“Everyday Lives, Extraordinary Voices: Ruth Suckow's Iowa," at the German American Heritage Center -- August 22 through November 15.
Saturday, August 22, through Sunday, November 15
German American Heritage Center, 712 West Second Street, Davenport IA
Inspired by her upbringing at the turn of the 20th century and considered “Iowa’s first feminist writer,” Ruth Suckow was largely forgotten until researchers rediscovered her story in the 1980s. Consequently, the Ruth Suckow Memorial Association, with the support of Humanities Iowa, has developed a traveling exhibition celebrating the life and work of this Iowa novelist and short-story writer who lived from 1892 to 1960, the exhibit Everyday Lives, Extraordinary Voices: Ruth Suckow's Iowa on display at Davenport's German American Heritage Center from August 22 through November 15.
As stated at EBSCO.com: “Ruth Suckow (SEW-koh) was an American author known for her regionalist writing that focused on the lives of Midwestern families, particularly those of German immigrant descent. Born into a family with a liberal minister father, Suckow grew up in various Iowa communities, shaping her perspective on rural life. She pursued her education at Grinnell College and the University of Denver, where she earned her degree in 1917, and developed skills in beekeeping to support herself financially. Suckow's literary career began in the 1920s with her first published work, 'Uprooted,' and she contributed to several prominent periodicals of the time.
“Her notable works include The Bonney Family, which reflects her own upbringing, and The Folks, regarded as her most accomplished novel portraying Midwestern family life. Throughout her life, Suckow resided in various cities, including New York City and California, but considered Cedar Falls, Iowa, her home. Despite a decline in her literary recognition during the 1940s and 1950s, she continued to write until her passing in 1960, leaving behind a legacy that highlights the intricacies of small-town American life and the immigrant experience.”
Everyday Lives, Extraordinary Voices: Ruth Suckow's Iowa will be on display in the German American Heritage Center's third-floor gallery from August 22 through November 15, with hours of operation Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. General admission is $5-8 and free for venue members and children under three, and more information is available by calling (563)322-8844 and visiting GAHC.org.
