News Release — September 3, 2024

Harry Ransom Center’s Latest Exhibition, Freedom to Write, Freedom to Read: The Story of PEN, Celebrates Creative Freedom

AUSTIN, TX — The Harry Ransom Center at The University of Texas at Austin is excited to announce the opening of its latest exhibition, Freedom to Write, Freedom to Read: The Story of PEN, on November 2, 2024. This exhibition, which runs through August 18, 2025, delves into the storied history of PEN, an international organization that has long stood at the forefront of the fight for freedom of expression. Guest curated by Marion Wynne-Davies, Professor at the University of Surrey, the exhibition draws extensively from the archives of English PEN and PEN International, both housed at the Harry Ransom Center. Freedom to Write, Freedom to Read traces the evolution of PEN from its founding in London in 1921 as a dining club for Poets, Essayists, and Novelists (P.E.N.) to its status as the world’s foremost association of writers, operating in over 90 countries.

“There are thousands of papers in the PEN collection at the Harry Ransom Center covering over one hundred years and choosing what to include proved both fascinating and daunting,” said Wynne-Davies. “I hope that the items chosen for the exhibition will inspire visitors to support authors in their fight for the freedom to write and to exercise their rights to choose the books they read.”

The exhibition explores key moments in PEN's history, such as its opposition to the Nazi book burnings in the 1930s, and spotlights influential figures including Radclyffe Hall, Toni Morrison, Arthur Miller, Salman Rushdie, and Margaret Atwood. It also highlights the efforts of everyday individuals who have tirelessly promoted freedom of expression.

“Freedom to speak our thoughts is a much-cherished personal freedom, but as this exhibition shows, we have sometimes had an inconsistent record of defending the speech of others,” says Ransom Center Director Stephen Enniss. “Freedom to Write, Freedom to Read recounts the complex history of free speech in America and around the globe, and I hope will remind visitors of our responsibilities to one another in a free and democratic society.”

PEN’s reputation as a global advocate for imprisoned writers and against censorship grew significantly during the 1980s and 1990s. In 1981, PEN’s Writers in Prison Committee established the Day of the Imprisoned Writer, an annual event to raise awareness of writers jailed for their views and to honor those killed for their beliefs. The exhibition brings attention to PEN’s pivotal role in high-profile cases, like the advocacy for Ken Saro-Wiwa, a writer and environmental activist executed in Nigeria in 1995. These cases solidified the importance of the Writers in Prison Committee, which continues to be one of PEN's most active and vital groups today.

As one of the leading international writers' organizations, PEN remains committed to its core ideals: celebrating literature, defending free expression, protecting writers at risk, supporting writers in exile, and promoting linguistic rights globally. With over 140 centers, PEN’s influence is felt worldwide. London remains home to its central operations, and in 2015, Jennifer Clement became the first woman elected President of PEN International. PEN continues to establish new centers and holds annual congresses to advance its mission.

The Harry Ransom Center invites visitors to explore this powerful exhibition that not only celebrates PEN’s remarkable history but also underscores its continuing relevance in today’s world.

The exhibition has been made possible by the generous support of Tocker Foundation, the presenting sponsor, whose commitment to the preservation and promotion of literary history is invaluable.

For more information, please visit ransom.center/story-of-pen

For the HRC teaching guide on PEN, please visit hrc.utexas.edu/teaching/pen

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