Minneapolis Poetry Society and the League of Minnesota Poets Records

The League of Minnesota Poets was founded by Clara A. Clausen, Irl Morse and Marie d’Autremont Gerry in 1934. In 1934, Margarette Ball Dickson became the first poet Laureate for the state of Minnesota. The first officers for this society were Margarette Ball Dickson, Robert Cary, Mary Pierre Boucher, Clara A. Clausen, and Maude C. Schilplin. The League of Minnesota Poets published a yearbook annually. In 1937 this yearbook was renamed the “Moccasin Annual”. Today the “Moccasin Annual” is simply called “The Moccasin”. The League of Minnesota Poets is still an active organization today. Annual membership cost twenty dollars. The league has holds poetry contests and academic conferences for its members.

One of the founders and most well-known members of the league was Clara A. Clausen. Clara was well-known as a poet in her native Ohio before moving to Minnesota. She wrote several books on writing techniques including, “Steps in Creative Poetry” and “Suggestions for the Writer of Verse”. She often gave lectures on writing and had a large following of correspondence students. She worked as an instructor of adult education in Brainerd, Minnesota.

Another well-known member of the league was Alice “Ruth” Sherman. Mrs. Sherman was a graduate of Emerson College in Boston Massachusetts. She wrote and starred in many radio and television commercials in the Twin Cities. She also had her own radio show called the “Mixing Bowl”. She published under the pen name, Alice O’Connell Sherman. She had a column in the Star Tribune for many years.