The Poetry Center was established in 1961 through the funding efforts of Vice President Albert E. Holland '34, who due to his interest in brining poetry events to campus, . 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 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 at its first Executive Coordinator and later, Director. The Poetry Center has continually brought nationally recognized poets to Trinity including John Berryman, 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.