During her lifetime (1915-1981), Isabella Gardner published four distinguished books of poetry. The great-niece of Isabella Stewart Gardner and a cousin of Robert Lowell, Gardner was a professional actress for several years before moving to Chicago, where she served as an associate editor of Poetry magazine from 1952-1956. In 2000, BOA published Isabella Gardner: The Collected Poems as part of its American Poets Continuum Series, and established the Isabella Gardner Poetry Award. The award is presented biennially to a mid-career poet with a new book of exceptional merit.