Repeatedly 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. This curation presents broadcasts over the decades of writer’s voices in form of speech, interview, and discussion.
February 3, 1978 - On this MPR Special, a broadcast of "The Best is Yet to Be" panel discussion from The Zestful Generation: Exploding the Myths of Age, a two-day conference on aging held at the Dayton's Department Store Auditorium in Minneapolis. Introduction by WCCO TV's Bill Carlson.
February 3, 1978 - Writer and playwright Garson Kanin gives closing remarks to "The Zestful Generation: Exploding the Myths of Age" two-day conference on aging, held at the Dayton's Department Store Auditorium in Minneapolis. Introduction by WCCO Radio's Charlie Boone.
March 13, 1978 - Comedian and social activist Dick Gregory speaking at Concordia College. Gregory discusses an array of topics, including politics, education, racism, religion, and energy issues.
May 3, 1978 - University of North Dakota in Grand Forks hosted the 9th annual Writers Conference in March 1978. MPR’s Arts and Cultural Affairs reporter Nancy Fushan attended the conference and presents this, the first of three programs, with an overview on the theme of conference “Literature as Lamp and Mirror.”
May 3, 1978 - This Midday program deals with the shape of literature in our society with emphasis on writers in the Midwest. Presented is a portion of keynote speech at Midwest Writers Festival and Book Fair in the Twin Cities by Lucien Stryk, English professor at Northern Illinois University.
May 8, 1978 - Harold Rosenberg, art critic for the New Yorker and social philosopher, speaking at the “The Big Question: Art/Not Art?” mini-conference, sponsored by the University of Minnesota Studio Arts Department. In speech, Rosenberg presents his definition of art.
May 23, 1978 - Hollywood playwright Ring Lardner Jr. speaks about blacklisting at the University of North Dakota Writers Conference. Lardner Jr., a member of the "Hollywood Ten", was blacklisted from 1940s through the 1960s for being a member of the U.S. Communist Party.
July 10, 1978 - R. Buckminster "Bucky" Fuller addresses the Minnesota Press Club on Buckminster Fuller Day in Minnesota, so proclaimed by Governor Rudy Perpich.
August 24, 1978 - Author James Michener speaks before the National Press Club, discussing the state of the novel and talks extensively about many contemporary American writers.
September 18, 1978 - A broadcast of a National Town Meeting, where author and radio commentator Lowell Thomas talks about his experiences as an adventurer and journalist.