The following statement was released by PEN American Center upon the passing of Barbara Juliette Thompson Davis on October 21, 2009.

PEN American Center mourns the loss of Trustee Barbara Juliette Thompson Davis, who died on October 21, 2009.

A longtime journalist and award-winning short story writer, Barbara was a champion of free expression and the promotion of literature. She was a reporter for the Washington Post and conducted an in-depth interview with Katherine Anne Porter that was published in the Paris Review in 1963. Barbara went on to become a trustee of the Katherine Anne Porter Foundation, which joined PEN in its efforts to highlight those Americans fighting against censorship with the PEN/Katherine Anne Porter First Amendment Award. She became a trustee of PEN American Center in 2008, and was the Chair of the organization’s Freedom to Write Committee at the time of her death.

“PEN sends our deepest condolences and sympathy to Barbara’s family and friends,” said Steven Isenberg, Executive Director of PEN American Center. “We have lost a devoted advocate in the literary world, and the PEN family joins in mourning her.”

Messages of condolence can be sent to Barbara’s sons, Dr. Tamur Mueenuddin, who is the chief health officer with UNICEF in Pakistan; and Daniyal Mueenuddin, whose debut novel, In Other Rooms, Other Wonders, has just been nominated for a National Book Award. Messages can be sent via PEN American Center at info@pen.org or to 588 Broadway, Suite 303, New York, NY 10012.