Literary Organization

American Writers Museum

As one of the most unique Chicago museums downtown, our mission is to celebrate the enduring influence of American writers on our history, identity, culture, and daily lives.

American writing is distinctive, diverse, and comes in many forms from across the nation. As the only museum devoted to American writers and their works, AWM connects visitors with their favorite authors and writings from more than five centuries, while inspiring the discovery of new works of every type – poetry, lyrics, speeches, drama, fiction, nonfiction, journalism, and more.

The authors and works we present are not meant to be a definitive list of who is the greatest or most influential. Instead, we present authors and works as part of a continuum that will grow and change. We hope you will visit us often to see what authors and works come next!

The American Writers Museum owes its existence to the vision, passion and tenacity of its founder, Malcolm O’Hagan. We are forever indebted to Malcolm for his generosity and his enduring belief that America’s great writers deserve a home all their own.

Upcoming Events

Sep20

Book ClubWest Loop

The Great Book Swap

10:00 AM • Sunday, September 20, 2026American Writers MuseumPresented by American Writers MuseumFree

Join your fellow book lovers and refresh your bookshelf at the Great Big Book Swap! Bring in your gently used books and leave with some new-to-you books! Books can be of any genre and at any reading level. Books for donation can be dropped off at the museum’s front desk during open hours beginning Thursday, September 17. Any books remaining after the swap will be donated to our nonprofit partners across the city. Come swap, explore, and discover your next chapter at the Great Big Book Swap! link text

Sep23

Author EventBilingualThe Loop

Author Talk: “Migrant Heart” by Reyna Grande (IN PERSON)

6:00 PM • Wednesday, September 23, 2026American Writers MuseumPresented by American Writers Museum$8

Join us for an illuminating conversation at the AWM with writers Reyna Grande and Erika L. Sánchez. The two bestselling authors sit down to discuss Grande’s new book "Migrant Heart: Essays About Things I Can’t Forget," an ambitious memoir in essays that illuminates the hidden cost of the American Dream and the complex journey of healing that follows survival. Books will be available for purchase and Grande will sign them following the program. This is an in person program at the American Writers Museum. This program will also be livestreamed, and you can register for the link to the online broadcast here. More about Migrant Heart: What is the true power of stories? Can they heal the jagged edges of a traumatic childhood? Is the cost of telling the story worth the price of the cure? Reyna Grande has spent her career capturing the raw reality of life across borders. In this intricate and deeply intimate memoir-in-essays, the author of the landmark memoirs The Distance Between Us and A Dream Called Home again turns her gaze inward to explore the scars left by migration and the ongoing work of stitching herself back together. With her signature blend of sophistication and raw honesty, Grande interrogates how living between two nations, two languages, and two identities has shaped the woman, mother, and writer she has become. Moving from the legacy of violence in her hometown of Iguala, Mexico, to a bittersweet family vacation in Europe spent reconciling her own impoverished past with her children’s world of abundance, she uncovers startling truths about the nature of survival. Whether being racially profiled in the Arizona borderlands or finding unexpected wisdom from the slugs in her garden, Grande unflinchingly asks: How do we bridge the gap between who we were and who we have become? How do we turn pain into power? When memory threatens to define us, how can we use story to heal while still honoring our boundaries? Migrant Heart is a powerful testament to Grande’s role as a storyteller and cultural witness. It expands our understanding of life in the United States and the complex people who cross and live within its borders. It is an essential read for the seekers, the dreamers, and anyone who believes in the enduring, transformative power of finding one’s voice. Praise for Migrant Heart: “Migrant Heart is the exact book I needed during this tumultuous time. These essays should be taught across the country. Reyna’s stories of surviving and thriving as a Brown woman in the United States are seamlessly told through her sharp, vibrant prose. This is a book I will return to again and again.” —Erika L. Sánchez, New York Times bestselling author of I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter and Crying in the Bathroom “With heart and verve, and her own particular candor, so warm like a sun, Reyna Grande writes about writing, memory, the Ayotzinapa 43, the cruelties of the border, menopause, slug sex, and queen bees. I love Reyna’s way of seeing the world. These essays are heart-big.” —Ingrid Rojas Contreras, Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of The Man Who Could Move Clouds “Migrant Heart is deep, gorgeous, and full of unexpected chambers that will by turns unsettle you, infuriate you, comfort you, and, if you let them, heal you. And while much darkness lies in many of these essays—of human nature, of life, of our nation—ultimately, they are illuminated with love.” —Xóchitl González, Pulitzer Prize finalist and New York Times bestselling author of Olga Dies Dreaming

