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 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.
June 20, 1981 - MPR’s Nancy Fushan interviews Tom Dunn, founder an director of Playwrights’ Lab (now known as the Playwrights’ Center), about the organization’s 10-year anniversary.
August 5, 1981 - MPR’s Bob Aronson interviews Eugene McCarthy on the possibility of him running again for Minnesota U.S. Senate seat.
August 10, 1981 - David Porter, professor and lecturer of classics and music at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, attempts to lighten the mood of classical music by playing with a 2x4 board.
August 24, 1981 - David Porter, professor and lecturer of classics and music at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, runs down his summer project of preserving his house and ruminates on its connection to the classics.
August 31, 1981 - Commentary on education from David Porter, professor and lecturer of classics and music at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota.