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.
December 5, 1978 - MPR’s Nancy Fushan presents a report on Minnesota Historical Society’s exhibit, called "The Wish Book." The exhibit explores the role of the mail order catalog in American life at the turn-of-the-century.
December 18, 1978 - Barbara Tuchman, author of A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century, speaks with Lynn Mitchell about the reality of the 14th century.
December 22, 1978 - Connie Goldman talks with various playwrights who tell her how they write plays.
January 15, 1979 - MPR’s Nancy Fushan Interviews Minneapolis poet Keith Gunderson, who talks about his work “3142 Lyndale Ave. So. Apt. 24: Prose Poems,” and writing poetry. Segment also includes Gunderson reading his poetry.
January 15, 1979 - Alex Haley discusses his Pulitzer Prize-winning novel 'Roots: The Saga Of An American Family' at a luncheon. He wrote most of the novel in a Club office. National Press Club
January 19, 1979 - Interview with author Jon Hassler, of Brainerd. Hassler was one of five Minnesotans that won $10,000 grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board for annual fellowships. Includes reading segments.
January 24, 1979 - MPR’s Nancy Fushan presents Playwright’s Laboratory, which showcases playwright Mark Frost’s “Between Flights,” a drama written especially for radio, with assistance from the Minneapolis Playwrights' Lab. Following radio play, Bob Gerrard, executive editor of Mankato Free Press; and listeners, share impressions and ask questions of playwright.
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.
February 12, 1979 - Piece for Black History Month on Frederick Douglas
February 14, 1979 - Ossie Davis, actor and author, talks about black oral tradition at the Science Auditorium on the campus of the College of Saint Scholastica in Duluth on March 29, 1978.Originally aired on WSCD's The Saturday Show.