Minnesota Public Radio was founded in 1967 by Bill Kling and Colman Barry, president of St. John's University in Collegeville, Minn. After the first station, KSJR 90.1-FM, went on the air, Kling began building a statewide network. Here's a sampling of some early recordings found in the MPR Archive.
February 25, 1976 - An audio tour with art historian Rena Coen on the history of religious art, especially the Norwegian immigrants to Minnesota in the 19th century.
February 26, 1976 - An audio tour with art historians Rena Coen and Lyndel King, who comment on the early Minnesota art scene and the foundation for the Minneapolis School of Art.
March 10, 1976 - An MPR News Feature where poet Robert Bly talks about reading poetry, about how he doesn't consider himself a Minnesotan poet, and that he rejects the idea of "regional poetry." The feature also includes Bly reading and a few fans of Bly speaking about the importance of his work.
March 14, 1976 - An interview with Richard Lyons, poet and professor of English at North Dakota State University, about his recent work of poetry and photography which offers a unique view of North Dakota.
March 25, 1976 - Audio excerpt providing an introduction to the Beat poetry scene, an American style of poetry.
March 26, 1976 - Reflections of the North documentary presents two Minnesota naturalists and artists: writer Sigurd Olson and photographer Les Blacklock, who offer readings and personal commentary on life in the ‘North.’
April 15, 1976 - Tom Wolfe, the author credited for developing "The New Journalism", speaks at the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks on the direction of "The New Journalism" for the 7th Annual University of North Dakota Writers Conference.
May 10, 1976 - Author of “Our Two Lives,” Madame Halina Rodzinski talks about her love and marriage to her husband, the conductor Artur Rodzinksi.
June 2, 1976 - Two poems read by David R. Solheim, North Dakota's Poet in the Schools.
March 4, 1977 - A news feature highlighting poetry written later in life and on presenting poetry to diverse audience on public buses.