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 9, 1993 - Minnesota Black writers Pamela Fletcher, Margaret Carlson, and Chen Lee Barksdale talk about the importance of the Loft Literary Center’s Inroads Mentoring Program providing ‘voice’ to writers of color.
January 14, 1993 - MPR’s Mike Maus interviews Korean American author Marie Myung-Ok Lee. The Hibbing native talks about her book, Finding My Voice. Lee also discusses dealing with racism.
January 15, 1993 - On this Voices from the Heartland segment, Stillwater author Dee Ready reads from A Cat's Life: Dulcy's Story. The work is centers on the life of a beloved cat…told from the cat's point of view.
January 22, 1993 - On this segment of Voices from the Heartland, Minnesota writer Susan Carol Hauser reads an essay on the past scenes of Wood Lake.
January 26, 1993 - S. Elizabeth Bird, professor at University of Minnesota Duluth, details her book, For Enquiring Minds: A Cultural Study Supermarket Tabloids. Bird compares contents within tabloids to folklore and myths.
January 29, 1993 - On this Voices from the Heartland segment, Laurie Allmann reads a version of her essay on the sub-boreal forest of Minnesota.
February 5, 1993 - St. Paul teacher and author Roger Barr talks about his book, The Treasure Hunt. The mystery follows characters as they hunt for a hidden medallion in Ramsey County. The story is based on the Saint Paul Winter Carnival and the Pioneer Press Medallion Hunt.
February 5, 1993 - On this segment of Voices from the Heartland, Duluth writer Barton Sutter reads an essay on cross-country skiing.
February 12, 1993 - On this segment of Voices from the Heartland, Twin Cities native and author Susan Carol Hauser reads her essay, Cake Walk.
February 25, 1993 - A Midmorning segment on F. Scott Fitzgerald and two plays at History Theatre about the author…Scott and Zelda: The Beautiful Fools by Lance S. Belville; and The Great Gatsby by John Carlile. Includes an interview with playwright Lance Belleville and professor Lloyd Hackle.