The Poetry Center was established in 1961 through the funding efforts of Vice President Albert E. Holland '34, who was interested in hosting poetry events on Trinity's campus. Faculty, students, and administrators participated in bringing poets to campus for readings and lectures, to critique and review student-written poetry, and later, to provide workshops for local high school students and English teachers.

In 1963, in conjunction with the Hartford Jewish Community Center, the “poet-in-residence” program was introduced; the Poetry Center arranged for a poet to stay on Trinity's campus for multiple days to visit classes, give public lectures and readings, and meet with students. The first poet to participate in this program was Richard Eberhart, and others included Karl Shapiro, Maxine Kumin, John Berryman, William Stafford, and W.S Merwin. In 1970, the poet-in-residence program expanded to one week.

In 1978, the program adopted a more formal structure and became known as the Trinity College Poetry Center, with Amelia G. Silvestri serving as its first Executive Coordinator and later, Director. The Poetry Center brought nationally recognized poets to Trinity including Philip Levine, W.D. Snodgrass, Dabney Stuart, Lucille Clifton, and Wendell Berry, to encourage and foster undergraduates' interest in poetry.

Trinity College in the Twentieth Century (2000) by Peter and Anne Knapp, p. 414.

The Trinity Reporter, March/April 1978, p. 5.

Trinity Tripod, 12/15/1964.