Who he was
Journalist, novelist, and a Southport story
Robert C. Ruark Jr. lived from December 29, 1915, to July 1, 1965. We know him as a journalist and novelist, but our collection tells a more personal story through biography, family correspondence, photographs, articles, and memories of his connection to Southport.
A Southport setting
The town behind the writer
To understand Ruark’s Southport, it helps to begin with the town itself. The J. B. Ruark store stood beside St. Philip’s Church, placing the family name within a familiar Southport streetscape.
Different ways to meet Ruark
Meet Ruark through the records
We have selected a few ways into his story: a short biography, Ruark’s own writing, a historical marker, and a photographic presentation. Each reveals something different about the writer and the place he called home.
Selected works
Horn of the Hunter
1953
Something of Value
1955
The Old Man and the Boy
1957
Uhuru
1962