MOLLY VANDENBERG
Staff Writer
Illustration by Kara Cekuta/Staff IllustratorThe legacy of former English professor Dr. Albert A. Dunn, who died 10 years ago, lives on through the Albert A. Dunn Day of Poetry and Prose. This year, the event will take place on April 3. For more than 30 years, Dunn was a revered faculty member in the English department.
The day is full of readings of great literature and serves as an opportunity to raise money for Fredonia scholarships.
Originally planned to only be a one-time event organized by his widow Linda Dunn, the English Department, Fredonia alumni, the Department of Theatre and Dance and the Fredonia College Foundation, the day was so successful that it became an annual event held every April to help commemorate National Poetry Month.
A lot of preparation goes into making this day such a success.
“Since this is the ninth year, we kind of have it down to a science,” said Linda Dunn. “The Fredonia Foundation has a mailing list we have put together over the years with names of family, friends and some former students, some of whom have remained in contact with my family, English faculty, emeriti and present faculty, as well as other departments. Tom Loughlin of the Theatre Department was able to participate the first eight years and help promote the event in his department.
“I write an annual letter, and it is sent out with a participation form in the mail, which has usually gone out in early February,” Dunn continued. “When readings come in, I time and organize them for the program. Heather McKeever at the Fredonia Foundation has been a great partner in helping this event come about.”
Those who wish to read must have filled out an application ahead of time and have paid the reading fee. Faculty, alumni and friends pay $25 and students pay $5. This reading fee raises money to go towards the Albert A. Dunn Endowment of the Fredonia College Foundation, which awards a scholarship every year to an English major. Proceeds also go towards a book grant program, which allows students to build their own book collections.
“There have been some great readings and readers over the years. My husband and I met acting in a summer theatre program … and before he decided to go to graduate school in English he spent one trimester in graduate school in theatre. He had a wonderful reading voice and got to continue acting in front of his captive student classes,” said Linda Dunn. “So, the Day of Poetry and Prose promotes ‘the art of reading aloud.’ My husband was a wonderful teacher and the spirit of the day encourages the same enthusiasm for poetry and literature that he shared with his classes.”
The program is being held in a new venue this year, the Costello Community Room, in the Rockefeller Art Center’s Studio Complex.
It will be free to the public. Anyone will be permitted to come and go, and refreshments will also be served.