 The first holder, Gwyneth Lewis, was followed by Gwyn Thomas

The United States Library of Congress appointed a Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress from 1937 to 1984.An Act of Congress changed the name in 1985 to "Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress".Laureates receive a US$35,000 stipend and are given the responsibility of overseeing an ongoing series of poetry readings and lectures at the library, and a charge to promote poetry.