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 1, 1974 - MPR’s Connie Goldman interviews writer and performer Garrison Keillor, who discusses people watching, Powdermilk Biscuits, comedy, and music from A Prairie Home Companion.
March 6, 1974 - Local writers reflects on the importance of mentorship and community, as well as approaching writing as a craft at the Twin Cities Writer's Workshop conference.
April 16, 1974 - MPR’s Connie Goldman has a conversation with author Robert Pirsig about his book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. Pirsig shares how he started the book while also writing computer manuals, and finished it while spending time in a camper on the North Shore.
May 7, 1974 - Mulford Q. Sibley, a professor of political science at University of Minnesota, speaks about the anti-war movement during a campus peace rally in May, 1974.
July 11, 1974 - MPR’s Connie Goldman has a conversation with Ted Hall about small town weekly, “The Rainy Lake Chronicle.” Hall reflects on his career in journalism, writing, and publishing.
July 12, 1974 - Dr. Margaret and Norman Silberberg, co-authors of the book Who Speaks For The Child, provide viewpoints of overemphasis on reading in school curriculum and resultant problems.
July 15, 1974 - An interview with Stanley Kiesel, Minneapolis Public Schools' Poet-in-Residence, about inspiring children and introducing them to poetry.
July 15, 1974 - MPR’s Tom Stewart explores Sauk Centre in this audio montage, as the town celebrates Sinclair Lewis Days in honor of the hometown author’s contributions to American literature and his 1930 Nobel Prize for Literature (the first American writer to receive award).
August 4, 1974 - MPR’s Steve Monroe reports on Poetry Out Loud caravan in Minnesota. Caroline Vogel and poets from around the state speak to the strength of the poetry communities in Minnesota.
August 4, 1974 - On this Forum program, a broadcast of Millard Gieske speech on third party politics in Minnesota. Gieske explains what causes third parties and why they die.