McCarthy, educator, poet, actor, and host of Poets and Writers WEHC 90.7 will share about his life and experiences for a Special Collections & Archives presentation. He is a resident of Winston-Salem, NC and Abingdon, VA.
He spent his childhood in the mountains of East Tennessee and Western North Carolina and later moved to the Piedmont where he grew up playing ball and being influenced by Wake Forest University. McCarthy will share stories about the over 350 interviews he has conducted for Poets and Writers (with Ivy Sheppard) primarily from the Southeast including Barbara Kingsolver, Pat Conroy, and Wake Forest personalities Edwin and Emily Wilson. McCarthy’s latest book of poems is Never read a how to book: Poems by Henry McCarthy.
A reception will follow in the Special Collections and Archives Classroom (ZSR Library 624), along with a popup exhibit featuring items from Henry’s donated collection. This event will be recorded and available on our website.
14 Comments on ‘Dr. Henry Malcolm McCarthy: Tells His Story’
An inspiration to many, who has provided a valuable audio archive of interviews from poets and writers around the world to this and the next generation. Not only that, but by his grace, his warm heartedness, and his generosity of spirt has made contemporary poetry accessible to hundreds of thousands.
An inspiration to many, who has provided a valuable audio archive of interviews from poets and writers around the world to this and the next generation. Not only that, but by his grace, his warm heartedness, and his generosity of spirt has made contemporary poetry accessible to hundreds of thousands. Dr. Michael Hogan, Guadalajara, Mexico
Henry is a treasure and pops up,at all the right times and places
He rescued us from the obscurity of old age
Emily and ed wilson
A former classmate of my brother Bob and myself–I think my brother John had graduated before Henry joined us–at James A Gray high school in Winston Salem, NC in the late 50s, Henry reconnected with my brother Bob, who was then a professor at Emory and Henry College I think in the late 70s or early 80s (I don’t remember the story exactly) and told him a story about our meaningful connection in 1957 or 1958, I think, where we each were involved with the local Southern Presbyterian youth group’s governing body, if memory serves me right. I think I reached out to Henry when I heard this story, maybe in the early 2010s, maybe a bit earlier. When I was visiting Bob and his wife Rachel, who has since passed away, in 2022 following a memorial service that we had had at Home Moravian Church for my wife, the former June Quackenbush who also attended James A Gray High School, Bob and I joined Henry on the Emory and Henry campus one morning for a delightful conversation on his radio show. Though our contact is primarily through email now, I consider him a friend and fellow traveler, a unique and kind person, whose personal story is inspirational. Blessings upon him and upon all those myriads of people he has touched with his interest, his curiosity and his kindness.
Henry and I met serendipitously only a few months ago. We have been e-mailing and getting together with greater frequency. We seem to have a number of “touching points” and mutual interests. Joanie and I will attend the event for sure. Thank you for doing this. He has been a great source of inspiration and encouragement
Henry is a fierce advocate of the human spirit who delights in each individual’s story. I’m glad he is being honored in this way.
Proud to be your father-In-law.
Even more than the honor of being interviewed by Henry is the interplay between two natural human beings instead of two academics. It was like two pals sharing stories, no one was “on” and to my mind the only way something truly memorable and unique can take place. I am truly grateful. As an old folk singer would put it, “long may you run.”
A prince of a fellow!
Henry-how how wonderful! Thank you so much! Your radio interviews are truly a regional and national treasure, and I feel sure they will be appreciated by future
generations who want to research the
literature of our little slice of the world.
You are a treasure.
I met Henry when he was my high school English teacher. We were freshmen and new to the world. Henry had a way of making literature exciting. I encountered him again at a poetry reading in Abingdon, Virginia. I recognized him instantly. I’ve been proud to call him a friend since.
Henry is an great story-teller, both in poetry and in person. His encouragement of so many writers through his radio show is a great gift to the literary world. And his delightful personality has enlivened our writers group in Abingdon for many years.
Dr. Henry Malcom McCarthy is a literary man who makes poems bloom with his generous heart.
Henry is an entertaining and inspiring story-teller. He is an ideation person who has a distinctive world view that is poised in the present moment–lively and fun!