Hamlin Garland (1860-1940) was a prolific writer about the hardships of life on the prairie in Midwestern states. Garland was born in Wisconsin and grew up in Winneshiek and Mitchell counties in Iowa. He graduated from Cedar Valley Seminary at Osage, Iowa, in 1881. That year he moved to North Dakota. He taught English and American Literature at the Boston School of Oratory.

The Hamlin Garland Literary Society was founded at the State University of Iowa on May 14, 1920. It was named for Garland, as one member stated, "because he stands for all that is finest in the literature of the state." Founding members of the society described Garland's literature as providing rich details about the early years in Iowa. Society members wore an arrowhead pin, because it was made by America's first citizens. The purpose of the society was to provide women of the University the opportunity to present orations, readings, speeches, or pose questions for debate in the areas of literature and the fine arts. Membership was limited to 35.

Literary meetings were held twice each month and business meetings were held monthly. In addition, meetings were held each May and January for the election of officers and for the reading of annual reports. Meetings were held on the sun porch of the Iowa Memorial Union or in the drawing room of the Liberal Arts building (now Schaeffer Hall). The organization functioned until the 1933-34 school year, perhaps affected by the Great Depression.

Other SUI literary societies included Athenian, Ciceronian, Erodelphian, Hesperian, Irving Institute, Rhoterian, Whitby, and Zetagathian.