The James Baker Hall Foundation
Supporting Kentucky Writers
james baker hall (1935-2009)
The famed writer and former poet laureate touched generations of aspiring artists and writers through his works and decades as an instructor at the University of Kentucky. Now, his son and others, have created a foundation in his name to support Kentucky writers.
James Baker Hall was a renowned Kentucky poet, author and photographer who stayed close to his roots all of his life. He was a working artist and educator. For 30 years he taught creative writing at the University of Kentucky and served as a dedicated mentor to a younger generation of Kentucky artists. During his lifetime he published two novels, six collections of poetry and received an extensive array of grants, fellowships and accolades. He served as Kentucky’s Poet Laureate from 2001-2002 and was inducted into the Kentucky Writers Hall of Fame (in 2014) joining the extraordinary legacy of acclaimed authors that has been growing in the Commonwealth since the late 18th century.
