On May 24, 1901, Paul Laurence Dunbar made a public appearance at the Indiana State Normal School in Terre Haute (now known as Indiana State University).
The poet, Paul Laurence Dunbar, has been secured to give a reading in the Normal Hall Friday night, May 24. Mr. Dunbar, next to Booker T. Washington, is probably the greatest living Negro, says President W. W. Parsons: "The only Negro who has ever written much poetry that has been accepted as a part of the world's stock of literature." Mr. Dunbar's wit, deep insight into Negro life, and ability to express that life lyrically will certainly bring to Terre Haute an enjoyable treat.
"Paul Laurence Dunbar at Normal." The Terre Haute Evening Gazette (Terre Haute, Indiana). May 1901.
An audience, nearly filling the spacious hall at the State Normal, greeted Paul Laurence Dunbar Friday night. Among them, as was fitting, were many colored people, for Mr. Dunbar's fame as a poet has reflected honor on the race. His voice is rich and mellow, of wide compass lending itself to the interpretation of feeling ranging from grave to gay. The audience was slow in dispersing, many remaining to be introduced to Mr. Dunbar.
"The Negro Poet at Normal Hall." The Terre Haute Evening Gazette (Terre Haute, Indiana). May 25, 1901.
The event included musical interpretations of some of Paul's poems performed by a vocal ensemble. The songs were written by Carrie Adams, who was chairperson of the music department at the school. Originally from Ohio, Adams wrote operettas, cantatas and anthems throughout her long career and became one of the most prolific composers in America.
Paul Laurence Dunbar gave a most interesting reading to a large audience at Normal Hall last evening. The songs given by the Philharmonic Quartette made a pleasant feature of the entertainment. There were five of these songs, the words being by Mr. Dunbar and the music by Mrs. Adams. Mr. Dunbar heard most of these poems of his set to music for the first time, and seemed to enjoy Mrs. Adams' beautiful compositions as much as the audience.
"Dunbar at Normal. Colored Poet Delights Large Audience Last Night with His Poems - Shows Remarkable Talent." The Daily Tribune (Terre Haute, Indiana). May 25, 1901.
Paul Laurence Dunbar was the central figure of a most interesting entertainment at the Normal Hall last night. The reader's pleasant voice gave a few lines of a song, that made the auditors wish for more singing. A very pleasant feature was the songs by the Philharmonic Quartette that showed how readily Mr. Dunbar's verse lent itself to music, a very good test of poetry. The songs and music together will live long. Mr. Dunbar must have enjoyed hearing his own songs sung to him by the Philharmonic Quartette.
"Colored Poet Reads." The Terre Haute Express (Terre Haute, Indiana). May 25, 1901.
After Paul resigned from the Library of Congress, he earned much of his income from public appearances. He had been on the road for a long time, staying several weeks in Jacksonville, Florida, and then visiting Tuskegee, Alabama. He briefly returned home to Washington, D. C., before traveling to the Midwest. He told his literary agent Paul Reynolds that he wouldn't be away long.
Mr. Paul Laurence Dunbar left the city last Monday for an extended trip West. He will give recitals of his poems in points in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. He is in great demand as a writer and a speaker.
The Colored American (Washington, D. C.). May 25, 1901. Page 9.
I expect now that my western trip will not take me more than a week when I shall be back here by Thursday or Friday at the latest, therefore it will hardly be necessary for you to wire me at Chicago. However, if anything unexpectedly important happens, wire Mrs. Dunbar and she will know where to reach me.
Paul Laurence Dunbar to Paul R. Reynolds, May 21, 1901. Paul Laurence Dunbar collection, New York Public Library, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture (Microfilm edition, Roll 3).