Jackson, Lydia O. (Lydia Octavia), 1902-1984

Poet laureate. Grafton, North Dakota.

From the description of Papers, [ca. 1960-1984]. (State Historical Society of North Dakota State Archives). WorldCat record id: 17799430

Author and poet, of Grafton, N.D.; b. Lydia O. Svarte; married Arthur Jackson.

From the description of Papers, 1911-1984 (bulk 1933-1984). (University of North Dakota). WorldCat record id: 28410255

Co-associate Poet Laureate of North Dakota (1975), Co-poet Laureate (1979-1983) and Poet Laureate (1983-1984).

Lydia O. Jackson was born near Grafton, North Dakota, March 5, 1902, one of eight children of Karl Olaf and Inga Schelstad Svarte. After graduation from high school, she taught in a rural school. In 1920 she married Arthur Jackson, a farmer near Grafton. She began to write poetry seriously in the 1930's, recording her poem "Home" in November, 1934. Jackson filled 34 notebooks with 1,183 poems which reflect her thoughts about home and family and the goodness she saw in people and nature. While living quietly as a farm wife in North Dakota, she was a member of numerous poetry organizations and the recipient of many awards. She maintained life-long friendships with other poets across the U.S. through correspondence. She died April 3, 1984.

From the description of Papers, 1908-1984 (bulk 1933-1984) (University of North Dakota). WorldCat record id: 17787094

Co-associate Poet Laureate of North Dakota (1975), Co-poet Laureate (1979-1983) and Poet Laureate (1983-1984)

Author of RHYMES FOR EVERY SEASON (1943), SELECTED POEMS (1961), PARDON MY GAFF (1965), A PEACE GARDEN OF VERSE (1967).

From the description of Poetry publications, 1939-1984 (inclusive). (University of North Dakota). WorldCat record id: 17859237