A Poet’s Legacy

Born in Kentucky in 1883, George Elliston led an extraordinary life. She was a reporter for the former Cincinnati Times-Star for over 40 years. At a time when most newspaperwomen were forced into writing for the society or cooking sections, George Elliston was a hard-news reporter covering crime, murder, and local tragedies. She was known for going to great lengths (and dangers) to get a story. While her professional life was spent reporting, much of her personal time was devoted to writing poetry. Ms. Elliston’s poetry was printed in newspapers and magazines in the United States and reproduced in anthologies in France, Germany, Great Britain, and China.

Ms. Elliston married Augustus Coleman in 1907 and briefly moved with him to St. Louis. She soon returned alone to Cincinnati where she would remain without her husband for the remainder of her life. It was under her married name, however, that George Elliston bought valuable Cincinnati real estate that would later earn her a small fortune. Upon her death in 1946, both the community and then-UC president Raymond Walters were shocked to learn that George Elliston had left nearly a quarter of a million dollars to the University. Most people, even those close to her, assumed George Elliston to be a poor woman because of her modest lifestyle. They all knew her to be a lover of poetry, though, and it was this lifelong love that led her to leave the bulk of her estate to UC. It was her wish that the University “…establish a trust fund to be known as the George Elliston Poetry Trust Fund…the income from which is to establish, as far as practicable, a chair of poetry to encourage and promote the study and composition of poetry.”

Today, Ms. Elliston’s wishes are realized through the Elliston Poetry Fund and the Elliston Poetry Room located in Langsam Library. The George Elliston Poetry Foundation sponsors a yearly poet-in-residence, and organizes programs to further the study and practice of poetry. The Foundation has attracted many fine poets who lecture and give workshops and classes. Past visiting poets have included: John Berryman, Robert Lowell, Robert Frost and others.

The Elliston Poetry Room contains a collection of 20th century English language poetry as well as writings on poetry. The collection is available for browsing and study by poetry students and scholars, or those who merely enjoy the genre.

The common denominator between the Foundation and the Elliston Poetry Room is Jim Cummins, curator of the Elliston Poetry Collection. Mr. Cummins began working at the University in 1978 after graduating from UC in 1971 and receiving a Masters of Fine Arts in creative writing from The University of Iowa. His office is in The Elliston Poetry Room where he acquires and maintains the poetry collection and helps organize the various events held in the room including readings, panel discussions, workshops, and classes.

Upon visiting the Elliston Poetry Room, you may be surprised to find not only poetry, but also paintings by local artists. Mr. Cummins recently added the art in an effort to “…make [the Elliston Poetry Room] not only a room of poetry, but also a room of art,” he said. “George was a lover and supporter of all art – music, painting, theatre – and in her spirit I wanted to add paintings to accompany the poetry.”

It is this desire to continue to advance the vision of George Elliston that has led to two new publications. Last year, the George Elliston Poetry Foundation introduced Short Vine, an annual publication edited by Katie Hartsock that includes poetry and fiction by U.C. undergraduate students. In May 2004, The Cincinnati Review will debut. The literary magazine, edited by Jim Cummins and Brock Clarke with Nicola Mason as managing editor, will feature reviews of current poetry and nonfiction.

“George Elliston’s generosity to the University of Cincinnati has created a lasting legacy that both celebrates poetry and inspires future poets,” said Jim Cummins. “The poetry collection and the events held in the Elliston Poetry room pay tribute to a woman with a remarkable spirit and a love for poetry.”

The Elliston Poetry Room is located in Langsam Library room 646 and is open Monday through Friday from 1-5pm. A list of events, all free and open to the public, is available on the English department’s Web site at http://www.artsci.uc.edu/collegedepts/english/events

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