Mary Jo Bang’s journey from humble beginnings to literary prominence is a testament to the transformative power of education and personal passion. Raised in Ferguson, Missouri, Bang developed a love of learning that propelled her through various fields of study and ultimately led her to poetry. Her life, marked by both personal upheavals and professional success, reflects a persistent pursuit of creative fulfillment.

Early Life and Academic Pursuits

Born as Mary Jo Ward in the quaint town of Waynesville, Missouri, Bang spent her formative years in Ferguson, a St. Louis suburb. Her upbringing was modest; her mother was a homemaker, and her stepfather drove trucks, neither having completed high school. Despite this, Bang’s intellectual curiosity was awakened at age seven when she discovered a bookmobile, sparking a lifelong love affair with reading.

Faced with financial constraints and unsure of her academic direction, Bang attended various colleges until she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1971, followed by a Master’s in Sociology by 1975, both from Northwestern University. Her personal life was equally busy; she married, had a son, and then divorced. Post-graduation, Bang’s indignation about the Vietnam War led her to Philadelphia, where she worked with a Quaker organization focused on social reform.

Shifting Careers and Personal Life

Initially drawn to the medical field, Bang earned a physician’s assistant degree from St. Louis University, returning to Missouri for the endeavor. In 1978, she remarried to a high school friend and moved to Evanston, Illinois, balancing her medical career while raising two children. As time passed, she sought to channel her love for creativity, enrolling in a creative writing night class at Northwestern University.

A trip to France spurred a newfound interest in photography, which she pursued vigorously after her husband's job relocation to London. She graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography from the Polytechnic of Central London in 1989. The marriage ended, and Bang returned to the U.S., abandoning the medical field for good. Her exploration in commercial photography in Chicago proved unsatisfying, prompting her to teach an adult creative writing class at a small college, where her passion for teaching and writing was rekindled.

Turning to Poetry

Bang was accepted into Columbia University's writing program, where the vibrant poetry scene in Manhattan inspired her to delve into poetry seriously. Her efforts paid off when she won a writing contest and published her debut poetry collection, Apology for Want, a year before completing her M.F.A. in 1998 at age forty-eight. The book was met with critical acclaim, laying the foundation for her subsequent volumes derived from her Columbia thesis work.

Tragedy and Triumph

In 2000, Bang returned to her roots in St. Louis, joining Washington University’s faculty. Tragedy struck in June 2004 when her son, Michael Donner Van Hook, an avant-garde artist in New York City, succumbed to a prescription drug overdose at thirty-seven. This devastating loss drove Bang deeper into poetry as a means of coping, resulting in her book, Elegy, which poignantly captures the year following her son’s death and solidifying her status as a significant poet.

Continuing Influence and Contributions

While Bang accepted various high-profile visiting professorships, including positions at the University of Iowa and Columbia University, she remained committed to Washington University. From 2005 to 2008, she directed the creative writing program there and continues to teach, influencing new generations of writers. Bang’s publication of The Bride of E., an abecedarian, showcases her trademark themes of time and mortality with an unexpected humor, woven through pop culture references.