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Minneapolis Writers Workshop Collection M/A 1996.01

Minneapolis Writers Workshop Collection M/A 1996.01
Creator:Writers' Program of the Work Projects Administration in the State of Minnesota.
Title: Minneapolis Writers Workshop Collection
Dates:1941-1997
Quantity: 4.0 boxes
Repository: James K. Hosmer Special Collections Library

History

The Minneapolis Writers Workshop was a byproduct of a Works Progress Administration (WPA) program. One of the programs formulated by Harold Ickes, Director of the WPA, was to write guidebooks for each of the 48 states in the Union. To accomplish this, the Minnesota office was instructed to hire 120 writers from the state relief rolls. Only one published author was found, Meridel LeSeur, plus one poet and two reporters. The others hired were people whose connection to the written word was tenuous: a typist from the newspaper, an English teacher, a classified ad seller, and 50 recently graduated English majors.

At the same time, unemployed teachers were hired by another arm of the WPA to teach writing. Many of the newly hired "writers" were inspired to take these writing classes which were taught at the Minneapolis Public Library. The students asked if one of the classes could be organized into a workshop. That workshop continued on as the Minnesota Writers Workshop even after WPA funds were discontinued in 1939.

The club initially met weekly at the Minneapolis Public Library or the 620 Club on Hennepin Avenue. Its members included a variety of writers, journalists, and academics from the Twin Cities area. Its members published work ranging from science fiction and romance novels to historical non-fiction and magazine articles. In 1972 the club was formally incorporated. Later meetings were held at the Minnesota Press Club and the Regency Plaza Hotel; and as of 2012, they were being held the Black Forest Inn.

Collection Description

The collection consists of 4 boxes containing biographical profiles, membership lists, examples of members' work, meeting minutes, scrapbooks, treasury information, conference programs, and photographs.

Related Material

The Hennepin County Library has a number of works by authors who were part of the Minnesota Writers Workshop, particularly C. D. Simak and Dan Brennan.

Special Collections also has the periodical Narrative Problem,1941-1943.

Subject Headings

Corporate Bodies

Minneapolis Writers' Workshop.

Subjects

American literature--Minnesota--Minneapolis.
Clubs -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis.

Table of Contents

Member Biographies 1970s -- Box 1, Folder 1
Clippings 1952-1978 -- Box 1, Folder 2
Clippings 1972-1987 -- Box 1, Folder 3
Clippings - Poems 1970s -- Box 1, Folder 4
Conferences 1985-1995 -- Box 1, Folder 5
Conferences -- First Annual 1985 -- Box 1, Folder 6
Constitution and Bylaws 1972 -- Box 1, Folder 7
Contests and Certificates 1972-1973 -- Box 1, Folder 8
Correspondence 1971, 1975 -- Box 1, Folder 9
Critiqued Works 1972-1973 -- Box 1, Folder 10
Minnesota Writers Workshop History 1997 -- Box 1, Folder 11
Brochures and Stationary 1970s -- Box 1, Folder 12
Inkweavers 1960s-1970s -- Box 1, Folder 13
Members' Work and Biographies 1950s-1970s -- Box 1, Folder 14
Membership Lists 1955-1960 -- Box 1, Folder 15
Membership Lists 1963-1986 -- Box 1, Folder 16
Membership Profiles 1950-1980s -- Box 1, Folder 17
Miscellaneous -- Box 1, Folder 18
Meeting Minutes 1941-1943 -- Box 2, Folder 1
Meeting Minutes 1944-1949 -- Box 2, Folder 2
Meeting Minutes 1950-1952 -- Box 2, Folder 3
Meeting Minutes 1953-1955 -- Box 2, Folder 4
Meeting Minutes 1956-1957 -- Box 2, Folder 5
Meeting Minutes 1958-1959 -- Box 2, Folder 6
Meeting Minutes 1960 -- Box 2, Folder 7
Meeting Minutes 1961-1962 -- Box 2, Folder 8
Meeting Minutes 1963-1964 -- Box 2, Folder 9
Meeting Minutes 1965-1966 -- Box 2, Folder 10
Meeting Minutes 1967-1969 -- Box 2, Folder 11
Meeting Minutes 1972-1973 -- Box 2, Folder 12
Newsletters 1941-1943 -- Box 3, Folder 1
Newsletters 1970 -- Box 3, Folder 2
Newsletters 1971-1972 -- Box 3, Folder 3
Newsletters 1973 -- Box 3, Folder 4
Newsletters 1974 -- Box 3, Folder 5
Newsletters 1975 -- Box 3, Folder 6
Newsletters 1976 -- Box 3, Folder 7
Newsletters 1977-1980 -- Box 3, Folder 8
Newsletters 1981-1988 -- Box 3, Folder 9
Newsletters 1991-1997 -- Box 3, Folder 10
Treasurer's Reports and Receipts 1960-1962 -- Box 3, Folder 11
Treasurer's Reports and Receipts 1964-1966 -- Box 3, Folder 12
Treasurer's Reports and Receipts 1967-1970 -- Box 3, Folder 13
Treasurer's Reports and Receipts 1971-1972 -- Box 3, Folder 14
Treasurer's Reports 1982-1992 -- Box 3, Folder 15
Articles of Incorporation 1972 -- Box 4
Clippings Scrapbook 1946-1959 -- Box 4
Member Biographies Scrapbook 1956 -- Box 4


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