The Edgar Allan Poe Bicentennial

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January 19, 2009 marks the bicentennial of the birth of Edgar Allan Poe, America's best-known writer.  He has been the pleasure of many a reader, the monster of many a critic, the obnoxious rival of many a fictioneer whose name has verged on pre-eminence and so been drawn into putative comparison.

Descriptions of his work are nearly as contradictory as the legended definitions of Romanticism.  His prose is more nearly classical than romantic, not less precise and balanced than expressive and discursive.  But the subjects and plots of his stories deceive critics into an attribution of wildness and emotional intent.  His work is perhaps analogous to Beethoven's in general character; neither more nor less classical and romantic; neither more nor less vulgar and refined.  And I believe it is true in biography of men and criticism of works that to arrive at any general truth, it is necessary to make peace with their contradictions.

The bicentennial brings with it a revival of doubtful assertions about Poe but it also redirects attention to his work at a time when belles-lettres is in a doubtful state.  He presided over the founding of well-known genres of fiction but preceded their systemization; and those same genres, thoroughly developed, are now flailing at their limits.  He inherited much of the voice of the old regime of gentleman-authors but worked as a professional in the dawn of professional writing; and since professional writing is now in perceptible decline, the would-be professional may have some use of Poe for guidance.

What follows is a list of the events planned in observance of the bicentennial.  It may not be complete. Check for updates at http://www.nevermore2009.com/ and http://poebicentennial.com/ (Baltimore), http://www.poe200th.com/ (Virginia) and http://www.nps.gov/edal (Philadelphia).

Events are listed by location, then by the date of the event’s opening.

BOSTON

Thursday, January 15, 2009
7:30-9:00 p.m.
Boston College, Devlin Hall 101
Speakers: Matthew Pearl, author of The Poe Shadow and The Dante ClubScott Peeples, author of The Afterlife of Edgar Allan Poe and Edgar Allan Poe Revisited. The program will also feature the exhibition and performance of creative work by BC students, the reading of Poe passages, gifts for students, and an appropriately shaped birthday cake. More info. http://bc.edu/schools/cas/english/poe2009.html


Friday, January 16, 2009
7:30 p.m.
Boston College, Devlin Hall 101
The Last Days of the Raven, a screening of the new indie film, followed by a Q&A session withBrent Fidler, its co-director, screenwriter and star. More info. http://bc.edu/schools/cas/english/poe2009.html

PHILADELPHIA

January 10, 2009
Time TBA
Free Library of Philadelphia, Central Branch
Performance: David Keltz as Poe, Helen McKenna-Uff as Helen Whitman
http://www.library.phila.gov/


January 16, 2009
Time TBA
German Society, 7th and Spring Garden Sts.
Friends of Poe Bicentennial Birthday Party
Performances by Paul Campbell and Helen McKenna-Uff; wine-tasting of vintages mentioned in Poe’s works; preview of EDAL Poe exhibits
http://www.nps.gov/edal


April 3, 2009
2 PM
EAP Nat’l Hist. Site
7th and Spring Garden Sts.
Lecture by Karen Halttunen, influence of newspapers on Poe
http://www.nps.gov/edal


May 23, 2009
2 PM
EAP Nat’l Hist. Site
7th and Spring Garden Sts.
Lecture by Tony McGowan on Poe’s military experience
http://www.nps.gov/edal


October 1-February 13, 2009
9AM – 5PM, Mon.-Fri.
Parkway Central Library, Rare Book Dept.
1901 Vine St.
Exhibition of Colonel Richard Gimbel Collection of works of EAP; autograph mss., first editions, family heirlooms.
http://www.nps.gov/edal


October 8-11, 2009
Hyatt Regency at Penn’s Landing
Third Int’l Edgar Allan Poe Conference
Lectures, panels, music
http://www2.lv.psu.edu/PSA/Conference2009/

VIRGINIA

January 1, 2009 – January 1, 2010
12 AM
Casemate Museum, Fort Monroe, VA
757.788.3391
Exhibit: “A Soldier of Conflict: The Military Life of Edgar Allan Poe”; includes letters written by EAP to John Allan.
http://www.monroe.army.mil/monroe/sites/installation/museum/casemate_museum.aspx

January 16, 2009
11AM – 2PM
Library of Virginia, 800 East Broad St., Richmond
EAP 2009 Commemorative Stamp First Issue Ceremony
Lecture by Hal Poe; Poe commemorative stamps for sale.


January 19, 2009
12:01 AM (Midnight of the 18th) – 12:00AM (Midnight of 19th)
Edgar Allan Poe Museum, 1914-16 East Main St., Richmond
Poe’s 24-Hour 200th Birthday Bash; museum tours at night; poetry readings by day, birthday cake and candle-light vigil at Poe shrine at dusk. Includes exhibit “Poe, Face to Face: Early Portraits of EAP”, daguerreotypes including “Ultima Thule” and “Player’s Club”.
http://www.poemuseum.org/


January 22 & 25, 2009
7-9PM on 22nd; 3-6PM on 25th
Richmond Symphony, 708 East Broad Street, Richmond
(804) 788-1212
Musical tribute to Poe, conducted by Erin Freeman, $10.
http://www.richmondsymphony.com/


February 19, 2009
4:30 – 7:00PM
Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond
Teacher Workshop: “Gothic! Art and EAP”
http://www.vmfa.museum/TeacherWorkshops.html


March 5, 2009
Noon opening; hrs. of operation are Mon-Thur 9AM-9PM, Fri-Sat 9AM-5PM
Harrison Institute/Special Collections Library, University of Virginia, Charlottesville
Exhibit: “From out that Shadow: The Life and Legacy of EAP”; original letters and ms., rare editions, personal effects; includes matriculation and library circulation books listing Poe as student; art illustrating Poe’s work; desk and chair from his time at the Southern Literary Messenger.


March 20, 2009
2-4PM
Harrison Institute/Special Collections Library, University of Virginia, Charlottesville
Dr. Hal Poe book talk (Edgar Allan Poe: An Illustrated Companion) and signing; includes viewing of “From out that Shadow” exhibit (see listing immediately above).


April 23, May 28, June 25, July 23, August 27, September 24, October 29, 2009
6-9PM
Edgar Allan Poe Museum, 1914-16 East Main St., Richmond
Unhappy Hour; music, light refreshments, cash bar; game, raffle, treasure hunt or other entertainment varying with date, tours of museum.
http://www.poemuseum.org/


October 1-13, 2009
Noon
Maymont House, Richmond
“A Deeper Shade of Black: Mourning in the Age of Poe”
http://www.maymont.org/

BALTIMORE

January 3, 2009
2PM
Southeast Anchor Library, 3601 Eastern Ave.
“200 Birthdays: A Toast to EAP”; a showing of 3 films.


January 19, 2009
7-9PM; doors open at 6:15
Westminster Hall, 519 West Fayette St.
Honor by Horror: A screening of The Pit and the Pendulum (1961) and a live performance of "The Black Cat."
This event is free but tickets must be obtained by registering here.
http://www.westminsterhall.org/


January-February, 2009
Jan. 17, 7PM; Jan. 18, 4:30PM; Jan. 31, 7PM; Feb. 1, 4:30PM
Westminster Hall, 519 West Fayette St.
EAP Bicentennial Birthday Celebration; Feb. 1st: tribute by John Astin; theatrical performance of “Hop-Frog”; musical tribute by Paula McCabe; apple cider toast conducted by Jeff Jerome and John Astin; raffle of coffin-shaped cake. Other days have similar entertainments.
www.nevermore2009.com


March 27, 2009
Time TBA
Westminster Hall, 519 West Fayette St.
Cask of Amontillado Wine Tasting among the Bones; wine tasting and enactments of characters from Poe’s story in Westminster catacombs.
www.nevermore2009.com


June 13, 2009
Time TBA
Westminster Hall, 519 West Fayette St.
Enactment of Poe’s tale, lecture on Westminster, drum and fife corps tribute to Revolutionary and 1812 war veterans.
www.nevermore2009.com


October-December 2009
The Baltimore Museum of Art
Exhibition of art inspired by Poe; also film screenings and performances.
http://www.artbma.org/


October 7, 2009
Noon - 11PM
Westminster Hall, 519 West Fayette St.
Viewing of Poe’s Body (?)


October 7, 2009
Midnight – 6AM
Westminster Hall, 519 West Fayette St.
Candlelight vigil at Poe monument


October 10, 2009
Noon and 4:30PM
203 N. Amity St. to Westminster Hall, 519 West Fayette St.
Procession and funeral


November, 2009
Time TBA
Location TBA
“The Tell-Tale Heart Court Case”; enactment of trial with audience as jury.