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.
December 12, 1980 - MPR's Tom Meersman interviews Minnesota writer Frederick Manfred, who shares events from his life and how it affected his writing. Manfred’s novels include Lord Grizzly and the recent Sons of Adam.
December 19, 1980 - A presentation of excerpts from 1980 Minnesota Writers Conference, held in Rochester. Part one features writing sessions "On Writing Fiction" by Judith Guest, and "Short Story Dynamic" by Carol Bly. Beryl Byman was the writer, producer, and director of program.
December 26, 1980 - A presentation of excerpts from 1980 Minnesota Writers Conference, held in Rochester. Part two features remarks by writers Michael Dennis-Browne, Carol Bly, Judith Guest, and John Judson. Beryl Byman was the writer, producer and director of program.
January 25, 1981 - This portion of "Options" contains profiles of two creative men: the architect, master planner, and holistic builder Paolo Soleri; and the Chilean poet and Nobel laureate Pablo Neruda.
February 12, 1981 - Stanley Kiesel, poet in residence for Minneapolis Schools, talks with MPR’s Dan Olson about education, poetry, and his new book, The War Between the Pitiful Teachers and the Splendid Kids.
May 11, 1981 - Ely’s Jackpine Bob provides commentary on disarmament and his frustration of military nuclear buildups.
May 21, 1981 - Virginia Kunz, a local author and historian, comments on the history of prostitution in St. Paul, Minnesota.
May 28, 1981 - Local historian and author Virginia Kunz comments on the energy crisis’s in Minnesota’s past and how 20th century problems are taking us back to 19th century solutions.
June 5, 1981 - With the contemporary discussion on mass transit, local historian Virginia Kunz reflects on the deep impact Minnesota railroads have and still have on our everyday life.
June 9, 1981 - Ely’s Bob Cary (a.k.a. “Jackpine Bob”) provides a humorous commentary on the history of America’s pastime, baseball.