Manuscripts Collection
The Loft Literary Center was founded in 1974 in a loft above a Minneapolis bookstore by a group of writers who were looking for a place to meet. In early 2000 the organization moved into its present home, a Minneapolis warehouse called The Open Book. By 2006, the Center's web site claimed it was the "nation's largest and most comprehensive literary center, offering programs and services for readers and writers." The Loft offers classes and workshops on writing at all levels, and also has a mentoring program for writers.
The collection documents the Center's teaching of writing skills, its sponsoring of nationally known authors to work with local authors and to teach seminars, and readings by local writers. The collection also includes materials relating to the Amnesty Action Project, in which members sent letters in support of the release of political prisoners.
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota
Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics should
Accession number: 13,758; 14,106; 14,345; 14,476; 15,136; 16,082; 16,413
Processing and cataloging of this collection was supported with a Basic Project grant
awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission
Processed by: Alissa LaChapelle, November 2006; Shelby Edwards, November 2011
Catalog ID number: 001712676
Newsletters produced by The Loft Literary Center are available in the Minnesota Historical Society serials collection.
Mailings, pamphlets and similar materials.
Press clippings, fliers, itinerary, memos, and similar items.
This project enlisted members of the writing community to write letters in support of release of political prisoners. There are copies of letters or notices sent for the relief of individual prisoners.
Political prisoners include Jack Mapanje, Jaki Seroke, Zwelakhe Sisulu, Nguyen Chi Thien, Dai Qing, Lee San-ha, and Bligesu Erenus.
Information regarding the second annual Arts Over AIDS Series that took place from April 20 through May 20, 1990. The stated mission of the Arts Over AIDS Task Force is to encourage communities across Minnesota in creative, life affirming responses to HIV/AIDS.
Correspondence and list of readers.
Award agreements for programs such as the Loft creative nonfiction residency and the Loft awards of distinction.
Minnesota authors Carol Bly and Patricia Hampl hosted a program about books on Minnesota Public Radio. Folders include information about the Dayton Hudson grant, plans, correspondence, and a living list of great books.
Folders include agendas, minutes, handouts, Executive Director's reports, memos, and budget information.
Information, memos, correspondence, and minutes regarding a retreat that the Board took on May 17, 1992.
Minutes from the Board of Education, Special School District No. 1, from June 26, 1990 and September 26, 1995. The minutes and the correspondence are in regard to The Loft's lease with the School District.
The Loft presented an anti-censorship reading, entitled "Everything Jesse Helms ever wanted to know about sex but was afraid to ask," on May 20, 1990. Included in the folder are readings and press releases regarding censorship, not only in Minnesota but also throughout the United States, and information on grants provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.
Agendas, membership lists, and evaluations relating to a forum of the Minneapolis Downtown Council on Art & Pornography: Images in the Mirror.
Folders include lists of students and the student evaluations of courses taken.
Folders include lists of students and the student evaluations of courses taken.
Submissions from teachers describing the courses they would like to teach at the Loft. Included with the proposals are biographies of the teachers.
Descriptions of courses offered at the Loft with registration information.
Budget information regarding faculty pay, along with contracts.
Memos and correspondence related to the Loft's co-sponsorship programs with the Great Midwestern Bookshow (1985) and the Friends of the St. Paul Public Library (1987-1989).
Press releases, newspaper clippings, correspondence, and similar items detailing the Loft's involvement and programs with the deaf community, most notably the Northern Sign Theatre.
Minutes, funding information, background material, events overview, newspaper clippings, Minnesota Book Award materials, and evaluation of a festival sponsored by the Loft to celebrate books, authors and readings.
Cash account activity and similar budget charts.
Correspondence, reports, agendas, minutes, and goals.
Descriptions of various positions held at the Loft.
Minutes and correspondence relating to the Loft's proposed involvement with the Minneapolis Literacy Project.
Correspondence, minutes, and similar items.
Contracts for various positions such as creative nonfiction writer-in-residence and Minnesota writers career initiative program consultant.
Various publications released by the Loft including poetry and prose anthologies.
Proposals, correspondence, memos, meetings, agendas, and similar materials relating to the long-range planning of The Loft.
Includes mailing lists, registration forms, monthly membership reports, as well as class statistics.
Includes winning manuscripts (1987-1989), reports, grant information (1982-1990), and related material from a contest whose winners worked extensively with nationally known authors during the ensuing year.
Folders are subdivided by subject: contracts, directory, guidelines, judges, Jerome report, mentor series report, and winners.
The Mid-continent forum for the future of literature was held October 3-5, 1981 at the University of Minnesota. The participants met in eight different working groups: publishers, writers, librarians, media, critics, educators, distributors, and literature service organizations. The forum focused on the emerging influence of small presses throughout the country. Each group issued a statement that listed practical suggestions for actions to be taken by the individual groups.
Folder includes fliers, notes, and the Friends of the Minneapolis Public Library Annual Report from 1991.
Notes and summaries of the donor agreement between the Loft and the Minnesota Historical Society.
Information regarding the first national meeting of literary centers that occurred March 14-16, 1985.
Correspondence, lists of storytellers, and funding information relating to a program directed at children.
Applications and work samples.
Information regarding the visit of Oleg Vasiliev, deputy editor of "Foreign Literature," a monthly periodical from Moscow, on May 9, 1990.
Correspondence, notes, and memos related to the Open House Celebration that occurred on February 9, 1991.
Proposal and notes from the September 7, 1982 meeting.
Presented by The Loft and the Minnesota Dance Alliance.
Copies of a questionnaire distributed to Loft members to evaluate their needs and concerns.
Information and correspondence regarding readings that feature the work of The Loft's faculty to benefit the scholarship fund.
Fliers and schedules for readings.
Notes and information on the "Selected Shorts" short story radio program.
Bibliography of publishers and publications of Minnesota literature.
Goals, mission, and objectives.
Correspondence, timelines, schedules, and fliers.
Includes correspondence, memos, and a budget proposal.
Correspondence, press releases, and budget information regarding the "Voices of Exile" reading which took place on March 2 and March 9, 1990. Featured authors were Daniel Kunene, Frank Chipasula, and Innocent Banda.
Volunteer applications.
A weekend retreat sponsored by the Loft. Includes evaluations.
A video recording assembled for The Loft from programs made by the Arts &
Cultural staff of Twin Cities Public Television (KTCA, Channel 2). Subtitled