The Federal Poets is the oldest active poet society in Washington DC. They gather once a month for the purpose of providing constructive criticism to its member’s original poetry in order to improve the work and increase the chance of publication. The Federal Poets achieved nonprofit status in 1944 and is open to any individual regardless of race, gender, religion, or ethnicity. The group published quarterly then semi-annually “The Federal Poet”, a pamphlet consisting of the best of its member’s works. When started in 1944 by Oliver C. Short the group was originally named “Bookfellows”, and their publication was “The Bookfellows”. However, after World War II ended there was an extreme change in membership due to the exodus of Washington DC at the time. The group therefore was renamed “The Federal Poets” and their publication became “The Federal Poet” being published bi-monthly. While originally meeting every two weeks, in the 1950s economic concerns forced the group to decrease the number of meetings to two a month and publish quarterly. After the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. the group felt there were security concerns and stopped all evening meetings only meeting once a month. The Federal Poets continue to meet in order to discuss and publish poetry to this day.