Ryan, John P.

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Ryan, John P.

• John Patrick Ryan

1877-1951

John Patrick Ryan was a highly respected professor of Public Speaking at Grinnell College from 1903-1947. He was born in New York in 1877 and received his B.A. from Cornell University and his M.A. from the University of Chicago. He originally taught speech and drama within the Department of English at Grinnell College, but after encouraging the development of a Speech Department--one of the first in the country--he became the department head of Speech.
Two of his noted students were Hallie Flanagan Davis (Director of the Federal Theatre Project) and author and professor, Loren Reid. In addition to his college teaching, he taught public speaking to thousands of business and professional people in Des Moines. In 1936 he served as president to the precursor of the Speech Communication Association.Provenance: Donated by Jean Ryan Squires, 1982.