A Brief History Of The Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize

Every year, the Poetry Foundation awards one American poet the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize. The honor, which includes $100,000, goes to a living poet whose body of work stands out not only for its breadth but also for its beauty, complexity, and quality. Since the prize debuted in 1986, it has become one of the most prestigious awards a poet can earn. As one may guess, the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize is not possible without philanthropist and poetry enthusiast, Ruth Lilly.

Born in 1915, Ruth Lilly grew up to be the single heir to her family’s pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly & Company. Over the course of her lifetime, Lilly would go on to donate roughly $800 million of her inheritance to organizations supporting causes in which she believed. These causes included education, the arts, and healthcare.

In the 1930s, Lilly began writing poetry. She loved the craft and tried several times to have her work published in Poetry magazine. Though Poetry never accepted her poems, Lilly maintained a strong adoration for poems and the artists behind the words. In 1986, she created the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize to honor poets for their lifetimes of exquisite work. Winners are chosen by a committee of four members who are well-versed in American poets and the craft itself.

Last year’s Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize winner was Joy Harjo, a poet, actor, musician and author who writes in-depth on matters like feminism and social justice. Harjo is a Native American and a member of the Muscogee/Creek Nation. Much of her work discusses and honors First Nation traditions.

Though Poetry never accepted Ruth Lilly’s submissions, the woman held no grudges. In 2003, she donated a generous sum to what was then the Modern Poetry Association. This gift made it possible for the MPA to transition into the Poetry Foundation and ensure Poetry magazine’s continued development and circulation. The Poetry Foundation now sits in the River North neighborhood of Chicago in a gorgeous building with a library containing over 30,000 titles.

The entrance to the Poetry’s Foundation Poetry Building in Chicago

Without Ruth Lilly, Chicago’s poetry scene wouldn’t be nearly as accessible, and America’s poets wouldn’t be celebrated as highly.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.