The Prairie Schooner, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s international quarterly literary journal, will celebrate its 90th anniversary from 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 8 at Ploughshare Brewing Company, 1630 P St.

Kwame Dawes, Glenna Luschei Editor of Prairie Schooner, will speak, and retrospective displays of past cover art from the journals will be featured. Attendees will also be able to purchase subscriptions and copies of the journal and raffle tickets for a chance to win books, journals and other local goods. Birthday cake and drinks will be served. The event is free and open to the public.

Founded in 1927 under editor Lowry Wimberley, Prairie Schooner is one of the 10 oldest literary journals in continuous publication in the United States. It publishes fiction, poetry and essays by some of the best emerging and established writers in the United States and around the world.

During the past 90 years, hundreds of authors got their start at Prairie Schooner, publishing in the journal before mainstream publishing houses took a first look at their work. The magazine has presented work by Pulitzer Prize winners, Nobel laureates, and MacArthur and Guggenheim fellows.

Support from the University of Nebraska Press, the university’s Department of English and a 2001 endowment from Nebraska alumna and former Prairie Schooner editorial assistant Glenna Luschei has allowed Prairie Schooner to flourish.

“Not many literary institutions in America can actually celebrate 90 years of excellent service to the literary arts, so this is a party to celebrate the consistency, discipline and generosity that is characteristic of the state of Nebraska and its people. This is a celebration for Lincoln, the state and the country,” Dawes said. “We welcome all our former and present staff, our contributors past and present, and all who have subscribed to and supported the journals over the years to join in this celebration.”

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