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 11, 1989 - MPR’s Mark Heistad talks with Gaylord Schanilec about handmade prints book project he completed, entitled Farmers. Schanilec details the approach in creating book.
November 25, 1989 - MPR’s Mark Heistad interviews Robert L. Reid, author of Picturing Minnesota, 1936-1943. The book highlights photographs from the Farm Security Administration.
March 16, 1990 - Mainstreet Radio’s Leif Enger takes a tour in northern Minnesota on the Northwest Regional Library bookmobile. It’s a bumpy ride for those in the vehicle, but a worthwhile trip for the many readers within the rural expanse.
March 23, 1990 - On this Midday program, Garrison Keillor talks about his show "The Monthly Meeting of the Moon Club of New York" and answers listener questions. The event is being staged at the World Theater.
March 26, 1990 - MPR’s Kate Williams reports on Worthington 12-year-old Jason Gaes, author of My Book for Kids with Cansur: A Child's Autobiography of Hope. When an 8-year-old, Jason thought his experience might be used to help other kids with cancer, so he folded 10 pieces of typing paper in half and created his book.
March 27, 1990 - On this Midday program, a presentation of a Mainstreet Radio report on rural Minnesota and the debate on how it should be viewed and described. Following report, MPR’s Bob Potter has a conversation with Paul Gruchow, local author and reporter; and George Donohue, a rural sociologist at the University of Minnesota about the differences between rural and urban Minnesota and answer listener questions.
March 30, 1990 - On this Midday program, MPR’s Bob Potter interviews author and poet Bill Holm. The two discuss Holm’s book Coming Home Crazy: An Alphabet of China Essays and the Tiananmen Square protests. Holm also answers listener questions.
July 16, 1990 - American anthropologist and author Jack Weatherford describes his book Indian Givers: How the Indians of the Americas Transformed the World.
July 17, 1990 - MPR’s Kitty Eisele profiles local writer Patricia Hampl, who has been awarded the MacArthur Award Fellowship. It is the latest honor bestowed on the author of numerous well-regarded works, including A Romantic Education and Spillville.
August 18, 1990 - MPR’s Mark Heistad talks with Evelyn Fairbanks, author of the book Days of Rondo. Fairbanks reflects on growing up in the Rondo neighborhood of St. Paul.