Discipline: Literature

Shirley Barker

Discipline: Literature
Region: NEW HAMPSHIRE
MacDowell Fellowships: 1954
More: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shirley_Barker
Shirley Barker, (1911-1965) was an American writer, poet, and librarian from Farmington, NH. Barker received degrees from the University of New Hampshire, Radcliff College, and the Pratt Institute School of Information and Library Science. While completing her undergraduate degree, Barker won the Yale Series of Younger Poets Competition with her poetry collection The Dark Hills Under (1933). After receiving her degrees, Barker began work at the New York Public Library, where she worked in the American history section. Barker then published numerous essays, short stories, and novels, including Peace My Daughters (1949), Rivers Parting (1952), Swear by Apollo (1959), and Strange Wives (1963). Barker’s novels Rivers Parting and Swear by Apollo were Literary Guild selections and extremely successful. Barker then moved back to New Hampshire where she worked as a staff member of the Towle Writer Conference at the University of New Hampshire, and the editorial assistant for the New Hampshire Profiles magazine.

Studios

Schelling

Shirley Barker worked in the Schelling studio.

Marian MacDowell funded construction of this studio the year that the organization was established and the first artists arrived for residency. It was called Bark Studio until 1933, when it was renamed in honor of Ernest Schelling, a composer, pianist, and orchestral leader who served as president of what was then called the Edward MacDowell…

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