The Redwood is pleased to host a special bicentennial celebration of “A Visit From St. Nicholas/Twas The Night Before Christmas”

Join visiting author/historian Pamela McColl as she presents the world-famous poem’s own story along with details of the life and times of the “Poet of Christmas Eve” Clement Clarke Moore (1779 NY, New York – 1863 Newport, Rhode Island). McColl, is the author of Twas the Night Before; The Art and History of the Classic Christmas Poem.  “The author’s commemoration is a detailed, thorough, and beautiful work for lovers of Christmas and fans of the holiday’s most famous poem.” – Kirkus Reviews.

McColl visits Newport as part of a fifty city national tour, speaking at dozens of libraries and museums on the poem’s publishing history and its outstanding art legacy. McColl’s presentation at the Redwood will include an overview of Clement Clarke Moore’s significant connection to Newport, Rhode Island, having owned a home in Newport in the latter years of his life and was directly involved in multiple civic projects – for which his name was added to the Rhode Island Hall of Fame. McColl will detail the vintage editions that have delighted ten generations of children, and the ongoing pastime of collecting these editions for private and public collections. She will share the great enthusiasm James Van Alen II of Newport had for the poem with Van Alen’s own adaptation of it, found in the archives of the Redwood.

The presentation will be followed by Q & A and a reception.

Monday, December 11^th

5 – 7 pm

Harrison Room

Free

AT CAPACITY: To join waitlist please email jgorman@redwoodlibrary.org