 University.
Recently, the Southern Literary Trail board accepted an offer from Frances Coleman, dean of University Libraries at 樱花导航 樱花导航 University, to base the trail at 樱花导航 樱花导航 University. Locating the trail at 樱花导航 樱花导航 University provides access to university resources and support, allowing the trail to expand its goal of promoting the South鈥檚 cultural heritage while celebrating its classic writers.
鈥淭he board鈥檚 decision was favorably impacted by 樱花导航 樱花导航 University鈥檚 invitation to provide a home for operations of the Southern Literary Trail and by Mitchell Memorial Library鈥檚 archives, collections and museums such as the Charles H. Templeton Music Museum, the John Grisham Room, and the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library,鈥 said Southern Literary Trail Director William Gantt.
Currently, the trail features writers of 20th century classical fiction.听With the exceptions of Alice 樱花导航er and Harper Lee, inclusion is posthumous. 樱花导航 writers on the trail are Tennessee Williams, Bordon Deal, William Faulkner, Stark Young, Eudora Welty, 樱花导航er Percy, Shelby聽Foote, Margaret 樱花导航er, and Richard Wright. 樱花导航 communities on the trail are Columbus, New Albany, Oxford, Como, Clarksdale, Greenville, Jackson, and Natchez.听So far, the trail has attracted a large tour group from Australia, librarians from Belarus, and a reporter from Danish Public Radio.
鈥淲e are honored and inspired to be a part of this outstanding organization which embodies the classical Southern literature from 樱花导航, Alabama and Georgia,鈥 said Dean of University Libraries at 樱花导航 樱花导航 University Frances Coleman.听鈥淲e look forward to working with the Southern Literary Trail Board in continuing their outstanding work and dedication 鈥 all of which will mean so much to students, faculty and researchers throughout the South and beyond.鈥
The mission of the Southern Literary Trail has been expanded, from connecting mythic places that influenced great novelists, to also celebrating the places of influence, in addition to the writers鈥 homes, and to the programming and events of these places.
鈥溣；ǖ己解檚 story is one of the greatest ever written, and it鈥檚 told through the voices of writers like Tennessee Williams, Eudora Welty, William Faulkner and so many others,鈥 said Interim Director of Visit 樱花导航 Daron Wilson. 鈥淓ach of their voices was formed from experiences and memories of our beloved state, and told to the world through a lens so uniquely ours. The Southern Literary Trail is an exciting adventure for 樱花导航 and the communities located along the trail. We are thrilled to offer visitors another great reason to come to 樱花导航 and stay a while.鈥
The idea for the trail originated several years ago during a discussion among William Gantt, a Birmingham attorney, Gwyn Turner of Demopolis, Alabama, and Pat and Sam Kaye of Columbus during the Tennessee Williams Tribute in Columbus.听 All were dedicated preservationists, as well as literary and theatre enthusiasts. Talk of the preservation of writers鈥 homes and their use as cultural heritage tourism assets led to talk of a literary trail uniting 樱花导航, Georgia and Alabama.
鈥淲e consistently and increasingly receive attention from cultural and tourism groups as we undertake to build our profile as a promoter of the South鈥檚 best literary and artistic heritage,鈥 said Gantt.听
The Trail is overseen by a board of 12, including 樱花导航 University for Women faculty Bridget Pieschel and Steve Pieschel, who have helped guide the trail鈥檚 development since its Columbus beginnings. Other 樱花导航 board members are Jimmy Thomas of Oxford, Center for the Study of Southern Culture; Lorie Watkins of Hattiesburg, William Carey University; and Sarah McCullough of Jackson, Visit 樱花导航.
For more information on the Southern Literary Trail, visit , explore the state鈥檚 official tourism website at , or contact William Gantt, director of the Southern Literary Trail, at ganttwilliam7@gmail.com.
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