History of Miami Book Fair

The Book Fair began with a forward-looking vision to bring a cultural event to downtown Miami at a time when no one could envision what Miami would become today.  Always with an eye toward the future, Miami Book Fair has worked tirelessly from its inception to create innovative programs that embrace the vibrant and diverse communities that make up our Magic City. This unwavering commitment to trailblazing, impactful programming is at the very heart of the Miami Book Fair’s legacy, and it is precisely what has made us a standard-bearer in the world of literary and cultural programming.

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1984 Books by the Bay

1984

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1984

1984-Poster

In 1984, a small group of individuals, including educators from Miami Dade College, independent booksellers and librarians, founded Miami Book Fair International. Since then, Miami Book Fair International has grown into one of the largest and finest literary festivals in the nation.

1984

84-688-1_0007 Street Fair

1984

84-kids
1985 Miami Book Fair International

1985

1985-fgg1985 Miami Book Fair International FairGoer’s Guide

1985

1985-openingparty1985 Miami Book Fair International opening night party on the Miami Dade College Wolfson Campus building 1 terrace

1985

1985-autographlineMiami Dade College Wolfson Campus Atrium – fairgoers on line to enter the auditorium

1985

1985-brooksGwendolyn Brooks reading from her work

1985

1985-keillorline Garrison Keillor autographing books for fairgoers
1986 Miami Book Fair International

1986

1986-hellerJoseph Heller

1986

1986-computers

1986

1986-epicure Epicure Row, Miami Book Fair International’s first culinary component

1986

1986-CzeslawMiloszCzesław Miłosz

1986

1986-fairgoers Fairgoers browsing books at the Street Fair
1987 Miami Book Fair International

1987

Street Fair1987-745-11-20

1987

1987 Miami Book Fair International FairGoer’s Guide1987-fgg

1987

Carlos Fuentes 1987-carlosfuentes

1987

T.C. Boyle, Alan Cheuse and Barry Hannah1987-boyle

1987

Children’s Alley 1987-725-3-25

1987

1987 Miami Book Fair International
1987-690-5-16
1988 Miami Book Fair International

1988

Hunter S. Thompson1988-Hunter-S-Thompson

1988

Young readers at the Street Fair1988-823-4-31

1988

Norman Mailer1988-Norman-Mailer

1988

1988 Miami Book Fair FairGoer’s Guide
1988-fgg
1989 Miami Book Fair International

1989

Looking for books at the Street Fair
1989-834-19-11

1989

A1989-Art-Buchwaldrt Buchwald

1989

1989-Jimmy_BuffettJimmy Buffett

1989

1989-Poster1989 Miami Book Fair International Poster

1989

J1989-Julia_Childulia Child

1989

Alice Walker1989-Alice_Walker
1990 Miami Book Fair International

1990

Ray Bradbury1990-bradbury

1990

Dr. Eduardo J. Padrón, Alina Interián and Mitchell Kaplan1990-padron

1990

1990-Poster1990 Miami Book Fair International Poster

1990

J1990-franklinohn Hope Franklin

1990

Street Fair Performers1990-787-7-15

1990

1990-riceAnne Rice

1990

Looking for Waldo
1990-809-3-2
1991 Miami Book Fair International

1991

1991 1991-PosterMiami Book Fair International Poster

1991

Student 1991-W91-187-1-3Literary Encounters

1991

Young FairGoers asking questions during Student Literary Encounters1991-W91-186-1-25

1991

Peter Matthiessen1991-peter_matthiessen_002

1991

E.L. Doctorow
1991-el-doctorow_001

1991

Wallace Shawn1991-wallace_shawn_008

1991

Walt Disney World’s 20th Anniversary Celebration Tour at Miami Book Fair International1991-W91-181-3-30

1991

Children’s Alley1991-W91-186-2-15
1992 Miami Book Fair International

1992

1992 Miami Book Fair International Poster Unveiling1992-W92-98-2-8

1992

1992 Miami Book Fair International F1992-fgg-coverairGoer’s Guide

1992

Dr. Eduardo J. Padrón, Alina Interián and Mitchell Kaplan at ribbon cutting for the 1992 Book Fair1992-W92-197-1-22

1992

Mitchell Kaplan, poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko and Dr. Eduardo J. Padrón1992-W92-42-1-15

1992

Anne Rice1992-W92-202-2-12

1992

An Evening With Carl Sagan and Anne Druyan1992-W92-197-2-8

1992

Children’s Alley entrance1992-W92-204-1-21

1992

Epicure Row cooking demonstration1992-W92-201-3-16
1993 Miami Book Fair International

1993

Mitchell Kaplan, Alina Interián, Dr. Eduardo J. Padrón and guests at 1993 Miami Book Fair International poster unveiling and 10th Anniversary celebration at Vizcaya
1993-101-1-15

1993

1993-231-1-33Exhibitors at the 1993 Street Fair

1993

1993-118-3-23Marianne Williamson signing books

 

1993

1993-225-6-1Book Tumbling kick-off event in Children’s Alley

 

1993

1993-Poster1993 Miami Book Fair International Poster 

1993

1993-W93-54-1-35Oscar Hijuelos

 

1994 Miami Book Fair International

1994

Former First Lady Barbara Bush and Mitchell Kaplan at Miami Book Fair Luncheon, Biltmore Hotel
1994-171-3-35

1994

Nobel Prize winner Camilo Jose Cela and Dr. Eduardo J. Padron at Writing In Our Hemisphere: North and South Symposium 1994-218-2-17

1994

Guillermo Cabrera Infante, Nelida Piñon, Jamaica Kincaid and Susan Sontag at Writing In Our Hemisphere: North and South Symposium
1994-219-2-23

1994

Matt Groening1994-223-1-8

1994

Dave Barry, Calvin Trillin and Roy Blount Jr.1994-229-1-9

1994

1994 Miami Book Fair International Fairgoer’s Guide
1994-fgg
1995 Miami Book Fair International

1995

Fairgoers at the 1995 Miami Book Fair International1995-246-3-2

1995

Sahara Scull, Dr. Eduardo J. Padrón, Haydee Scull and friend1995-223-1-13

1995

1995 Miami Book Fair International Poster1995-Poster

1995

Studs Terkel1995-235-3-17

1995

Jonathan Kozol1995-223-2-34
1996 Miami Book Fair International