Between the Covers

Softcover. First edition. One printed card leaf folded to make four pages. Slight bump in one corner, near fine. Text consists of a two-page essay "written in anticipation of Tubman's arrival," and excerpts from poems by the African-American poet and the poet laureate of Liberia, Melvin B. Tolson. Signed by Tolson on the cover. A rare, ephemeral item, especially given that the event, for which this program was printed, was canceled by Tubman.

In 1947, President Tubman named Melvin B. Tolson Liberia's poet laureate. In 1953 Tolson completed a major epic poem in honor of the nation's centennial, *The Libretto for the Republic of Liberia*, with excerpts from the poem printed in this 1954 program. Tolson was also the basis for the central character in the movie *The Great Debaters* (2007), directed by and starring Denzel Washington.

Not in *OCLC*, although The Library of Congress does hold a copy along with the handwritten manuscript draft of the text of the program among Tolson's papers.

Item #521252