User:Blckmn78/Arthur Mapes

Arthur Franklin Mapes (1913 – Jan. 4, 1986) was an American poet. He was wrote the state poem of Indiana, title "Indiana" in 1963. This was adopted as the state poem the same year. He was posthumously, unofficially designated Indiana State Poet Laureate in 1977. The Indiana State Poet Laureate position was not made official until July 1, 2005. Much of his poetry reflected his humble beginnings and the love he had for his hometown, Kendallville, and state. His poetry also reflected his feeling on God, his spiritual journey, the landscape, and nature. Many of his poems were printed in national and international publications.

Life

Arthur Franklin Mapes was born and raised in Kendallville, IN. He worked at Flint & Walling, Inc. for many years as a mechanic.

Mapes came from a family of eight children. He married Ruth Acker and had ten children.

He won eight awards at the state, national and international level. This includes The Golden Quill Award of 1965 which was given to Mapes for Winter Cavern and the status of Indiana’s Poet Laureate in 1977. Additionally, he was a member of the Indiana Poetry Society, the Poets Corner, and a columnist for Cornucopia Poetry Magazine.

Selected works


 * Poems


 * The Blacklegs


 * 'The Big Tornado''(unpublished)


 * Bixler Lake


 * Conner Prairie


 * I Remember Indiana (unpublished)


 * Indiana


 * My Hoosier Hills


 * Our Town


 * These Hills


 * Wabash River


 * Winter Cavern


 * Poetry Collections


 * Poems of the Hoosier Hills


 * The Hoosier Way


 * Indiana Memories

Sources