200th Anniversary Of Bowdoin’s Class Of 1825

Longfellow Days Joins Bowdoin College In Celebrating The 200th Anniversary Of The Notable Graduating Class Of 1825, A Group Of Accomplished Writers Including: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Jonathan Cilley, And Other Statesmen, Lawyers, And  Professionals Who Collectively Brought The College A Considerable Amount Of Fame.

Schedule of events:

Sunday, February 2, 2025

1:00 Pm - Sunday Readings, Part One: 1825 Poets And Writers

First, An Homage To 19th-Century Poets, With Three Contemporary Maine Writers – Gary Lawless, Kara Douglas & Linda Aldrich – Reading From Longfellow, Hawthorne, & Emily Dickinson, Respectively, As Well As Sharing Their Own Work.

Location: Fireplace Room, Curtis Memorial Library

Thursday, February 6, 2025
4:30 Pm - Talk By Nicholas Basbanes
“Meeting Of The Minds: Longfellow, Hawthorne, And The Productive Influence Of Their Artistic Wives”

A National Endowment For The Humanities Public Scholar, Nicholas A. Basbanes Is The Author Of Ten Works Of Nonfiction, Including A Gentle Madness: Bibliophiles, Bibliomanes, And The Eternal Passion For Books, A Finalist In 1996 For The National Book Critics Circle Award In Nonfiction, And On Paper: The Everything Of Its 2,000-Year History, One Of Three Finalists In 2014 For The Andrew Carnegie Medal For Excellence In Nonfiction. His Most Recent Book, Cross Of Snow: A Life Of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Was Awarded “Top Honors” In Nonfiction In 2020 For The Massachusetts Book Award Given Annually By The Massachusetts Center For The Book, An Affiliate Of The Library Of Congress, And Was Named A Book Of The Year By The Times Literary Supplement (London) And The Christian Science Monitor. A Work-In-Progress, Before Paper: Unlocking The World’s Earliest Writings, Is Under Contract With Yale University Press. His Articles And Essays Have Appeared In The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Philadelphia Inquirer, Boston Globe, Humanities, Smithsonian, Civilization And The Book Collector. For The Past Eight Years, He Has Been Writing Signed Biographical Sketches Of The Principal Correspondents Of Robert And Elizabeth Barrett Browning For The Brownings’s Correspondence, A Publishing Initiative Of Wedgestone Press Funded Principally Since Its Inception In 1964 By The National Endowment For The Humanities, And Now In Its 31th Volume. He Also Writes The Gently Mad Column For Fine Books & Collections, A Quarterly Publication, And Lectures Widely On Book-Related Subjects. He And His Wife Constance Live In Massachusetts.

Location:  Kresge Hall At Bowdoin College

Sunday, February 9, 2025
1:00 Pm - Sunday Readings, Part Two: 1925 Poets And Writers

In 1925, For The 100th Anniversary Of The Class Of 1825, Bowdoin Invited To Brunswick Numerous Leading Poets & Writers Of The Period For An Impressive Literary Festival. In Similar Fashion, Three Poets Of Today Help Us Look Back A Century, As Well As Sharing Their Own Poetry. Gibson Fay Leblanc Reads Robert Frost, Dawn Potter Reads Edna St. Vincent Millay, & Mike Bove Reads Langston Hughes.

Location: Fireplace Room, Curtis Memorial Library

Tuesday, February 11, 2025
11 Am - Ekphrastic Poetry Workshop

Poet As Painter
“Painting Is Poetry That Is Seen Rather Than Felt, And Poetry Is Painting That Is Felt Rather Than Seen. ~ Leonardo Da Vinci

The “Cross-Pollination” Between The Visual And Literary Arts Has Long Been A Celebrated Dynamic.  Ekphrastic Poetry Is Writing Inspired By Visual Art.  It’s One Way Of Responding To A Painting, Sculpture, Or Other Art Form.  In This Workshop, We Will Spend The First Segment Looking At Examples Of Ekphrastic Works And The Creative Options That Such Pairings Can Kindle.  Then Participants Will Have The Opportunity Of Touring The Extensive Collection Housed In Bowdoin’s Museum Of Art, Including “Poetic Truths: Hawthorne, Longfellow And American Visual Culture 1840-1880,” And Selecting One Painting, Sculpture, Artifact Or Photo To Begin Crafting A Poem.  After Reconvening, Participants Will Be Invited To Share Any Fragments Of Writing They Will Have Generated.  

The Workshop Is Free And Open To All Levels, From High School Students To Established Writers.

Location: Bowdoin College Museum Of Art, Zucker Seminar Room

Wednesday, February 12, 2025
2-3 Pm - Community Poetry/Open Mic

Local Poets Helene Mcglauflin And David Sloan Share Their Own Writing And Host This Informal Verse-Sharing Session For The Community. Bring Your Own Poems Or Your Favorites Written By Others. Refreshments.

