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 17, 1992 - Midmorning’s Paula Schroeder invites Laurie Allmann into the studio for a chat about owls. Segment includes owl sounds, followed by a poem.
January 17, 1992 - An interview with Michael Fedo about family, writing, and his book Chronicles of Aunt Hilma.
January 22, 1992 - MPR’s Paula Schroeder interviews member of Saint John's Hill Monastic Manuscript Library about the background and purpose of housing microfilm of medieval manuscripts at the monastic institution.
January 24, 1992 - Midmorning’s Paula Schroeder interviews writer and educator Patricia Weaver Francisco, who details the importance of using family experiences and dynamics in developing one’s writing.
January 24, 1992 - On this Voices of the Heartland, an essay on kids sports by Duluth writer Barton Sutter.
January 30, 1992 - LaVyrle Spencer, local Twin Cities romance writer, discusses the genre, expanding into family fiction, and book marketing.
February 1, 1992 - Minneapolis author Lawrence Sutin comments about the lives of authors…one of dreams and struggle.
February 7, 1992 - MPR’s Cathy Wurzer profiles the 10th Anniversary of Minnesota Voices Project Competition. Segment includes interviews with Catherine Meyer, managing editor of New Rivers Press; Sharon Oard Warner, author of Learning to Dance and Other Stories; and poet Mark Vinz, author of The Weird Kid.
February 7, 1992 - Nancy Raeburn reads from her book, Mykonos: A Memoir. The title was winner of the 1990 Minnesota Voices Project.
February 14, 1992 - Midmonring’s Paula Schroeder gets recollections from Cloquet Valley State Forest district ranger about J.C. "Buzz" Ryan, a longtime forester who died on February 14th, 1992.