Ruth Ward Kahn (, Ward; August 4, 1870/72 – ?) was a Jewish American lecturer and writer. In addition to being the author of novel, ''The Story of Judith'' (novel), ''The First Quarter'' (collected poems; 1898), and "Gertrude" (epic poem), she was a contributor to ''Woman's Home Companion'', ''Arena'', ''Popular Science'', and other publications. She was a member of the Incorporated Society of Authors of

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

, as well as the

Woman's National Press Association Woman's National Press Association (W.N.P.A.) was an American professional association for women journalists. The constitution declared that the object of the association was to advance and encourage women in literary work, and to secure the benefi ...

, of which she served as the vice-president for its

Colorado Colorado (, other variants) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It encompasses most of the Southern Rocky Mountains, as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of t ...

branch. Kahn's travels took her to

Bermuda ) , anthem = "God Save the King" , song_type = National song , song = " Hail to Bermuda" , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , mapsize2 = , map_caption2 = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = , e ...

, Mexico,

Hawaii Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only stat ...

, and the South Sea Islands; she lectured in 20 states.

Early life and education

Ruth Ward was born in

Jackson, Michigan Jackson is the only city and county seat of Jackson County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 33,534, down from 36,316 at the 2000 census. Located along Interstate 94 and U.S. Route 127, it is approxi ...

, August 4, 1870, or August 4, 1872. Her father, Judge Ward, had been a leading lawyer in that city, serving as district attorney and as judge of the probate court of

Michigan Michigan () is a state in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the 10th-largest state by population, the 11th-largest by area, and the ...

. Early on, Ward became a contributor to local newspapers and school magazines. She was educated at the

University of Michigan , mottoeng = "Arts, Knowledge, Truth" , former_names = Catholepistemiad, or University of Michigania (1817–1821) , budget = $10.3 billion (2021) , endowment = $17 billion (2021)As o ...

Ann Arbor Anne, alternatively spelled Ann, is a form of the Latin female given name Anna (name), Anna. This in turn is a representation of the Hebrew Hannah (given name), Hannah, which means 'favour' or 'grace'. Related names include Annie (given name), ...

, where she was graduated with honors and the degree of B.A., in 1889.

Career

In January 1891, she married Lee Kahn, M.D. (1867–1899) in

Denver Denver () is a consolidated city and county, the capital, and most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Its population was 715,522 at the 2020 census, a 19.22% increase since 2010. It is the 19th-most populous city in the Unit ...

's Temple Emanuel. On their return from the South Sea Islands, she published in the ''Popular Science News'' a noted paper on "Hawaiian Ant Life." She contributed to the

''Commonwealth'', and ''Rocky Mountain News'', to the ''American Israelite'', of

Cincinnati Cincinnati ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located at the northern side of the confluence of the Licking and Ohio rivers, the latter of which marks the state line wit ...

New Orleans New Orleans ( , ,New Orleans
Merriam-Webster. ; french: La Nouvelle-Orléans , es, Nuev ...

Picayune A picayune was a Spanish coin, worth half a real or one sixteenth of a dollar. Its name derives from the French ''picaillon'', which is itself from the Provençal ''picaioun'', the name of an unrelated small copper coin from Savoy. By extension, ...

'', Elmira ''Telegram'', and the St. Louis ''Jewish Voice''. She brought out an epic poem, "Gertrude", and a novel, ''The Story of Judith''. Her lectures in many cities and states were praised. At the Woman's Congress, held in connection with the

Cotton States and International Exposition The Cotton States and International Exposition was a world's fair held in Atlanta, Georgia, United States in 1895. The exposition was designed "to foster trade between southern states and South American nations as well as to show the products an ...

, her address on "A Stranger in a Strange Land" was spoken of as "a notably eloquent effort, and one of the best heard in Assembly Hall". Kahn made a very thorough study of

and

, and lectured on the customs, the manners, and the scenery of these islands. Aside from her literary work and her lectures and readings, she devoted effort to the welfare and happiness of needy women and children. Kahn was one of the youngest members of the Incorporated Society of Authors, of

, England, which society she joined in 1890. She was an honorary member of the Authors' and Artists' Club,

Kansas City, Missouri Kansas City (abbreviated KC or KCMO) is the largest city in Missouri by population and area. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 508,090 in 2020, making it the 36th most-populous city in the United States. It is the central ...

, and of the Woman's National Press Association.

Personal life

Kahn made her home in Leadville, where she was also a talented artist. She had one child, a son, Milo Ward Kahn, who died in childhood. Lee Kahn died shortly thereafter, on February 26, 1899. In May of that year, in

York, Indiana York is an unincorporated community in York Township, Steuben County, in the U.S. state of Indiana Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. ...

, she visited her mother, D. S. Griggs, and two sisters, Sylvia Wicoff and Stella Shirtz, before they sailed for Europe the following month. Returning to the U.S., she traveled again in June 1900, in company with several eachers, from Chicago for Manilla. She was again back in the U.S. by March 1900, in need to surgery in

Newark, New Jersey Newark ( , ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of New Jersey and the seat of Essex County and the second largest city within the New York metropolitan area. In 1907, Kahn's family was making inquires throughout the U.S. in the hopes of ascertaining whether Kahn was alive or dead. Her mother and a niece were tracing every possible clue that might be useful.

Selected works

Novels

* ''The Story of Judith''

Poetry

* ''The First Quarter'' (collected poems; 1898) * "Gertrude" (epic poem)

References

Attribution

* * * * * *

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Kahn, Ruth Ward 1870 births People from Jackson, Michigan 19th-century American women writers 19th-century American poets 19th-century American novelists Novelists from Michigan University of Michigan alumni Jewish American novelists Geography teachers Jewish American poets Year of death missing Wikipedia articles incorporating text from A Woman of the Century