photograph by LaVerne Harrell Clark
Will Inman was born on May 4, 1923, in Wilmington, North Carolina. He graduated from Duke University in 1943, then held jobs in a shipyard, a trade union, libraries, universities, and a facility for the disabled. Among other leadings he was an activist in the War Resisters League and other organizations, and was writing all during this time. He co-founded and edited the literary journals Kauri and New Kauri. After some years in New York City, Inman moved to Tucson where he worked with the developmentally disabled and led writing workshops for the general community as well as for people in homeless shelters and prisons.
Inman is the author of I Read You Green, Mother (Howling Dog Press, 2008), Surfings: Selected Poems (Howling Dog Press, 2005), and a number of chapbooks, including Ranges (Minotaur Editions) and Leaps of Hope and Fury (Pudding House). I Read You Green, Mother was recently reviewed in the Poetry Center’s e-newsletter.
Large collections of Inman's manuscripts, letters, publications and literary memorabilia are housed at Duke University and at University of North Carolina-Wilmington, with links to holdings at the University of Chicago and the University of Arizona Poetry Center. The Poetry Center Library put together a special e-exhibit honoring Inman, which can be found here.
The Will Inman partial scholarship is a need-based award granted to community members to help pay tuition for a Poetry Center class or workshop.
Four awards are given each year: two $75 awards for the fall semester, and two $75 awards for the spring semester. Scholarships are not available for classes offered during the summer session.
Who is eligible:
Any community member, with the exception of Poetry Center employees, volunteers, and interns, is eligible to apply. You do not need to be enrolled in a Poetry Center class or workshop when you apply for the scholarship, but the scholarship must be used during the semester for which it was awarded, for the course specified in your application.
How to apply:
To apply for the Will Inman scholarship, submit a letter and a short writing sample.
The letter should include the following information:The short writing sample should be no more than three pages in length. You are welcome to submit an excerpt.
Submit your application to Cybele Knowles, Events Coordinator, UA Poetry Center, 1508 East Helen Street, Tucson, Arizona 85721–0150, or email knowles@email.arizona.edu.
When to apply:
Deadlines for scholarship applications are firm. No applications will be considered after the deadline.
For Spring 2010 courses: January 19, 2010
Award notification: January 26, 2010
