MARJORIE KINNAN RAWLINGS IN ST. AUGUSTINE VIA THE GEORGE SMATHERS LIBRARY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
The Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Society (Website) will hold its annual conference April 17-18 in DeLand. Now in its 37th year, the event is devoted to the life, work, and enduring influence of the Pulitzer Prize–winning author.
Best known for The Yearling and her memoir Cross Creek, Rawlings captured the
people and landscapes of Florida with uncommon clarity and affection. Not originally from Florida, Rawlings and her husband bought an orange grove in Cross Creek in 1928, believing it would give them the financial independence to concentrate on their writing. Their orange grove dream didn’t go according to plan and led to their divorce, but Rawlings fell in love with the landscape and people of Florida.
Each spring, the Society brings together scholars, teachers, writers, students, and devoted readers to explore her legacy and the broader tradition of Florida literature she helped shape. Sessions will range from literary analysis and historical perspectives to reflections on Florida’s natural heritage, along with film, music, and good food and conversation designed to spark connection as well as scholarship. The 2026 conference highlights include:
• Geoff Gates on interpreting Florida’s landscapes as a park ranger for the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park
• Daniel Cook on Rawlings and World War II-era Florida
• Friday celebration of literature and music with Paul Garfinkel and Leslie Kemp Poole
• Saturday afternoon boat excursion at Blue Spring State Park
The Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Society was founded in 1987 by the son of Philip S. May, who was the author’s attorney for nearly two decades. The Society fosters scholarship and community among those interested in Rawlings’ writing and Florida’s literary and cultural history. The annual conference moves throughout the state and connects place with story.
The conference will take place at the Northwest Square in downtown DeLand. For more details and registration information, visit RawlingsSociety.org.
