Katherine Anne Porter Literary Center
Kyle, TX, 78640 US / TX
Location Description
A gift from the “Angel” Foundation, established by Curt Engelhorn, a nephew of Katherine Anne Porter’s childhood friend, Erna Schlemmer, initially funded the operation of the Katherine Anne Porter Literary Center. From 2002-2004 the Burdine Johnson Foundation funded the Katherine Anne Porter Young Writers program. Subsequently, an annual gift from the Burdine Johnson Foundation expanded the Visiting Writers Series, which has brought to the Center writers such as Pulitzer Prize winner Annie Proulx—the first writer to read at the Center—as well as National Book Award winners Tim O’Brien and Robert Stone, Booker Prize winner Roddy Doyle, Pultizer Prize winner Richard Ford, and U.S. Poet Laureates Robert Haas and Charles Simic. Each year six to eight writers read at the Center. All readings are taped and then made available on video at Front Porch, the MFA Program in Creative Writing at Texas State University’s online journal. In 2002 the house was designated a National Literary Landmark. In 2006, due to the efforts of Kate Johnson, the house was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Currently, Texas State University leases the house as part of a cooperative project between Texas State and the Hays County Preservation Associates, established by Lila Knight. Since 2010 the Burdine Johnson Foundation has funded all events at the Center, its daily operation, and its writer-in-residence.
Location Category
- HOUSES - [general]
Architecture Style
- 1800s / Civil War
