Minnesotans make case to house American Writers Museum
St. Paul is making a long-shot bid to become home to The American Writers Museum. The museum doesn't exist yet and Chicago is considered the front-runner, but that didn't dissuade Patrick Coleman to connect the museum's foundation with area movers and shakers last weekend in the Twin Cities.
The Pioneer Press reports that Coleman, acquisitions librarian for the Minnesota Historical Society, gave American Writers Museum Foundation president Malcolm O'Hagan.
"This is a huge project, but I have every confidence the museum is going to happen. People think this is an idea whose time has come," the affable O'Hagan said Sunday after attending a brunch at the home of former St. Paul Mayor George Latimer.
"We have some tough slogging in terms of raising money, but we will have a place that makes a significant statement about the importance of literature."
O'Hagan, who admits "I had no sense of the literary involvement here," was delighted with his three days in the Twin Cities and Coleman's enthusiasm for the museum.
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There is a lot of money to be raised before the museum can become a reality, but the Foundation is starting to organize exhibits. A touring exhibit "Immigrant Voices in American Literature" is in the works now. Coleman told the Pioneer Press, "The History Center would be a perfect place for this exhibit. ... We could supplement it with lots of material about local writers."
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