Ina Coolbrith

Ina Donna Coolbrith was an American poet, writer, and librarian, born on March 10, 1841, in Nauvoo, Illinois. She was the first poet laureate of California and the first librarian of the Oakland Public Library. Coolbrith was also known for her contributions to the literary scene in San Francisco during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Coolbrith's family moved to California in 1851, where she grew up in the Sierra Nevada foothills. She began writing poetry at a young age and published her first poem in the Golden Era magazine when she was just 16 years old. In 1861, she moved to San Francisco and became part of the city's literary community, which included writers such as Mark Twain and Bret Harte. Coolbrith's best-known works include her poetry collections, "A Perfect Day" (1881) and "Songs from the Golden Gate" (1895). Her poetry often celebrated the natural beauty of California and the West, and she was known for her use of vivid imagery and lyrical language. In addition to her writing, Coolbrith was