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.
May 17, 1980 - MPR’s Rich Dietman checks in with Ely storyteller Jackpine Bob Cary about the status of Cary’s humorous campaign for U.S. presidency.
June 17, 1980 - Writer, photographer, and artist Gordon Parks speaking at Our Creative Community Conference at the Spring Hill Center in Wayzata, Minnesota. Parks address was titled “Universality in Art.” Subjects of speech included his time in Minnesota, race issues, the Civil Rights movement, and education.
August 20, 1980 - Thomas Pearsall, professor of rhetoric at the University of Minnesota, talks with MPR's Dan Olson about how the English language evolved and how it is still changing. Program includes listener participation.
October 9, 1980 - MPR’s Nancy Fushan reports on a Milkweed Chronicle project that puts dance to poet Keith Gunderson’s Baja Journal. Fushan interviews the author and choreographer.
October 17, 1980 - MPR’s Nancy Fushan reports on on Jim Stowell's play, Desperados. Stowell is the director of the Palace Theater, where the play is being performed.
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 17, 1980 - MPR’s Nancy Fushan talks with Libby Larsen, a local composer; and John Olive, resident playwright at Actors Theater, about their musical collaboration of O. Henry’s Gift of Magi into a musical.
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.
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.