“Second Sunday Readings,” at the time a novel experiment to promote North Carolina authors and their works, originated in 1992 from conversations between H. G. Jones and Doris Betts. Both recognized that North Carolina was a fertile ground for creative writers, many of whom were not receiving adequate attention from their fellow citizens. The procedure seemed quite simple: Professor Betts would select two authors for each of the “Second Sunday Readings,” and the North Caroliniana Society would provide a mere token honorarium of $100 (later increased to $125) to each in lieu of travel expenses, thus truly testing Tar Heel loyalty. Although nonfiction was not to be excluded, the emphasis was on fiction, poetry, and drama of special interest to faculty and students in the Creative Writing Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

ln the beginning, “Second Sunday Readings” was the only regularly scheduled series of its type in the state. The readings drew leading authors, both natives and newcomers, and attendance was generally good despite competition from other Sunday afternoon activities, particularly athletic events that hogged all nearby parking spaces. It also attracted some young authors whose names have since become prominent in the literary world. Of the total of 122 individual readers, only two appeared twice (John Justice and Doris Betts). The series’ success, however, soon encouraged establishment of other readings in the area and around the state, and authors were given additional opportunities to be seen and heard. This emerging competition, along with parking problems, gradually eroded attendance in Chapel Hill. Although a tenth anniversary celebration was attended by 240 at the Carolina Inn on September 9, 2001, the series was suspended on April 14, 2002.

Logistics for “Second Sunday Readings” were provided by the North Carolina Collection in Wilson Library, but the credit for inviting participants in the first four years was due to Professor Doris Betts, the coordinator. Loaded down with her own literary activities and campus responsibilities (including chairing the Faculty Council), Professor Betts yielded the task in 1996 to her colleague, Professor Michael McFee, who continued to attract important authors to the series. They were responsible for persuading the following North Carolina authors to read from their works during the decade of “Second Sunday Readings,” and to Professors Betts and McFee the North Caroliniana Society remains deeply appreciative.