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.
April 29, 1974 - MPR’s Bob Potter interviews Mulford Q. Sibley, University of Minnesota political science professor, about President Nixon and impeachment. Sibley states Vietnam has caused a culture of deception in American politics and that impeachment of President Nixon should include Vietnam war crimes as well.
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.
June 17, 1974 - On this program of Perspective, MPR’s Connie Goldman interviews John D. Goodell, an author, filmmaker, scientist, researcher, and philosopher. Goodell talks about his book on the ancient strategy board of Go.
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).