Oct8

Author EventPoetryThe Loop

Micheal O’Siadhail – Poetry Reading with Q&A

11:00 AM • Thursday, October 8, 2026American Writers MuseumFree

Irish poet Micheal O'Siadhail reads from and discusses his latest collection, "The Essential Poems," followed by a book signing at the AWM. Join us for a special afternoon poetry reading and Q&A with acclaimed Irish poet Micheal O'Siadhail, who will read from and discuss his latest collection "The Essential Poems". O'Siadhail will be joined in conversation by Parneshia Jones, Director for Northwestern University Press. Books will be available for purchase and O'Siadhail will sign them following the program. Light snacks and refreshments will also be available. With an illustrious literary career that has spanned over fifty years, renowned poet Micheal O'Siadhail has cemented his place on the international stage. From his debut collection, "The Leap Year" (1978), to his latest collection, "Desire" (2023), O'Siadhail captures evolving struggles with love, faith, and humanity. Here, spanning the entirety of his outstanding career, is the essence of his masterful body of work. The Essential Poems voyages through traditional and innovative poetic forms, investigating love and passion, joy and loss, world-shaping events and personal experiences. O'Siadhail sounds the depths of meaning and evokes wonder, surprise, anguish, and delight. A lyrical meditation on the relationships between humanity and nature, despair and faith, and the richness of courage in the acts of healing completes what proves to be this unforgettable and necessary collection of the inimitable Irish poet.

Dec3

Gospel artist and scholar Charrise Barron discusses her book "The Platinum Age of Gospel" at the AWM, an "American Prophets" program.

Author EventChristianThe LoopVirtual

American Prophets: The Platinum Age of Gospel (ONLINE)

6:00 PM • Thursday, December 3, 2026Virtual EventPresented by American Writers MuseumFree

Minister, gospel artist, and scholar Charrise Barron visits the American Writers Museum to discuss her new book The Platinum Age of Gospel: The Years When Crossover Music Changed Everything, which tells the story of how Black gospel music crossed over, reshaped American popular music, and transformed the culture at large. This is the livestream of an in person program at the American Writers Museum. When you register for this event, you will receive access to the livestream link. This program is presented in conjunction with the AWM’s special exhibit American Prophets: Writers, Religion, and Culture, a powerful new exhibit that takes you on the ultimate exploration through spirituality and storytelling. American Prophets is supported by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its Religion and Cultural Institutions Initiative.

Dec3

Author EventChristianThe Loop

American Prophets: The Platinum Age of Gospel (IN PERSON)

6:00 PM • Thursday, December 3, 2026American Writers Museum$8

Minister, gospel artist, and scholar Charrise Barron visits the American Writers Museum to discuss her new book "The Platinum Age of Gospel: The Years When Crossover Music Changed Everything," which tells the story of how Black gospel music crossed over, reshaped American popular music, and transformed the culture at large. Books will be available for purchase and Barron will sign them following the program. This is an in person program at the American Writers Museum. This program will also be livestreamed. This program is presented in conjunction with the AWM’s special exhibit American Prophets: Writers, Religion, and Culture, a powerful new exhibit that takes you on the ultimate exploration through spirituality and storytelling. American Prophets is supported by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its Religion and Cultural Institutions Initiative.

Dec9

Book FairThe Loop

Get Lit: Santa's Book Fair

5:30 PM • Wednesday, December 9, 2026American Writers Museum$21.05

Get into the holiday spirit and jumpstart your shopping at Get Lit: Santa’s Book Fair, a holiday twist on the original grown-up book fair! Join the American Writers Museum and local, independent Chicago bookstores for this special holiday event. Enjoy beer, wine, and the night’s specialty cocktail, The Red Nose, a delicious winter cocktail. Plus, be on the lookout for the big man in red for photos and holiday stories! This is 21+ event. Attendees must show a valid photo ID at the door to enter.

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