In 1950, philanthropist Gertrude Clarke Whittall established the Gertrude Clarke Whittall Poetry and Literature Fund at the Library of Congress to promote the appreciation of poetry, drama, and other literature. On April 23, 1951—the anniversary of William Shakespeare's birth—a poetry room was dedicated where the library hosts lectures, poetry readings, and other literary events supported by this fund. These are some of the many chapbooks that were published by the Library of Congress as a permanent record of the lectures given by illustrious poets and scholars with the support of the Gertrude Clarke Whittall Poetry and Literature Fund.
(“Portrait of Gertrude Clarke Whittall,” Library of Congress, accessed January 16, 2018, http://www.loc.gov/poetry/poetryroom/2a-portraitwhittall.html.)
The Consultantship in Poetry in the English Language, also known as the Chair of Poetry, was conceived by Herbert Putnam, the Librarian of Congress from 1899 to 1939, and created by a donation from Arthur Millington Huntington in 1936. In 1937, Putnam appointed Joseph Auslander as the first Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress. The position was similar to that of a reference librarian, and the Consultant in Poetry served primarily as a collection specialist and resident scholar in poetry and literature. Over the years, the position gradually placed less emphasis on developing the Library's collections and more on organizing local poetry readings, lectures, conferences, and outreach programs. The publications listed below consist of lectures delivered by Consultants in Poetry during their respective tenures.In 1985 the position was officially changed by an act of Congress to Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress. The Poet Laureate gives an annual lecture and reading of his or her poetry at the Library of Congress. In addition, since 1991 many poets laureate have elected to design a unique personal project with a national reach.
(Bibi Martí. "Consultants, Laureates and Programs Over the Years." Poetry at the Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/0411/poetry.html}