The Silas Bronson Library’s annual Poetry Contest started at the East End Branch Library in 1975. The contest was an outgrowth of the Poetry Club which started at the branch in 1972. Librarian Catherine McGrath, who ran the branch library, oversaw both programs.

The Young People's Corner at the East End Branch.

The Poetry Club was geared towards elementary school children, encouraging them to develop an understanding and appreciation for poetry. Club members read poetry by William Blake, Shakespeare, William Carlos Williams, Leopold Senglor, and Frederico Lorca.

Officers of the Poetry Club in 1975 were: President, Heather Gregory; Vice-president, Leslie Sullivan; Secretary, Rena Mansfield; and Committee members David Jorgensen, Kim Meaney, and JoAnne Murray.

Poetry Contest winners in 1975 were chosen from each grade level from Kindergarten through Grade 8; winners were presented with books at a ceremony held in the main library’s auditorium.

 Judges for the first year of the contest were Dr. Leonard Peters, professor of English at UConn-Waterbury; Margaret McGrath, librarian at Crosby High School; and Raymond Cacciatore, instructor of English at Mattatuck Community College. The library received more than 200 entries for the first contest.

 In 1981, the Poetry Contest was relocated to the main library on Grand Street. The Children's Room librarians took over coordination of the contest, which was opened up to all elementary school children in Waterbury.

The Poetry Contest continues to be held every year at the Silas Bronson Library. Winning poems are published in a booklet printed by the library and handed out at the award ceremony. 

To celebrate the 50th Annual Poetry Contest, we will be sharing copies of nearly all fifty poetry booklets on this page. Please check back soon as we work on getting the booklets scanned and uploaded to our website.