Word Works, Inc. records

Since 1974, Word Works has been the center of literary life in the Washington, D. C. metropolitan area. Because of its location, in the nation's capital, and the uniqueness of its mission, Word Works attracts the attention of poets nationwide and internationally. Word Works is a non-profit organization, originally funded exclusively by yearly grants from the National Endowment for the Arts. The small amount of federal funding was supplemented by private donations and proceeds from book sales, much of which went toward the cost of materials for future publications. Its staff consists entirely of volunteers. In 1990, the records of Word Works were given to the Department of Special Collections at the Gelman Library, George Washington University, Washington, D. C., with an additional donation in 2002. The records of The Word Works, Incorporated document the activities of a small poets' collective in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Word Works was established in order to provide opportunities for young, little-known poets to gain recognition for their talents. Recognizing that the success of a poet's career often depends upon obtaining that "first" publication or chance at public exposure, Word Works sponsors public readings of local poets at various locations in the Washington, DC area, especially the Joaquin Miller Cabin in Rock Creek Park every summer. Word Works also sponsors yearly poetry writing contests and publishes several books of poetry put together by local Washington, D. C. poets.

For more information on Word Works' current activities, see http://www.wordworksdc.com.