Ned O'Gorman facts for kids

Edward Charles "Ned" O'Gorman (born September 26, 1929 – died March 7, 2014) was an American poet and teacher. He was known for his beautiful poems and for starting schools that helped children, especially in Harlem, New York City.

About Ned O'Gorman

His Early Life

Edward Charles O'Gorman was born in New York City on September 26, 1929. His father was Samuel Franklin Engs O'Gorman. His mother, Annette de Bouthillier-Chavigny, came from a noble family. Ned grew up mostly in Southport, Connecticut, and Bradford, Vermont.

He finished St. Michael's College in Vermont in 1950. Later, he earned a master's degree from Columbia University. There, he studied with a famous poet and scholar named Mark Van Doren. In 1957, while at Princeton University, he rented a room from novelist Caroline Gordon. His sister, Pat O'Gorman Schonfeld, was married to CNN executive Reese Schonfeld.

His Career as a Poet and Teacher

Ned O'Gorman was a talented poet. He received special awards called Guggenheim Fellowships in 1956 and 1962. In 1958, he won the Lamont Poetry Prize for his very first book of poems, called The Night of the Hammer. This was a big achievement for a new poet.

From 1957 to 1960, O'Gorman taught at Iona College in New Rochelle, New York. He also taught at Tougaloo College in Mississippi in 1965 and 1966. Later, he taught at other colleges like Brooklyn College, The New School, and Manhattan College.

From 1962 to 1965, he worked as the literary editor for a Catholic magazine called Jubilee. In 1965, the U.S. State Department asked him to be an American studies specialist. This meant he traveled to Chile, Argentina, and Brazil to share knowledge about American culture.

Speaking Out for Peace

In 1968, Ned O'Gorman joined many other writers and editors. They signed a pledge called the "Writers and Editors War Tax Protest." They promised to not pay certain taxes. This was a way to protest against the Vietnam War.

To support the peace movement, O'Gorman organized a special poetry reading. It was called "Poets for Peace." This event took place in New York City on November 12, 1967. Many famous poets read their work, including Robert Lowell, Richard Wilbur, and Stanley Kunitz. This event was even recorded and released as an album. Later, O'Gorman received the Rothko Chapel Award for his strong belief in truth and freedom.

Starting Schools for Children

In July 1966, Ned O'Gorman went to Harlem, a neighborhood in New York City. He volunteered as a teacher for a summer program called Head Start. This program helps young children from low-income families get ready for school.

Two months later, he started a children's library. He named it after Addie Mae Collins. She was one of four young girls who died in a church bombing in Birmingham in 1963. This library soon grew into a school called The Children's Storefront. It was a special school because it was completely free for all children living in the area.

Today, The Children's Storefront is still a very successful school. It has a large budget and many children waiting to join.

Later, O'Gorman started another center in 1998. It was called the Ricardo O'Gorman Garden and Center for Resources in the Humanities. He worked with two teachers from his first school. This center was also tuition-free and helped children learn. Ned O'Gorman worked hard to raise money for this center for many years.

His Writings and Friends

Ned O'Gorman wrote six books of poetry and five books of prose (regular writing, not poetry). He also published many articles and poems in different magazines.

He corresponded with many important cultural figures of his time. This means he wrote letters to them and they wrote back. Some of these famous people included Henry Miller, Susan Sontag, Marianne Moore, and Thomas Merton.

His Death

Ned O'Gorman passed away from pancreatic cancer at his home in Manhattan. He was eighty-four years old. He died on March 7, 2014.