The Poetry Center was established in 1961 by faculty, students, and administrators with an interest in bringing poets to Trinity's campus for readings, lectures, to critique and review student written poetry, and meet with local high school students.

In 1963, the “poet in residence” was introduced, in which the Poetry Center arranged for a poet to stay on Trinity's campus for multiple days in order to have more time to host events. 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.

Trinity Tripod, 12/15/1964.

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