History
History writers from Minnesota.
Jeff Sauve
Jeffrey M. Sauve is an award-winning Minnesota writer and historian whose work has appeared in regional magazines, historical society publications, and museum programs. A former archivist at St. Olaf College and for the Norwegian-American Historical Association (NAHA), he is the author of two true-crime histories: Wheels of Murder: The 1896 Bank Robbery That Shocked a…
Marique Moss
Marique Moss is an Afro Indigenous (Hidatsa and African American) author, poet, educator, and herbalist from Minneapolis, MN. An enrolled citizen of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation, she writes about identity, healing, history, and belonging through an Afro Indigenous lens. She is the author of Sweetgrass and Soul Food: A Memoir in Poems, Sweetgrass…
Betty Brandt Passick
Betty Brandt Passick is a multi-award-winning author of a gangster series, which began with the story of Louie La Cava, a Chicago mobster who came to her hometown of Fairbank, Iowa (called ‘Oxbow’ in the novels) in the early 1920s, where he remained on and off for the next 60 years. Gangster in Our Midst,…
Derek Francis
Derek Francis is a lifelong Twin Cities resident and educator with more than 15 years of experience. He began as a high school counselor, supporting graduation success for historically marginalized students. He later served as Manager of Counseling and Executive Director of Equity and School Climate for Minneapolis Public Schools, leading district-wide initiatives including expanding…
Jennifer Gasperini
Jennifer Kimball Gasperini is a current Sun Country Airlines flight attendant and freelance writer. A South Minneapolis resident, Gasperini brings both continuity and fresh perspective to her recently published book, Minnesota’s Phoenix. Gasperini has long been captivated by the adventurous spirit of Minnesotans, having worked with many explorers to develop educational programming. Through her collaboration…
Jeff Olson
Jeff Olson has served as a youth hockey coach, high school hockey assistant coach, small college hockey assistant coach, and a hockey referee. He is the author and coauthor of Masters of Hockey Scoring Magic. Linemates, Natalie Darwitz and Krissy Wendell-Pohl To The Hockey Hall of Fame; Wisconsin’s Top 10 NHL Greats; The Torch is…
Ralph Brauer
The son and grandson of political refugees, Ralph Brauer brings a combination of experiences to writing about the history of social change. He is a retired professor and college administrator whose career is complemented by community organizing, consulting, and service experience that earned him a coveted Bush Leadership Fellowship. An award-winning writer, his work has…
Dave Kenney
Dave Kenney is the author of nearly two dozen books, all historical non-fiction, covering topics ranging from World War II to the movie industry. Two of them won the Minnesota Book Award. His previous career in journalism included stints as a local television reporter and as a writer with CNN. He lives in Roseville, Minnesota,…
Andrew Kantar
Born and raised in Minneapolis, Andy Kantar is the author of a trilogy of Great Lakes shipwreck books written primarily for young adults. His first book, 29 Missing, was a Michigan Notable Book for Young Adults. Black November was a finalist for the Foreword Book of the Year (YA nonfiction) and the major source for…
David Hakensen
David Hakensen is the author of the biography Her Place in the Woods: The Life of Helen Hoover. He is a strategic communications consultant and served as president of the Minnesota Historical Society from 2017-2023. He currently serves on the board of the Norwegian American Historical Association and served previously on boards at Norway House…