click to bypass navigationJoaquin Miller -  Poet of the Sierras - Conference and Celebration
Joaquin Miller photo and poem

Ashland, Oregon      October 8 & 9, 2004

After pondering the following list of titles and descriptions, one might wonder how many people it would take to fill all these shoes? "Poet of the Sierras", the founder of California’s Arbor Day, prose stylist extraordinaire, horse thief, judge, Pony Express rider, newspaper editor, critic, gold miner, successful playwright, champion of Native American rights, Indian fighter, rogue and hero.

How about just one? How about Joaquin Miller?

For Joaquin, the world was a stage, a romantic setting. The cast included contemporaries, friends and rivals such as Walt Whitman, Jack London, Ambrose Bierce, Lillie Langtry, Ina Coolbrith, William Walker, Tennyson, Rossetti, Mark Twain, Bret Harte and Charles Warren Stoddard. His adventures through Oregon, Idaho and Northern California brought him fame in England, notoriety in America and provided fodder for much of his poetry and prose.

The conference is hosted on the beautiful campus of Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Oregon on October 8th and 9th, 2004. The program will include individual and panel presentations, keynote speakers, exhibits, poetry readings, documentaries, multimedia presentations, socials, and opportunities to share in the events, culture and splendor of Ashland, Oregon.

New! Download the tentative Conference Program!
Also, a printable Registration Form is now available.