“Reverend William Suckow's Autobiography: Family Life in 10 Small Iowa Towns" at the German American Heritage Center -- October 11.
Sunday, October 11, 1:30 p.m.
German American Heritage Center, 712 West Second Street, Davenport IA
Presented in conjunction with the venue's current exhibition Everyday Lives, Extraordinary Voices: Ruth Suckow's Iowa, the latest program in the German American Heritage Center's popular "Kaffee und Kuchen" series is Reverend William Suckow's Autobiography: Family Life in 10 Small Iowa Towns, an October 11 program whose presenter, Dr. Bill Roba, is a Scott Community College retiree currently writing a history of the Iowa-German Experience.
Inspired by her upbringing at the turn of the 20th century and considered “Iowa’s first feminist writer,” Ruth Suckow’s work was largely forgotten until researchers rediscovered her story in the 1980s. 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.”
Dr. Bill Roba's program Reverend William Suckow's Autobiography: Family Life in 10 Small Iowa Towns will be presented at Davenport's German American Heritage Center on October 11, with refreshments for this “Kaffee und Kuchen” event served at 1:30 p.m. and the program beginning at 2 p.m. Guests are welcome to bring their own mugs if they wish; disposable cups are provided, but mugs from home will help the venue reduce waste. Participation is free for Heritage Center members and $8 for non-members, and more information is available by calling (563)322-8844 and visiting GAHC.org.
