December 18, 1978 - On this Options program, Barbara Tuchman, author of A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century, speaks with Lynn Mitchell about the reality of the 14th century.
January 15, 1979 - Alex Haley discusses his Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Roots: The Saga Of An American Family at a National Press Club luncheon. He wrote most of the novel in a Club office.
January 31, 1979 - Paul Rosenblatt, professor of Family and Social Science at the University of Minnesota, discusses his studies of 19th century American diaries, including diaries from immigrants. The topic of grief within the writings is highlighted.
February 12, 1979 - On this Options program, a piece for Black History Month on Frederick Douglas.
March 8, 1979 - On the eighth day of The Vietnam Experience and America Today Symposium, held at Macalester College, guest speaker Dr. Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. shares his perspective of the Vietnam War through a history lens.
August 8, 1979 - Michael Fedo, author, talks with Claudia Hampsten, talks with author Michael Fedo about his book They Was Just Niggers about the the Duluth lynching of three Black men in 1920. Fedo describes how it affected the community and attitudes long after the murders of the young men. [Content Warning: some content, language, and statements used in this story may be triggering to listeners]
October 5, 1979 - On this segment of People On Books, Pamela Thompson reviews So Sweet to Labor: Rural Women in America, 1865-1895 by Norton Juster.
October 9, 1979 - MPR’s Mary Stucky reports on amateur historian John J. Koblas’ study of local places connected to F. Scott Fitzgerald. Report includes excerpt of Koblas speaking about various locations and their historical tie to the famous author.
December 14, 1979 - On this segment of People On Books, Iantha LeVander, former governor’s wife and Republican National Committee woman, reviews Alice: The Life and Times of Alice Roosevelt Longworth by Howard Teichmann.
March 14, 1980 - On this segment of People On Books, Ed Clark, editorial writer for the Miller Publishing Company, reviews Caroline by Thea Holme.