A History of the Arts in Minnesota

A History of the Arts in Minnesota was first published in 1958.Since the earliest days of exploration and settlement, the people of Minnesota have done much to develop and preserve the arts. This book presents, for the first time in a single volume, an account of the outstanding achievements of Minnesotans in the fields of writing, music, the theater, painting, sculpture, architecture, and photography.There are three separate sections, each written by an authority on certain aspects of the state's cultural history. In a foreword Dr. O'Connor, a former professor of English at the University of Minnesota, comments on the significance of the arts in the community.John K. Sherman, former arts editor of the Minneapolis Star and Tribune, writes about music and the theater. He covered music, drama, dance, art, and books for his newspaper for many years. He also is the author of the book Music and Maestros: The Story of the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra (University of Minnesota Press).Grace Lee Nute, author of the section on books and authors, was a professor of Minnesota history at Hamline University and was for many years on the staff of the Minnesota Historical Society. She wrote a number of books on Minnesota history.Donald R. Torbert, contributor of the section on art and architecture, was an associate professor of art at the University of Minnesota and a specialist in art history.The book provides a fascinating and forceful panorama of the arts in Minnesota, one that includes Sinclair Lewis, Scott Fitzgerald, Dimitri Mitropoulos, Antal Dorati, the Walker Art Center, the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, and many other creators and creations known throughout the nation and the world. Each of the three subject matter sections is also available in pamphlet form. The book and pamphlets were published with the cooperation of the Minnesota Statehood Centennial Commission in observance of Minnesota's one-hundredth anniversary of statehood in 1958.