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.
January 18, 1991 - MPR’s Beth Friend interviews Minnesota writers Patricia Hampl and Carol Bly about the importance of reading during times of war. Interview takes place during The Gulf War.
January 25, 1991 - An All Things Considered interview with Larry Stark about ice fishing in Minnesota and the process of co-writing Hook, Line, and Shelter: Ice Fishing Tales And Photos, Too.
January 26, 1991 - A Voices from the Heartland essay by writer and poet Laurie Allmann on the balance of nature and palindromes.
February 8, 1991 - Writer and playwright Kevin Kling talks about slowly explaining how Minnesotans ice fish to people who don't understand.
February 9, 1991 - A Voices from the Heartland essay by writer and poet Laurie Allmann on nature and canoes. The piece is entitled Canoe Artist.
February 11, 1991 - Dan Olson chats with Nothando Zulu, a renowned Twin Cities Black storyteller. Zulu details the art of storytelling, interest from school children, and TV’s negative impact on storytelling. Segment includes Zulu sharing a story from Uganda.
February 16, 1991 - MPR’s Paula Schroeder interviews Sue Ann Martinson(?) about the latest issue of Sing Heavenly Muse!, a feminist literary magazine based in Minneapolis.
February 18, 1991 - MPR’s Dan Olson profiles the book Home Words : An Anthology of Creative Works. Olson interviews Patrick Malone, director of St. Stephens Shelter; and Derryl Peterson, one of the writing contributors, about project’s purpose and the work presented within publication.
February 26, 1991 - Minnesota writer Paul Gruchow speaks at a major conference about children, held at St. Mary's College. His speech was entitled "Children of Surfeit, Children of Want."
March 6, 1991 - MPR’s Mark Heistad interviews Minnesota author Michael Fedo about One Shining Season, a book that looks at baseball players who had only one great season throughout their careers.