Location: Merrymeeting Room, Thornton Oaks, 25 Thornton Way (Off Baribeau Drive)

Thursday, February 13, 2025
2:30-3:30 Pm - Community Poetry/Open Mic

Local Poets Helene Mcglauflin And David Sloan Share Their Own Writing And Host This Informal Verse-Sharing Session For The Community. Bring Your Own Poems Or Your Favorites Written By Others. Refreshments.

Location: Georgetown Parlor, Maine Lodge, The Highlands, 30 Governors Way, Topsham

Saturday, February 15, 2025
11 Am & 1 Pm - Two Tours Of The Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain House

This Special Tour Of The Joshua L. Chamberlain Museum, Co-Sponsored By The Pejepscot History Center, Will Be Led By Phc Executive Director Larissa Vigue Picard And Gemma Cannon. Gemma, A Grief Specialist And Author Of Voices Of The Night, Has Discovered New Material About Henry’s First Wife, Mary, And More Than We Ever Knew About Henry’s Early Writing. The Tour Through The Historic Home (Where The Longfellows Lived Decades Before The Chamberlains) Is 60-75 Minutes. Each Session Is Limited To 15 People.

Advance Registration Is Required:  Send An Email With Subject “Ld House Tour” To [email protected]. Please Include Preferred Time, Name(S) Of Registrants, And Phone Number For Primary Contact.

Location: 226 Maine Street, Brunswick

Sunday, February 16, 2025
1:00 Pm - Sunday Readings, Part Three: 2025 Tribute To Poets And Writers

More Than 120 Maine Poets Have Participated In Longfellow Days’ Sunday Readings.  Today We Remember Three Who Departed In 2024: Sally Cowperthwaite Reads Poetry By Her Father Steve Cowperthwaite.  Georgia Nigro Reads Work By Her Late Husband Rob Farnsworth. Maryli Tiemann Reads Poetry By Ruth Bookey.

Then Maryli Tiemann Introduces Nicole Chvatal, Reading Her Own Work.

Location: Morrell Room, Curtis Memorial Library

Wednesday, February 19, 2025
1 Pm - Winter Wisdom With James Mckenna

“My Two Grandmothers” Differing Poetic Tastes

Our Events This Year Celebrate The Bowdoin Class Of 1825, Which Had Among Its Grads, Our Henry And Nathaniel Hawthorne. Bowdoin Honored This Class Again At The Centennial In 1925, Hosting A Special Gathering Of Literary Poets And Authors, With Such Notables As:  Carl Sandburg, Robert Frost, Willa Cather, And Edna St. Vincent Millay.  Imagine The Streets Of Brunswick With These Writers, And Many Others Walking Among Our Ancestors.

So, Here We Are At The 200th Anniversary Of This Class Where Maine Poet, James Mckenna Will Share His Personal Introductions To Longfellow And Edna Saint Vincent Millay.

Our Time With James Offers A Unique Gathering Of The Centuries:  1825, 1925, And 2025.

Location: Morrell Room, Curtis Memorial Library

Friday, February 21, 2025
7:30 Pm - Poetry With Taylor Mali

Taylor Mali, Nationally Recognized Poet, And Three Present Bowdoin Student Poets:  King Weatherspoon, Chayma Charifi And Kaitlin Weiss.

Longfellow Was Only Fifteen Years Old When He Came To Bowdoin College And Ended Up Writing Poetry That Made Him A Rockstar All Around The World. The Spirit Of Longfellow Lives In Today’s Bowdoin Students. We Keep This Legacy Alive. In 1925 For The 100th Celebration Bowdoin Had Robert Frost, Willa Cather And Carl Sandburg Perform, This Year They Have  Taylor Mali, King Weatherspoon, Chayma Charifi, And Kaitlin Weiss.Us.  Joe Anderson Will Be The Master Of Ceremony For The Event.

1987 Bowdoin College Graduate, Taylor Mail Found Success In The Poetry Slam Movement. He Became A Four-Time National Poetry Slam Champion And Appeared On Prominent Platforms Like ‘Def Jam Poetry’ And The Hbo Series ‘Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry’, Which Earned Acclaim For Its Powerful Representation Of Spoken-Word Art.

As A Passionate Advocate For The Teaching Profession, Taylor Dedicated Nine Years To Educating Students In Various Subjects. He Created The One-Man Show ‘Teacher Teacher!’ And His Poem ‘What Teachers Make’ Has Gained Significant Attention Online, Resonating With Audiences Worldwide.

Taylor Has Published Several Books, Including ‘What Teachers Make: In Praise Of The Greatest Job In The World’. He Also Has Notable Achievements Such As Receiving The New York Foundation For The Arts Grant And Winning The Golden Earphones Award For His Narration In ‘The Great Fire’.

Co-Sponsored With Longfellow Days And Midcoast Senior College.  Open To The Public

Location:  Studzinski Hall At Bowdoin College

Saturday, February 22, 2025

7:30 Pm - Tribute To Class Of 1825: Evening Of Music & Poetry

Poetry Of Longfellow Set To Music And Voice, Featuring Music By Paul Sullivan, Jud Caswell, Scott Woodruff, And The Bowdoin Chamber Choir.

