The Octavia E. Butler Literary Society was established on May 24, 2013 during the founding meetings at the 2013 American Literature Association (ALA) Conference in Boston, MA. The Society sponsored its first two events: a panel on teaching Octavia E. Butler in the academy and a roundtable discussing the necessity of such a society in academia. The Society’s founders, Tarshia L. Stanley (President), Consuela Francis (Vice President), Gregory J. Hampton (Treasurer), Claire P. Curtis (Secretary), and Tananarive Due (Publicity), were committed to positioning the Society as a gathering place for academics, writers, readers, and future enthusiasts of Octavia E. Butler's work. The Society’s primary goal? To preserve the legacy and life of this influential author.
During its initial decade, the Society organized an essay contest at John Muir High School, Butler's alma mater, in honor of what would have been her 50th high school class reunion. The essay topic was required to focus on the works found in Bloodchild And Other Stories. The Society awarded $100.00 to the winner, Yendrick Porras. Additionally, The Society hosted three Octavia E. Butler Literary Conferences in 2016, 2018, and 2021, while also sponsoring panels at the ALA Conference, Modern Language Association (MLA) Convention, and College Language Association (CLA) Convention.
In keeping with the tenor of Butler’s work, The Society established itself as the site at which academics, writers, readers, and future readers of the work could all meet to preserve the legacy and life that was Octavia E. Butler.
During its initial decade, the Society organized an essay contest at John Muir High School, Butler's alma mater, in honor of what would have been her 50th high school class reunion. The essay topic was required to focus on the works found in Bloodchild And Other Stories. The Society awarded $100.00 to the winner, Yendrick Porras. Additionally, The Society hosted three Octavia E. Butler Literary Conferences in 2016, 2018, and 2021, while also sponsoring panels at the ALA Conference, Modern Language Association (MLA) Convention, and College Language Association (CLA) Convention.
In keeping with the tenor of Butler’s work, The Society established itself as the site at which academics, writers, readers, and future readers of the work could all meet to preserve the legacy and life that was Octavia E. Butler.