In the 1980s, MPR briefly broadcast New Letters on the Air, an audio literary magazine exploring the works of American writers. Series came from New Letters magazine, a literary quarterly of fine writing published at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
December 20, 1980 - This holiday episode of Letters on the Air, a KCUR literary program, contains several Christmas readings.
January 3, 1981 - Cyrus Colter, an African American novelist and short story writer reads the story A Chance Meeting from his award-winning short-fiction collection, The Beach Umbrella, in a live recording at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
January 10, 1981 - On this episode of the KCUR program New Letters on the Air, an interview with Richard Lee Rhodes, an American historian, journalist, and author of both fiction and non-fiction.
January 11, 1981 - On this edition of New Letters on the Air, poet Gary Gildner reads his works dealing with growing up in America.
January 17, 1981 - On this edition of the KCUR program Letters on the Air, James McConkey reads from his novel The Treehouse Confessions, published by Dutton.
January 24, 1981 - On this edition of New Letters on the Air, poet-in-residence for the state of Delaware Molly Peacock reads her work.
January 31, 1981 - On this edition of New Letters on the Air, the late poet E.L. Mayo is profiled. Mayo is considered a poet's poet.
February 21, 1981 - On this edition of New Letters on the Air, poet Philip Levine is profiled. Levine reads his poems and discusses his childhood in Detroit, the setting of many of his poems, as well as his experience in post-Franco Spain.
February 28, 1981 - This episode of KCUR’s New Letters on the Air is devoted to the work of California writer Kenneth Rexroth.
March 14, 1981 - On this edition of the KCUR program Letters on the Air, readings of the work of various writers with a focus on fathers.