Some of the most prized poetry readings in the literary world are housed in the Poetry Center at SF State.

Located in Humanities room 512, the center’s archive has grown to include recordings of such famous poets as Jack Spicer, Robert Duncan, Langston Hughes, Carolyn Lau, Joanne Kyger, and Allen Ginsberg, who have all read their work in front of an SF State audience.

The Poetry Center turned 50 last month, and poets and poetry lovers gathered in Knuth Hall on Feb. 22 to honor and celebrate the center and its archives.

Revered poets read selections from their work, from Adrienne Rich and Ishmael Reed to Beat poets Robin Glaser and Michael McClure.

Some people came specifically to hear certain authors read.

Charlyne Sarmiento, 22, an SF State graduate in English literature, said she wanted to hear Reed. “I like how laid back his writings are when they address normal, everyday things,” she said.

Others came to celebrate the center itself.

“The center is a very important resource to the community, and I want to support that,” said English professor Margaret Schoerke.

The invited poets themselves had their own reason for being at the event.

McClure said that he agreed to read his work for the celebration because he felt a strong connection to the center. “I went to the first reading given by the center. And in 50 years, it has been as important as City Lights Books and Pacifica Radio in literary history. It's helped shaped my life, and (the center) is a treasury of the imagination.”

Ruth Witt-Diamant, the center’s first executive director, created the center on the suggestion of poet Dylan Thomas. Theodore Roethke was the first to read his work at the Poetry Center on Feb. 21, 1954.

Current Executive Director Steve Dickison said he wants to continue the great tradition of the Poetry Center, especially in trying to expand the archive’s library to include more diverse poets.

Dickison said he wanted to bring in people that he had never seen read before -- poets who have talent but who aren’t necessarily being heard. “I’ve seen what’s happening on the literary scene, and some poets don’t get the spotlight they deserve,” he said, giving examples such as Kenneth Irby, Anne Carson, Wang Ping and John Williams.

Dickison said the most memorable readings during his tenure would have to be the one done in Philip Whalen’s honor on Aug. 30, 2002. “There were 27 people up on stage who wanted to read. I eventually had to stop it, because so many people wanted to read. It was a very moving, very phenomenal experience.”

All the proceeds collected from the 50th anniversary celebration will go toward supporting programs run by the center, including a current project whereby the archives are being preserved digitally on CDs and DVDs.

For more information on the center or to see what other poets the center has in its archives, visit The Poetry Center in the Humanities room 512. For more information of the poets who read that night, visit the Academy of American Poets’ Web site.