Paul Sullivan Is An American Grammy Award Winning Pianist And Composer Whose Music Blends Jazz And Classical Styles. He Is A Member Of The Paul Winter Consort And Has Performed With Some Legendary Orchestras, Such As The Philadelphia Orchestra And The Boston Pops.  Sullivan Has Worked In Some Of New York’s Most Prestigious Jazz Clubs As Well.  In The Theater World, He Has Worked As A Musical Director, Pianist, And/Or Conductor For Many Off-Broadway And Broadway Shows.

One Of The Leading Singer-Songwriters On The Current Scene, Jud Caswell Is A Master Multi-Instrumentalist, Playing Guitar, Banjo, Cittern, Whistles And Irish Drums.  Jud’s Originals Have Won Some Of The Most Prestigious Songwriting Contests In The Country, Including The Legendary Kerrville New Folk Competition. His Songs Have Been Taught At Berklee, Recorded By Judy Collins, And Named “#4 Song Of The Decade” By New York’s Wfuv.

Scott Woodruff Is A Talented Midcoast Maine Musician, Sound Engineer, And Host Of Open Mics.  He Enjoys Mixing It Up As A Solo Artist And Band Member With Such Bands As Leopard Girls.  He Has Produced A Cd, Them Old Bones, Which Is A Collection Of His Songs Written About His Life Experiences.

The Bowdoin Chamber Choir, Is A Vocal Ensemble Which Delves Into A Wide Variety Of Music From Different Genres And Time Periods. The Students Take Their Talents To Audiences All Over The World.

Location: Studzinski Hall At Bowdoin College

Sunday, February 23, 2025
10:00 Am - Interfaith Service

A Service Led By Rev. Dr. Kharma Amos, Minister And Maryli Tiemann With Music By The Uucb Choir Under The Direction Of Will Bristol

The Inclusive Power Of Poetry

Longfellow Days’ Interfaith Service Will Explore Poetry’s Power To Open Hearts And Minds To Our Inner Selves, As Well As To Those Unlike Us In Some Way. Poetry Has Historically Been An Art That, Among Other Things, Expands Empathy, Connects Us With The Heart Of Human Experiences, And Has The Potential To Build A More Inclusive And Just Community And World.

Visit The Bible That Longfellow Signed And Donated To His Church In 1878.

Location: Unitarian Universalist Church, 1 Middle Street

Sunday, February 23, 2025

1:00 Pm - Sunday Readings, Part Four:  Future Poets & Writers

While Spanning The Centuries, This Final Entry In Our Readings Honors & Nurtures Younger Maine Poets’ Writing And Performance In 2025.  Poet John Reinhart Emcees Readings By Three Poets Who Were Part Of The Portland Poetry Slam Team: Ellie, Yashu Derisala, & Alex Wu.

Location: Fireplace Room, Curtis Memorial Library

Tuesday, February 25, 2025
2 Pm - Interpreting Three Poems

Join Karin Dillman To Discuss Three 19th & 20th Century Poems By Dickinson, Whitman, And Wm. Carlos Williams, Poets As Different From One Another Than As We Are From Them Now.  We Will Focus On The Differences And Share How Each Poem Speaks To Us As 21st Century Readers.   Are Their Poems Still Relevant To Us Today?

Poems:
Dickinson, “Exultation Is The Going”
Whitman, “Dalliance Of The Eagles”
Wm. Carlos Williams, “Red Wheelbarrow”

Karin Dillman Is A Poet, Artist, And Academic.   In The 80s And 90s, She Taught French Literature At Bowdoin And Also Taught In Maine State Prison.  During That Time And Since, She Has Developed Her Skills And Interest In Non-Traditional Book-Binding, As Well As Words Expressed As Art Pieces.

Call Phc (207) 729-6606 To Reserve A Space (Limit 20 Participants)

Location: Pejepscot History Center. 159 Park Row

Wednesday, February 26, 2025
12 Pm - Gallery Tours: Bowdoin College Museum Of Art & Library
Tours Of Bowdoin’s Two Special Exhibitions: “Poetic Truths” At The Art Museum And “Before They Were Famous” At The Library.

Tours Will Meet At Noon At The Bowdoin College Museum Of Art.

Art Exhibit At The Museum Of Art
Bowdoin Library Exhibit

Friday, February 28, 2025
5:30 Pm - Open Mic & Longfellow’s 218th Birthday Celebration

Open Mic And Birthday Party, With Host Ren Bernier, A Cappella Music By Bowdoin’s “Longfellows”, And Cake.

We Encourage You To Add Your Voice. Come Share Your Poem Or Another’s That You Appreciate.

Location: Unitarian Universalist Church, 1 Middle Street

Date: February 2 - 28, 2025

Location: Various Venues In Brunswick, Me 04011

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