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.
March 22, 2001 - Minnesota Author Evelyn Fairbanks has died at the age of 72. Fairbanks wrote "Days of Rondo," a memoir about growing up in St. Paul's largest black neighborhood in the 1930's and '40's. The Rondo neighborhood was razed in the 1960's to make way for interstate 94. Fairbank's book was published in 1990 and is now in its fourth printing. In 1991, Fairbanks gave up city life and moved to the outskirts of tiny Onamia, Minnesota, where she operated a 20 acre tree farm. In a 1995 interview with Minnesota Public Radio's Beth Friend, Fairbanks described why she was drawn to the country.
April 3, 2001 - In the first half of the 20th century, the union movement in Minneapolis grew with the city. Minneapolis was the flour milling capitol of the country, and OTHER industries that supported flour milling, like banking and machine tools were growing as well. Unions were trying organize the workers, but were opposed by a coalition of employers that came to be known as the Citizens Alliance. The story of how these employers blunted the union movement in Minneapolis is the subject of a new book titled "A Union Against Unions." Author William Millikan says at the turn of the century, employers in Minneapolis didn't really have to worry about unions. But in 1902, the Teamsters went on strike, and employers had to change.
April 9, 2001 - MPR’s Lorna Benson interviews author and Minnesota Twins fan Mick Cochrane, who grew up watching team during one of the their winning streaks in the late 1960's. His love for the team inspired his latest novel, Sport. In the book, 13-year-old Harlan uses the regular rhythm of baseball and his beloved Twins to anchor his increasingly chaotic life.
April 23, 2001 - First Hour: Longtime Twin Cities television and newspaper reporter Dave Nimmer talks about the state of journalism today. Nimmer received this year's Graven Award for lifetime contributions to journalism at the Minnesota Journalism Center at the University of Minnesota.
May 3, 2001 - One of Minnesota's award-winning children's authors is out with a new book. Kate Dicamillo's won the Newbery Honor for her first story, "Because of Winn-Dixie." Now she's written "The Tiger Rising," which follows a boy named Rob, his friend Sistine, and a live tiger Rob finds while walking through the Florida woods. Dicamillo says her main goal was to write a good story.
May 4, 2001 - Second Hour: Live broadcast from the National Press Club: Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Tapes are available through the National Press Club.
May 7, 2001 - First Hour: U. S. Senator Paul Wellstone answers listener questions about priorities in Congress and his new book The Conscience of a Liberal.
May 8, 2001 - A St. Paul art history professor who secretly photographs women and then kills them is John Sandford's villain in his new book "CHOSEN PREY." In the 12th book in a best-selling series, Sandford's detective hero, Lucas Davenport wrestles with his personal life even as he chases the serial killer through the Twin Cities. Sandford was a reporter for the St. Paul Pioneer Press newspaper. He left journalism several years ago to begin writing the "Prey" books. Sandford told Minnesota Public Radio's Greta Cunningham sticking with the same main character though so many stories introduces some challenges.
May 8, 2001 - A St. Paul art history professor who secretly photographs women and then kills them is John Sandford's villain in his new book "Chosen Prey." In the 12th book in a best-selling series, Sandford's detective hero, Lucas Davenport wrestles with his personal life even as he chases the serial killer through the Twin Cities. Sandford was a reporter for the St. Paul Pioneer Press newspaper. He left journalism several years ago to begin writing the "Prey" books.
May 9, 2001 - Live coverage of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's address as part of the Distinguished Carlson Lecture Series at Northrop Auditorium. Following the speech and audience questions, MPR host Dan Olson speaks with three guests: Hamline University Religion Professor Mark Berkson, St. John's University Asian History Professor Richard Bohr, and local Tibetan leader Wangyal Ritzekura.