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 26, 1972 - MPR’s Connie Goldman interviews Star Tribune columnist R.T. Smith on his book “Cult and Occult.” Smith discusses what he discovered while writing book, including views on witches and the unexplained.
January 20, 1973 - Eugene McCarthy speaks at the Peace Conference held at the Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, MN. The speech focuses on the ongoing Vietnam War.
February 12, 1973 - Founders of The Women Poets of the Twin Cities give voice to their poetry in a program dedicated to the anniversary of the birthday of women's rights leader Susan B. Anthony.
March 13, 1973 - A discussion with sociologist and writer Greg Stone about the sport and "drama" of professional wrestling, especially in the Twin Cities.
May 4, 1973 - An interview with Minnesota writers Patricia Hampl and James Moore, who edit a literary magazine "The Lamp in the Spine." Publication is primarily a poetry magazine, but also include essays on political and social interest.
May 6, 1973 - Part one of the MER documentary series, A Sense of Place. Program is titled “Anishinaabe Means Original People,” and focuses on conversations with Indian people about their feelings about the place where they live.
May 13, 1973 - Part two of the MER documentary series, A Sense of Place. Program is titled “Prairie People, River Folk and Denizens of the Big Lake Region” and focuses on how geography influenced the settlement of various regions in the state.
May 20, 1973 - Part three of the MER documentary series, A Sense of Place. Program is titled “A Region Within Walls” and focuses on motherhood with young children.
May 27, 1973 - Part four of the MER documentary series, A Sense of Place. Program is titled “How You Gonna Keep 'Em Down on the Farm?” and focuses on life on the farm and of the farmer.
June 3, 1973 - Part five of the MER documentary series, A Sense of Place. Program is titled “Mining, Music and Much Ado about Sports”, exploring the relationship between a miner and the giant corporation he works for.