University of Colorado Writers' Conference

The University of Colorado Writers' Conference originated from a Writers' Colony conducted at Indian Hills by a group of Denver writers and publishers. The first annual writers' conference was held at the University of Colorado in 1930. The function of the conference being held at CU was to perpetuate the ideal of the Writers' Colony, utilize the Extension Division of the State University, and educational interests of the state. The first conference began with two main purposes. The first goal was to establish an annual conference where professional writers could vacation and congregate in a pleasurable and profitable way. Second, the conference sought to give inspiration to writers through outdoor settings and local Colorado activities, such as hiking, exploration of mining towns, rodeos, and the view of the mountains. In addition to these two goals, the Writers' Conference was a teaching tool to amateur writers and students. (1) These initial ideals did not change as the conference evolved over the years.

A number of the Denver writers who were a part of the original colony were retained when the group became the University of Colorado Writers' Conference and a part of the Extension School at the University of Colorado. Walter Campbell was the first director of the conference and held this position until 1936. In the early days of the organization, the group was housed in a sorority house during its summer activities and operated on a very limited budget. Nevertheless, the staff included famous writers of the day. One such famous member was Edward Davison, the English poet who was also a professor at the University. Davison became director of the Writers' Conference in 1936, and at that point the Conference became part of the Summer Session as opposed to being considered among the components of the Extension School. The Writers' Conference was considered the first annual conference event at the University of Colorado. (2)

The premise of the Writers' Conference was to provide professional training in creative writing under the guidance of experienced and professional writers, which was to be supplied by a recognized educational institution. The leaders of the organization never presumed that creative writing could be taught, but were under the impression that it could flourish under professional criticism and direction. In order to reach a broader range of students, the conference was open to all ages and the conference provided scholarships and financial aid to qualifying applicants. (3)

Applications and recommendations for scholarships and acceptance to the Writers' Conference were submitted to a reading committee, or the advisory board. The reading committee was comprised of professors, teachers, writing conference administration, and authors teaching at the Writing Conference. In addition to the reading committee, there was a Writers' Conference Committee, which in addition to other business roles, planned and recruited for the conference, approved the budget, and scheduled the conference. (4) The various committees also consisted of administrative staff. Over the years, the Writers' Conference included eleven directors: W.M. Campbell (1930-1935), Edward Davison (1936-1942), Richard Aldington (1942), Harry Shaw (1947-1948), William E. Wilson (1949-1950), Edward H. Schmidt (1951), Don Saunders (1952-1957), Margaret Robb (1958-1966), John Wrenn (1967-1971), Paul Levitt (1968-1974), and Louis B. Hall (1974). (5)

The conference provided a series of workshops and lectures open to conferees and staff. The workshops were headed by authors, writers, and other professionals, such as publishers, to teach, evaluate, and aid aspiring writers. (6) Some notable workshop staff (leaders) included Robert Frost (1931), James A. Michener (1949), Phyllis Whitney (1952), Marguerite Henry (1962), Allen Ginsberg (1975), and (Leroi Jones) Imamu Amiri Baraka (1975). (7) The workshops covered a wide variety of subjects, such as novel, poetry, drama, television, and film. In the 1950s, the lectures began to be offered to the public free of charge. Previous to this, the lectures were attended by conferees and people who paid. The lectures were headed by workshop staff and visiting authors hired for single lectures. (8) The Writers' Conference workshops and classes allowed students to earn college credit for transfer to their respective institutions.

This conference was to become the second oldest writers' conference in the United States at the end of its existence. (9) With exception to the years 1943-1946, due to World War II, and 1972-1973, because of financial difficulties, the Writers' Conference maintained its original goals of providing an annual conference to provide a picturesque vacation to well known writers and to educate aspiring amateur writers. In 1977, the conference had its final year because it could no longer be maintained from a financial perspective.

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(1) The Writers' Conference Bulletin July 28 to August 15, 1930, University of Colorado Writers' Conference Collection, Box 22 Fd. 10, Archives, University of Colorado at Boulder Libraries.

(2) Historical Information, University of Colorado Writers' Conference Collection, Box 1 Fd. 1, Archives, University of Colorado at Boulder Libraries.

(3) Ibid.

(4) Ibid.

(5) CU Writers' Conference Administration List compiled by Sarah Johnson, University of Colorado Writers' Conference Collection, Guide and Information File, Archives, University of Colorado at Boulder Libraries.

(6) Historical Information, University of Colorado Writers' Conference Collection, Box 1 Fd. 1, Archives, University of Colorado at Boulder Libraries.

(7) CU Writers' Conference Teaching Staff (Writers and Authors) List compiled by Sarah Johnson, University of Colorado Writers' Conference Collection, Guide and Information File, Archives, University of Colorado at Boulder Libraries.

(8) Historical Information, University of Colorado Writers' Conference Collection, Box 1 Fd. 1, Archives, University of Colorado at Boulder Libraries.

(9) The Writer’s Conference Bulletin June 17-28, 1974, University of Colorado Writers' Conference Collection, Box 23 Fd. 2, Archives, University of Colorado at Boulder Libraries.

From the guide to the University of Colorado Writers' Conference Collection, 1930-1977, (University of Colorado at Boulder Libraries. Archives Dept.)