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.
May 27, 1994 - On this installment of Voices from the Heartland, Twin Cities native and author Susan Carol Hauser reads her essay on problematic bats interrupting a writer’s peace of mind.
May 30, 1994 - Professor and author Suzanne Bunkers talks about All Will Yet Be Well: The Diary of Sarah Gillespie Huftalen, 1873-1952, a book she edited about the Iowa farm girl who became an impactful educator. Huftalen was credited for bringing country school teachers into the Iowa State Teachers' Association.
May 31, 1994 - A Midmorning interview with local journalist and novelist John Sandford, aka John Camp, on his book, Night Prey.
June 3, 1994 - On this installment of Voices from the Heartland, Minnesota travel writer John Shepard reads an essay about his father and canoe lessons in the wilderness.
June 7, 1994 - Morning Edition’s Bob Potter interviews merger and acquisitions analyst Robert Bergeth about his book, 12 Secrets to Cashing Out: How to Sell Your Company for the Most Profit.
June 10, 1994 - On this installment of Voices from the Heartland, Duluth writer Barton Sutter reads Tischer Creek, his essay tour on a favorite waterway.
June 27, 1994 - MPR’s John Rabe talks with Toni McNaron, author and University of Minnesota professor, about the next challenges in gay and lesbian community after recent successes. McNaron also shares her thoughts on overcoming prejudice, building inclusion, and creating change that allows for lesbian and gay people feeling that they can come out.
July 1, 1994 - A walking tour of F. Scott Fitzgerald home on St. Paul’s Summit Avenue with Robert Solotaroff, an English professor at the University of Minnesota. Fitzgerald rewrote the manuscript that became his first novel, This Side of Paradise, at the residence.
July 1, 1994 - On this installment of Voices from the Heartland, Minnesota writer Susan Carol Hauser reads her essay, Bread and Words.
July 2, 1994 - Weekend Edition segment of Duluth author Michael Fedo reading an essay about a 4th of July memory.