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B r i e f H i s t o r y . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
In 1926, within the
English Department of the University of Nebraska, a group of students
and a single faculty member created the Wordsmith Chapter of Sigma
Upsilon, a national honorary literary society. Lowry Wimberly,
the faculty representative for the group, held a meeting of "Wimberly's
Boys" in his home every Sunday. The group sought a means to publish
their work. Wimberly carried the concept forward into the Prairie
Schooner, a literary magazine of poetry, short stories, and
essays. In 2001 the Prairie Schooner celebrated 75 years
of continuous publication. The Schooner is the oldest literary
magazine to remain in publication in the Midwest region and maintains
an international reputation for publishing high quality and diverse
work.
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| Those in the Wordsmith
Chapter sought to create a publication for new or experienced authors
and to change the view of the Midwest as a "literary wasteland." The
quarterly "has also gone a long way toward giving an accurate picture
of middle west and its literary capabilites to the often skeptical
Americans of other regions." (Heine, Omaha World Herald,
24 June 1951) |
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| Lowry
Wimberly and associate editor Frederick Christensen worked together
on manuscripts sent for publication in the Schooner. (1945)
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Wimberly
headed the Schooner as chairman of the board of editors and
received assistance from a student board of editors. He was responsible
for the major activities of publishing the magazine, including gathering
financial backing, promotion, layout for publication, subscriptions,
and delivery. He also wrote an editorial column he titled the "Ox
Cart." His efforts, along with assistant editors, students, and contributors
allowed the Schooner to become a significant literary quarterly
and to gain a strong international reputation. |
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| The
Prairie Schooner has a long history of pre-eminent contributors.
Mari Sandoz produced the first short story for the first issue.
Other authors include Jessamyn West, William March, Truman Capote,
Joyce Carol Oates, Eudora Welty, along with Nebraskans Bess Streeter
Aldrich, John Neihardt, Louise Pound, and Bernice Slote. Hundred
of individuals have contributed their best work over the 75 years
of publication, all for the prestige of being printed in the Schooner,
a magazine that does not pay for submitted work. |
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Prairie Schooner
staff, Madge Reinhardt, Margaret Selly, Emily Schossberger, Margaret
Turner, and Margaret Cobb, stuffed envelopes for subscriptions.
(1946)
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| After
Lowry Wimberly's retirement in 1956, poet Karl Shapiro took over
the position of editor. He resigned from the position within seven
years when he refused to accept censure of his editorial decisions
by the University administration. Bernice Slote, professor and Cather
scholar, became the third editor of the Schooner. In the
first issue she produced as editor, Slote published an article by
Welsh poet Dylan Thomas.
Prairie Schooner
editors
Karl Shapiro, Bernice Slote, with colleague James Melnar. (circa
1960) |
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University
editor, Emily Schossberger,
worked closely on the publication of the
Prairie Schooner. (1945)
In an undated letter she explained that "One
of the nicest things about my position, however, is that is
brings me into constant touch with authors." |
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| Hugh Luke served as editor
of the quarterly for a short duration and continued the tradition
of producing a high quality publication. The current editor-in-chief
of the Prairie Schooner is Hilda Raz, who started her tenure
as editor in 1987. Raz has assisted in expanding the material covered
in the Schooner while still maintaining a strong sense of regional
roots. |
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Resources:
Cornhusker Annual, 1937-1941, 1946.
Haggie, Helen. "'That man Wimberly' remembered as Prairie Schooner Turns
50," Lincoln Journal and Star, July 10, 1977.
Heine, Emily. "Ripe Old Age of 25," Omaha World-Herald Magazine,
June 24, 1951.
"Luke is Named Editor of Prairie Schooner" Lincoln Journal, July
31, 1980.
Madison, Rosemay. "Bernice Slote and the Life of the Scholar," Sun Center
Section, June 10, 1965.
"Prairie Schooner Rolls On," Lincoln Journal and Star, December 6,
1942.
Sandoz, Mari to Friends of the Prairie Schooner. March 1, 1965. Mari Sandoz
Collection.
Stewart, Paul. The Prairie Schooner Story; a Little Magazine's First
25 Years, [Lincoln] University of Nebraska Press [c1955].
Wayman, Mary Kay. "Gardening Inspires Literary Editor, Poet," Sunday
Journal-Star, June 12, 1988.
"Wimberly Bows Out; Shapiro Takes Over as "Schooner" Editor. Lincoln
Evening Journal and Nebraska State Journal, September 12, 1956.
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