This collection encompasses 50-plus years of interviews, readings, speeches, and reports on the vibrant literary scene in Minnesota. Not only home to giants F. Scott Fitzgerald and Sinclair Lewis, our state has an array of incredible contemporary poets, novelists, and playwrights. Their words make up majority of this collection.
Repeatedly being named the “Most Literate City in the United States,” the Twin Cities has played host to numerous visiting national writers via book tours, festivals, and lectures. Many recordings of these are also included.
This project was funded by the National Historical Publications & Records Commission.
November 15, 1996 - The words of longtime writer and political activist Meridel Le Sueur, who died yesterday at the age of 96. Le Seur objected to being called one of Minnesota's "treasures" -- that's a patriarchal term, she said -- but she was regarded that way. Meridel Le Sueur chronicled the suffering of women and families during the Great Depression. She was a blacklisted social activist, stuntwoman and - for a time - the voice of Betty Crocker.
November 18, 1996 - Hour 2 of Midmorning featuring Voices of Minnesota, an interview from the MPR archives with Meridel Le Sueur, who died at the age of 96. Le Sueur was a writer, stuntwoman, social activist and much more. Also featured is Rita Mae Brown, author of Rubyfruit Jungle and other bestselling novels about women of the South, is out with her fifth mystery novel co-written with her cat, Sneaky Pie Brown. "Murder, She Meowed " probes the depths of human depravity and the heights of feline genius."
November 19, 1996 - Mainstreet Radio’s Leif Enger reports on new children’s comic book which highlights the history of the Mille Lacs Ojibwe Band. The book, "A Hero's Voice," looks at broken treaties, important figures in Ojibwe history, and the spiritual tie between the tribe and the lake.
November 20, 1996 -
November 20, 1996 - MPR’s Mary Stucky reports on local poetry book The Palm of My Heart, which collects vivid poetry by African American children who live in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
November 24, 1996 - Managed health care is capturing headlines these days. Some say this type of health coverage is a blessing---others say it's a bit of a curse. Commentator Gary Eustice is a social worker from Hibbing. He has first-hand knowledge of trying to work within the confines of today's managed care system.
November 25, 1996 - An interview with Diane Glancy as part of the Voices of Minnesota series, part two of four (part one is a reading).
November 25, 1996 - A reading by Diane Glancy as part of the Voices of Minnesota series, part one of four.
November 25, 1996 - An interview with Diane Glancy as part of the Voices of Minnesota series, part three of four (part one is a reading).
November 25, 1996 - An interview with Diane Glancy as part of the Voices of Minnesota series, part four of four (part one is a reading).