Digital World of Riley Enters with a Poetry Slam

A poetry slam of the works of James Whitcomb Riley will take place from 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 5, 2006, at the Indianapolis Art Center, 820 E. 67th Street.

Kim Manlove, former assistant dean of the faculties at IUPUI, and Henry Ryder, attorney and James Whitcomb Riley impersonator, will participate in the event announcing the recent digitization of many of Riley’s photographs, correspondence and early editions of poetry.

Riley, the "Hoosier poet," was known for his dialect recitations and pithy pragmatic remarks. His popular verse was humorous or sentimental, as in the case of the poem “Little Orphant Annie." The digitization project, a collaboration effort by University Library, Hancock County Library and the Riley Old Home and Museum, will make possible public viewing of materials previously found too fragile for public displays. This online collection will capture Indiana life at the turn of the century, benefiting teachers, historians, scholars and fans of Riley and his work.

For additional information, contact Kim Sorrell at kpsorrel@iupui.edu, or (317) 278-2322.

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