About SSML

The Society for the Study of Midwestern Literature was founded in 1971 by David D. Anderson, Bernard Duffey, Merton Babcock, Russel B. Nye, William B. Thomas, William McCann, and Robert Hubach. The Society exists to support the study and dissemination of work in Midwestern literature, art, film, and scholarly study.

Panel at SSML 2019
Mollie Godfrey presents the 2019 David D. Anderson Award Lecture
Bonnie Jo Campbell – Mark Twain Award winner
Marcia Noe presents the MidAmerica Award to Jon K. Lauck
Bill Barillas presents the Mark Twain award to Sandra Cisneros
A packed crowd at SSML 2019
Panel at SSML 2019
Panel at SSML 2019

What We Do

Annual Symposium

SSML hosts an annual symposium each May on the campus of Michigan State University, offering a venue for scholars of Midwestern literature and culture and contemporary Midwestern creative artists. Students, scholars, creative writers, and filmmakers come together to study the cultural heritage of the Midwest.

Writing Prizes

SSML awards several annual writing prizes for works presented at the annual symposium, including the James Seaton Midwestern Heritage Prize for Literary Criticism, Gwendolyn Brooks Poetry Prize, Paul Somers Prize for Creative Prose, and David Diamond Student Writing Prize.

Annual Awards

Each year, SSML presents the Mark Twain Award to a distinguished Midwestern writer, the MidAmerica Award for outstanding contribution to the study of Midwestern literature, and the David D. Anderson Award for an outstanding essay in midwestern literary studies.

Publications

SSML publishes two peer-reviewed journals of critical essays, MidAmerica and Midwestern Miscellany.

Dictionary of Midwestern Literature

SSML is responsible for the multi-volume Dictionary of Midwestern Literature. Both Volume I: The Authors (2001) and Volume II: Dimensions of the Midwestern Literary Imagination (2016) are published by Indiana University Press.

Book Award

In collaboration with Ohio University Press, the Society offers a book award for a single-authored scholarly work.

Officers

Elected Officers

Elected Officers: 2026-27

President Michelle Campbell, University of Michigan

Vice-President, President-Elect Gretchen Lida, Gateway Technical College

Past President Bill Barillas

Elected Advisory Council

Elected Advisory Council


2027-2029
Sarah Layden, Indiana University Indianapolis

Raymond Deeren, Austin Peay State University

2026-2028
Wes Bishop, Jacksonville State University

Sherrin Frances, Saginaw Valley State University

2025-2027
Gretchen Comcowich, Gateway Technical College

Michael Kim Roos, University of Cincinnati Blue Ash College

Board of Directors

Board of Directors

William Barillas, Independent Scholar

Robert Beasecker (Bibliographer), Grand Valley State University

Roger J. Bresnahan (Secretary-Treasurer), Michigan State University

Michelle Campbell, University of Michigan

Scott Emmert (Chair), University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh

Jeffrey Hotz (Symposium Co-Chair), East Stroudsburg University

Marcia Noe (Journal Permissions and Back Issues Manager), University of Tennessee – Chattanooga

Mary Obuchowski, Central Michigan University

Patricia Oman (Journals Editor), Hastings College

Rachael Price (Symposium Co-Chair), Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College