Celebrate Springfield’s literary legacy through its famous authors and literary landmarks in this virtual lecture by Dr. Kate Benson.

Discover the rich literary history of Springfield, Massachusetts in this online lecture with Dr. Kate Benson. Known as the birthplace of renowned authors such as Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel), whose whimsical stories captivated readers worldwide, Springfield boasts a legacy of creativity and storytelling. Learn about William Pynchon, the city’s founder and one of the earliest authors in American history, whose controversial book The Meritorious Price of Our Redemption left an indelible mark on early colonial literature and modern authors like Springfield natives Robert B. Parker and journalist Samuel Bowles.

This lecture will also explore iconic literary landmarks such as Johnson’s Bookstore and the offices of Merriam Webster, the oldest dictionary publisher in the United States. We’ll dive into the significance of the Springfield City Library, a historical establishment that has supported the intellectual growth of the city for centuries, and touch on Springfield’s connection to the development of American publishing.

Perfect for literature enthusiasts, history buffs, and educators, this session offers a window into how Springfield shaped and was shaped by its literary greats and cultural institutions. Join us on March 13th at 7:00pm to celebrate the stories, authors, and establishments that make Springfield a true literary treasure.

About the Lecture Series & Presenter

This virtual lecture is part of the Winter Lecture Series, co-presented by the Springfield Preservation Trust and Springfield Museums. The lecture will be streamed on the Springfield Preservation Trust Facebook Page.

The lecture will be presented by Dr. Kate Benson. Dr. Benson is the award-winning author of Hospital Hill and its companion novel, Shadows in the Ward. She is also the author of Behind the Walls, a volume on the history of insane asylums in institutions in New England. She is a special education teacher and architectural photographer who leads a lecture series on the history of mental illness and its treatment. She is currently hard at work on a number of asylum projects. She is also the owner of Otherwords Press, an independent publishing imprint representing authors from all over the world. Kate is a former Springfield Preservation Trust board member and lives in Western Massachusetts with her husband, her beagle, and a very feisty cat.

About the Springfield Preservation Trust

Founded in 1972, the Springfield Preservation Trust strives to preserve and protect properties in Springfield that have architectural or historic significance. As the only non-profit, non-government advocacy group for historic preservation in Springfield, the Trust will continue to be the voice of preservation into the future. To learn more, visit our website at springfieldpreservation.org.