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Shambaugh House

ADDRESS
430 North Clinton Street

PLACE TYPE
Happenings Haunts and Hangouts University Building

Website

The Shambaugh House is the home of the International Writing Program (IWP) on the University of Iowa campus.

From City Guide: Iowa City by Jan Weissmiller:

Catty-cornered across the street from the Dey House is the Shambaugh House, home to the International Writing Program. Founded in 1967 by Paul Engle, it currently brings in forty writers—recent visitors include Hans Castellanos Moya and Etger Kerret—from countries all over the world for ten-week residencies each fall. Prairie Lights hosts readings by the fellows each Sunday afternoon during their tenure.

Stories

Place

Mo Yan at the International Writing Program

Mo Yan participated in the International Writing Program in 2004, attending events, programs and readings at the Shambaugh House on the University of Iowa campus during the residency.

“MO Yan (莫言).” MO Yan (莫言) | The International Writing Program, iwp.uiowa.edu/writers/mo-yan.

Place

Paul Engle Creates the International Writing Program

In 1967, Paul and Hualing Engle founded the International Writing Program at the University of Iowa.

The notion to start a program for foreign writers came to her one day in 1966, while she and Engle were on an outing at the Coralville Reservoir. As Paul swam, she thought about her troubles integrating into the community of writers that Engle had brought to Iowa City. When he rejoined her for a boat ride on the lake, she mentioned her desire to start a similar program exclusively for established foreign writers. His immediate reaction was: “That’s the craziest idea I’ve ever heard!”

The idea worked and today over 1,500 writers have attented the IWP. In 1976, over three hundred writers nominated the Engles for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Alumni, University of Iowa. “Brothers and Sisters of the Pen.” Iowa Alumni Magazine: Brothers and Sisters of the Pen, 1987

Place

Tomaž Šalamun at the Shambaugh House

Home of the International Writing Program, the Shambaugh House hosted Tomaž Šalamun during his time in the residency as well as during his return for the 40th Anniversary of the IWP in 2007.

University of Iowa, The International Writing Program

Audio

W.S. Merwin Q & A at the Shambaugh House

W.S. Merwin answers questions from an audience at the International Writing Program. He discusses how politics and the media can intervene in the life of an individual. Merwin also identifies poets that have influenced his work, with a specific focus on Spanish modern poets.

Audio only:

The University of Iowa Libraries, May 2, 2005: http://digital.lib.uiowa.edu/cdm/ref/collection/vwu/id/1828