The Contemporary American Authors Lecture Series is in its twenty-first year. 

This series at Marygrove College is an annual event bringing a nationally-known author to our campus for a public lecture and seminar with students. 

It began when the late Frederick P. Currier, a former Marygrove College trustee, attended a reception on campus and remarked that he would like to bring a national writer to Marygrove for a weekend. Mr. Currier’s start-up check soon followed his suggestion, and in 1989 nearly 600 guests of the College heard Gloria Naylor inaugurate the series.

Since then, through the generous support of corporate donors, foundations, advertisers,
friends, alumni, the Marygrove College Board of Trustees, and particularly S. Martin Taylor of
DTE Energy, Dr. Lillian Bauder of MASCO Corporation, and the Lillian and Donald Bauder Endowment, we have been able to keep the Series free and accessible to the entire metropolitan Detroit community. To date, nearly 8,000 people have joined us at the Friday night public reading to hear outstanding writers share their work. The Friday evening reading/lecture is followed by a reception and book signing.

In addition to Gloria Naylor, participants have heard the following critically acclaimed and prize-winning writers:

Over the life of the Series, nearly 400 Marygrove students have completed one or two-credit hour courses in the visiting authors’ works, and 84 Marygrove students have won Frederick P.Currier, Amy S. McCombs Writing Awards, a writing competition held in conjunction with the Series.

In April 2010, the Contemporary American Authors Lecture Series visiting author will be Walter Mosley.