The Friends of the Harvard Public Library have announced the 2007 John Faulkner Whitcomb Memorial Poetry Competition. A $500 prize will be given to a junior in high school who demonstrates a gift for poetry. In the case of more than one winner, the prize is shared. Entrants must attend school in Harvard, or live in Harvard but attend high school elsewhere, and show promise in, or a love for, poetry.
A panel of judges from the town will review the submitted poems in April and the winner, or winners, will be announced in May.
John Faulkner Whitcomb
John F. Whitcomb, a doctor and part-time poet, was an active member of the Friends of the Harvard Public Library. His love of poetry and the Harvard Public Library led him to initiate and present amateur and professional poetry programs in town. His love of children and young adults expressed itself in many ways, particularly in making 4th of July floats for the annual parade. These floats were purposely made to appeal to the creativity of the children who participated in the event. His wife, Sally, joined him in these and other charitable labors in town.
Jack died suddenly during Thanksgiving weekend 2000. In his honor, the Friends of the Harvard Public Library established a poetry competition for juniors in high school.
