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IMCPL Presents Inaugural "Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. Award for Literature" Posthumously to Indy's Literary Son
April 30, 2007
Mark Vonnegut received the first Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. Award for Literature on behalf of his father from IMCPL Director of Programming and Project Development Chris Cairo.
In celebration of those whose literary works uniquely document and define the human condition, the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library has created its own national literary award named after the City's renowned literary son, the late Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
The first recipient of the esteemed "Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. Award for Literature" is the award's namesake, widely regarded as a master of contemporary American literature and a major shaper of how the late 20th century views itself.
The award was presented to members of Vonnegut's family in attendance at the 30th Marian McFadden Memorial Lecture on April 27, 2007 at Clowes Hall on the Butler University campus in Indianapolis.
The Lecture, co-sponsored by the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library Foundation, The Patricia Cornwell Foundation, and the Vivian S. Delbrook Visiting Writers Series at Butler University, was presented by Vonnegut's son, Mark Vonnegut, who spoke the words his father had prepared for his own McFadden Lecture appearance.
"It seems only fitting that, in the year of its inception, this award be given to the city's own literary son," said Chris Cairo, IMCPL's Director of Programming and Project Development, in presenting the award to the Vonnegut family.
"It is with great honor and sincere appreciation that we present the inaugural award to Kurt Vonnegut's family, Jill, Mark, Nanny, Edie and Lily, on his behalf," added Cairo.
This distinguished recognition, a custom-designed metal sculpture with Vonnegut's famous self-portrait, will be given annually to an important national or international literary figure who presents at the McFadden Lecture. Guest speakers, whose appearances are based upon their written bodies of work that both shape and identify the world around us, have included Norman Mailer, Saul Bellow, David McCullough and Judy Blume.
The award presentation comes during the "Year of Kurt Vonnegut," a community wide celebration of the author's life, literature and heritage spearheaded by the Library, the Cultural Development Commission and other community organizations.
On April 11, Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson and the Library announced the selection of Vonnegut's classic work, Slaughterhouse-Five, as this year's One Book, One City choice for a shared reading experience throughout the community.
