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It’s only fitting that the Erma Bombeck historical marker outside St. Mary’s Hall at the University of Dayton is now part of the Ohio Literary Trail, which honors the state's literary contributions and greats. The celebrated columnist and author graduated from UD in 1949.

The Bombeck marker is one of seven new sites on a digital Ohio Literary Trail map. Other additions include sites for Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Toni Morrison, poet Hart Crane, science fiction writer Leigh Brackett, 18^th U.S. President and memoirist Ulysses S. Grant, author Lowell Thomas and Ohio’s first Carnegie Library in Steubenville.

The digital Ohio Literary Trail map was launched in June 2020 with more than 70 sites. Criteria for inclusion on the Trail includes nonliving people or places that illustrate Ohio’s contributions to the literary landscape or literature nationally or internationally. The sites are physical places tourists can visit year-round and share information to educate a visitor, such as museums, permanent library displays, historical homes and Ohio Historical Markers.

The Ohio Historical Marker program is administered by the Ohio History Connection, Ohio’s statewide history organization. There are over 1,800 markers located across the state, with more than 50 literary-themed markers on the trail. Ohio History Connection also manages several of the historical sites on the Ohio Literary Trail.

The University of Dayton honors the legacy of Erma Bombeck through a popular biennial writers’ workshop, an international writing competition and a humor writer’s residency. For more information visit https://ermabombeckcollection.com.