One of the chief exhibits, “American Voices”, is in the Nation of Writers Gallery. It is a timeline that features American authors from colonial times to modernity. Divided up into historical segments such as “Colonial Visions”, “Revolution” and the “New Nation”, it features the literary voices of the first settlers such as William Bradford and Anne Bradstreet, Jonathan Edwards and Benjamin Franklin. They describe their experiences in the New World and how their religious convictions influenced that experience as well as the struggle for survival in an often harsh environment. In “Literary Independence”, authors such as Henry David Thoreau reflect a nation getting its cultural bearings in the years after the Revolution. The timeline chronicles the development of the American literary voice through excerpts from several media: poetry, essays, novels and speeches.
Another exhibition is “American Prophets”. This exhibit displays modern American authors whose work is deeply influenced by their religion and culture. The poet W. S. Merwin, for example, spoke on the oneness of spiritual traditions, calling them “branches from a single root”. Rachel Pollack said, “Myth, ritual, Tarot, folklore, fairy tales, and comics weren’t just a fun indulgence or subjects to study. They were opportunities to participate in the mystery…Stories help us remember who we are, and sometimes, who we’re still becoming. That’s always felt holy to me.” Pollack was the author of 41 books. Her work ranged from fiction to nonfiction, comics and divinatory art.
Flannery O’Connor, by contrast, was a writer whose dark and sometimes comic stories were deeply rooted in her Catholic faith. Her attendance at daily Mass helped prepare her for writing. O’Connor kept a spiritual journal in which she wrote her prayers. One went, “Dear God, please help me to be an artist, please let it lead to You.” Her religious faith went hand in hand with her writing. Said Cassie Munnell, Curator at Andalusia, Flannery O’Connor’s home, “You can’t talk about one without the other.”
Another feature at the museum sure to delight residents of the city is the Chicago Gallery. Banners hanging from the walls feature Chicago writers from Studs Terkel and Ann Landers to Roger Ebert and Carl Sandburg. Some, such as the aforementioned authors, are nationally famous. Others, such as Mike Royko, are known locally. Each contributed works that were woven into the life of the city.
The museum also has educational programs for school children and adults, both in person and virtual. It has online exhibits and digital content and other resources for the visitor, for both individuals and groups. The museum will host a festival in June, on Saturday, June 6th and Sunday, June 7th. The festival on Saturday will be held at the museum’s premises, and on Sunday at the Harold Washington Library. Details will be announced as more information becomes available.
The American Writers Museum is a wonderful place to explore American literary history and its impact on American culture. It is a place to engage the visitor and inspire future generations of writers.