Ruth Suckow

Ruth Suckow, a distinguished alumna of Grinnell High School’s Class of 1910, embarked on a remarkable literary journey that left a lasting imprint on American literature. After spending three years at Grinnell College, she transferred to Boston’s Curry School of Expression and later earned both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s in English from the University of Denver.

Over the course of her career, Ruth authored 12 novels, including the beloved Country People, Iowa Interiors, The Folks, and The John Wood Case. Her debut novel, Country People, published in 1924, celebrates its centennial anniversary in 2024, marking a century of its impact on readers and its timeless portrayal of rural life in Iowa.

In addition to her novels, Ruth contributed to the literary world through short stories, including A Part of the Institution, which offers a vivid portrayal of her alma mater, Grinnell College.

Suckow was inducted into the Iowa Women’s Hall of Fame in 1978. The Hall of Fame, created by the Iowa Commission on the Status of Women, recognizes women who have made significant contributions to society through their talents and impact. Her induction highlighted her literary achievements and lasting influence on American literature.

• The Ruth Suckow traveling exhibit will be on display at the library from January 12, 2025, to February 9, 2025. The exhibit is the work of the Ruth Suckow Memorial Association, with the support of Humanities Iowa.
• Bookin’ It, the library’s book club, will discuss Country People on January 9th, 2025 at 7 pm.
• Dr. Michael Hustedde of St. Ambrose University will give a presentation to kick off the exhibit on Thursday, January 16th, 2025 at 6 pm in the Community Room. His presentation “Ruth Suckow: A Part of Grinnell, A Part of Grinnell College” examines Suckow’s ties to Grinnell with a focus on her novella “A Part of the Institution” about a fictional Grinnell College.
• A reader’s theater presentation of Suckow’s short story, A Great Mollie, will be performed on Tuesday January 28, 2025 at 7 pm. Jenny Flinspach, GHS English teacher, will be directing the production.

In 2024, The Ruth Suckow Memorial Association conducted an Iowa Student Scholarship Essay Contest. Students were asked to write about Suckow’s Country People.  Veronica Ruse, Library Assistant in Charge of the Archives at Drake Community Library, submitted an essay on the analysis of the relationship between the married farm couple and how their relationship to themselves and one another changes as they age. Ruse’s essay was selected as the winner.

Read the essay: August and Emma Kaetterhenry: A Farm Marriage Examined

Multiple copies of Country People will be available in the library on November 15th, 2024 as part of the Bookin’ It program.

An audio version of Country People is available on SoundCloud, recorded and shared by Jim Schaap, Dordt University.

With the permission of the Suckow estate, twenty-two of Suckow’s short stories and novels are publicly available.

Read Suckow’s work: Iowa Heritage Digital Collection

Ruth Suckow, an important voice in American regional literature, has a notable connection to Grinnell College. In her writings, she vividly portrayed life in small towns and the Midwest, drawing on her own experiences growing up in Iowa. Grinnell played a central role in shaping her early views, and this webpage is dedicated to highlighting her work related to the college.

Early Short Stories

The Joke was Suckow’s first published short story. It ran in the the Grinnell College literary magazine The Unit in February 1911, when Suckow was a freshman. Miss Warrington’s Burgler was published in The Unit in April 1912. Both stories are in the public domain.

Read the story: The Joke, Papers of Ruth Suckow, Special Collections & Archives, The University of Iowa Libraries

Read the story: Miss Warrington’s Burglar, Papers of Ruth Suckow, Special Collections & Archives, The University of Iowa Libraries

A Part of the Institution (1923)

One of Suckow’s key works involving Grinnell College is the short story A Part of the Institution, originally published in Smart Set in October 1923. This story explores themes of individuality and institutional conformity within the context of a small college.

Read the story: A Part of the Institution

Ruth Suckow’s Reflections in College Humor (1930)

In 1930, Suckow penned an article about Grinnell College for College Humor magazine, offering a more reflective and personal insight into her time at the institution. The article presents a snapshot of campus life and the character of the college during the early 20th century.

Read the story: College Humor

Grinnell Magazine

An insightful portrayal of Suckow’s deep ties to the college and the town of Grinnell is captured in the article “Ruth Suckow’s Grinnell,” written by Margaret Matlack Kiesel, a 1930 Grinnell College alumna. Published in the Grinnell Magazine in 1975, Kiesel’s piece reflects on Suckow’s experiences during her time in Grinnell, painting a picture of the community and its influence on the author’s life and work.

Read the story: Grinnell Magazine courtesy of Grinnell College

For those interested in learning more about Ruth Suckow’s life and works, the only biography of her was published in 1969 by Grinnell resident and professor emerita, Leedice Kissane, a prominent figure in the Ruth Suckow Memorial Association.

Read the Suckow biography: the Internet Archive

The photographs below are provided for educational purposes. The original photographs are preserved in the Papers of Ruth Suckow, Special Collections & Archives, The University of Iowa Libraries.