William D. Mundell

William Daniel Mundell (December 30, 1912 – December 24, 1997)[2] was an American poet who served as Vermont's poet laureate from 1989 to 1997. He published six anthologies of poetry.

William D. Mundell
The Brattleboro Reformer, Monday, December 14, 1987 photo[1]
Born(1912-12-30)December 30, 1912
South Newfane, Windham County, Vermont
DiedDecember 24, 1997(1997-12-24) (aged 84)
South Newfane, Windham County, Vermont
EducationMarlboro College, Marlboro, Vermont and Middlebury College, Middlebury, Vermont
Known forPoet Laureate of Vermont 1989-1997
HonoursStephen Vincent Benét Award, 1968

Biography

Mundell was born in 1912, and he died on Christmas Eve 1997, in a 200-year-old farmhouse in South Newfane, Vermont, in the same room in which he was born.[2] He attended Middlebury College but dropped out during the Depression to support his family.[3] During World War II, he served as a radar operator in the Pacific. After the War, he took a year at Marlboro College.[4]

Mundell was a foreman with the Vermont State Highway Department, a selectman, justice of the peace, and auditor for the Town of Newfane. He was a carpenter, stonemason, painter, and a fine photographer, noted for his studies of frost on windows and ice in brooks — which appeared in Life Magazine, March 5, 1971.[5] An expert skier, he built one of the first rope ski tows in Vermont.[6]

Mundell was Executive Editor of Poet Lore magazine, and taught poetry at the Cooper Hill Writers Conference.[7] In 1989, he was named his state's poet laureate by the Poetry Society of Vermont.[2] He was the second person to hold this title, after Robert Frost.[2]

On February 18, 1998, the Vermont House and Senate passed Joint Resolution 123, "celebrating the remarkable life of Vermont's Poet Laureate and artist extraordinary William D. Mundell".[8]

As part of New York Public Radio, Readers Almanac series, Mundell discussed his 1977 collection Mundell Country: New Poems on June 26, 1978. The 23 minute audio file may be streamed at the NYPR Archive Collection.

Awards
  • Stephen Vincent Benét Award, 1968
  • Vermont Poet Laureate, 1989–1997.[9]

Works

Mundell's photographs and poetry appeared in The New Yorker, The Atlantic, American Forests, Poet Lore, Life, and Ladies' Home Journal.[10][3] He published six volumes of poetry:

  • Hill Journey (Stephen Greene Press, 1970)[11]
  • Plowman’s Earth (Stephen Greene Press, 1973)[12]
  • Mundell Country (Stephen Greene Press, 1977)[13]
  • Finding Home (Cooper Hill Books, 1984)[14]
  • A Book of Common Hours (Greenhills Books, 1989)[14]
  • The Fun of Hollerin’ (Cooper Hill Books, 1998)[15]

References
  1. Theresa Maggio (photographer), Newfane, Vermont,[e-address for private use,] to Jerry J. Carbone, e-mail, 2 September 2020, "Photo and article on Bill Mundell- permission," privately held by Jerry J. Carbone,[e-address for private use,] Brattleboro, Vermont
  2. Prince, Bonnie (December 27–28, 1997). "Poet laureate William Mundell Dies at 84". The Brattleboro Reformer. Vol. 85, no. 257. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  3. Bronk, Thelma (1985-10-30). "Poet William Mundell to speak to Woman's Club". The Brattleboro Reformer. p. 11. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  4. "U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls, 1798-1958". Ancestry. Records of the U.S. Marine Corps, Record Group 127; National Archives in Washington, D.C. October 1942. p. Roll 0542. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  5. "Gallery & Craftsman of Vermont: William D. Mundell". Life. 70 (8): 8–10. March 5, 1971. ISSN 0024-3019. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  6. "Ski Tow Planned for Slope of Round Mountain West of Town". Brattleboro Reformer. November 2, 1937. p. 1.
  7. "[Ad for Cooper Hill Writers Conference, August 13-27, 1972]". Bennington Banner. April 29, 1972. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  8. "J.R.H. 123. Joint resolution celebrating the remarkable life of Vermont's Poet Laureate and artist extraordinary William D. Mundell". Journal of the Vermont Senate. February 18, 1998.
  9. Associated Press (August 15, 1989). "South Newfane Poet Mundell Honored". Rutland Daily Herald (Rutland, Vermont). p. 5. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  10. Maggio, Theresa M. (1987-12-14). "William Mundell's poetry reflects his love of Vermont". The Brattleboro Reformer. p. 13. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  11. Ogden, Samuel R (1970). "VL Reports-On Books". Vermont Life. 25–26 (Winter): 53. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  12. Mundell, Daniel (1973). Plowman's Earth. Brattleboro, Vt.
    : Stephen Greene Press.
  13. Morrissey, Charles (1978). "Books of Special Vermont Interest". Vermont Life. 32–33 (Autumn): 39. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  14. "Book Reviews". Vermont History. 58–59: 278. 1990. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  15. "Book Reviews". Vermont History. 66–67: 78. 1998. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
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