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 3, 1978 - In March 1978 the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks hosted the 9th annual Writers Conference. Minnesota Public Radio Arts and Cultural Affairs reporter Nancy Fushan attended the conference, this is the first of three programs with an overview of the themes.This year's theme is 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, professor at Northern Illinois University.
May 5, 1978 - First part of Walker Art Center's 1980 literature series with guests. Speakers include: William Burroughs, Tillie Olson, and Imamu Amiri Baraka. book, author, writer.
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. Rosenberg authored several books on art criticism including "The Tradition of the New". Since 1967, Rosenberg has been resident art critic for the New Yorker magazine.
May 22, 1978 - This is Playwrights' Lab/New Drama, an hour special that will feature short dramatic pieces by area playwrights. Arts reporter, Nancy Fushan talks with playwrights in residence Mark Frost and Jon Olive, who discuss their works.
May 23, 1978 - Ring Lardner, Hollywood playwright speaking about blacklisting in the 1940s through the 1960s for being a member of the U.S. Communist Party at the University of North Dakota Writers Conference.
June 10, 1978 - MPR’s Kate Williams talks with Minneapolis poet Jerri Alexander, who shares poetry from her book "Hurt Comes and Goes: Poetry of a Black American Woman."
June 23, 1978 -
July 5, 1978 -
July 10, 1978 - R. Buckminster "Bucky" Fuller addresses the Minnesota Press Club on Buckminster Fuller Day in Minnesota, so proclaimed by Governor Rudy Perpich.