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.
November 28, 2011 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer interviews James Hormel, the first openly gay U.S. ambassador, about his memoir "Fit to Serve." Hormel details the fight to become U.S. Ambassador was a long and ardous process but he says it was worth it.
December 2, 2011 - Jerry Dennis and Darby Nelson have written about lakes, great and small. What do we most value about lakes and what should be done to protect them? Guests: Darby Nelson: Author of "For Love of Lakes." Aquatic ecologist and professor emeritus, Anoka-Ramsey Community College. Served three terms as Minnesota State Representative. Former board president, Conservation Minnesota. Currently on the board of the Freshwater Society.
December 13, 2011 -
December 23, 2011 - Midday presents a broadcast of Of Mirth and Mischief, a performance of stories, winter fairies, and elves from writer and humorist Kevin Kling at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul.
January 13, 2012 - A Prairie Home Companion's Garrison Keillor joins Midday to talk about his long career in radio and where his popular program is headed. Keillor also answers listener questions.
March 9, 2012 - Two interviews from our Minnesota Voices series on the history of political protest in Minnesota. The program begins with a remembrance of anti-war protester and civil rights activist Marv Davidof who died recently. Reporter Dan Olson also interviews historian Rhoda Gilman, who's out with a new book, "Stand Up: the Story of Minnesota's Protest Tradition."
March 18, 2012 - On this episode of On Being, Krista Tippet interviews Minnesota writer Kevin Kling, who shares hear his own special angle on life's humor and its ruptures.
March 20, 2012 - Well spring seems to have arrived and with the unexpectedly warm days and nights, people all over Minnesota are rediscovering the simple joys of the season. Essayist Pete Smith says one of the simplest and most joyful of these is sleeping with the bedroom windows open.
March 23, 2012 - MPR’s Euan Kerr has a conversation with acclaimed photographer Alec Soth and Minnesota writer Brad Zellar about their collaboration on story about running away. The book is titled “House of Coates” and contains photography of ‘Lester B. Morrison.’
March 23, 2012 - The Daily Circuit Rewind-sounds and conversations you might have missed. Includes Retired General Peter Chiarelli on coming to terms with the psychological wounds of war, author and radio storyteller.