Jenny Lind Porter

Jenny Lind Porter (September 3, 1927 – June 27, 2020) was an American poet and teacher, and Poet Laureate of Texas from 1964 to 1965. She taught at multiple universities in Texas and was named one of the Outstanding Educators of America.

Early life and education

Porter was born in Fort Worth, Texas, on September 3, 1927, and grew up in Azle, a nearby town. Her mother named her after the Swedish opera singer Jenny Lind. Her mother would also read her poetry at a young age, to which Porter credits her own love of poetry. She published her first poem at the age of 14, a piece entitled "Mr. Johnson Goes to Washington" about Lyndon B. Johnson. She graduated from Paschal High School in 1944. She earned her PhD in English from the University of Texas at Austin in 1957, the youngest woman to receive a PhD from the school at the time. She also taught at Southwest Texas State College In 1968, she started teaching English at Huston-Tillotson College, becoming chair of their English department in 1970, going on to launch their creative writing program. In 1981, she established the Texas Poets' Corner at West Texas A&M University, donating from her own collection of rare books and artwork. Based in the Cornette Library of the university, the area is intended to expose students to poetry and other literature.

In 1981, Porter published The Siege of the Alamo, a poem that film historian Frank Thompson called "uncommonly beautiful", praising its contrast to the typical descriptions of the Battle of the Alamo.

Death and legacy

Porter died on June 27, 2020, in Austin, Texas, and was buried at Texas State Cemetery. 1970, received the Alice Fay Di Castagnola Award from the Poetry Society of America 1971, named an Outstanding Educator of America 1976, inducted into the Philosophical Society of Texas, one of the first women to be included 1979, received the Distinguished Diploma of Honor from Pepperdine University, the only woman to receive this honor at the time 1981, received the Dr. A. Joseph Armstrong Browning Memorial Award 1985, inducted into the Texas Women's Hall of Fame