Ruth Lois Hill Papers, 1952-1979
General International Standard for Archival Description
Sophia Smith Collection Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA
Finding aid encoded using Perl scripts and edited in XMetal 2.0. Encoded by Brook Hopkins. 2003-07-01
Encoded Archival Description
Encoded Archival Description (EAD) Version 2002
collection
Ruth Lois Hill Papers
Creation of Ruth Lois Hill Papers
Time of Creation of Ruth Lois Hill Papers
Hill, Ruth Lois, 1906-
Biographical History for: Ruth Lois Hill Papers
Biographical Note 1906Born August 22, Norfolk, Massachusetts1925-29Boston University, Bachelor of Arts in Social Science, active in student YWCA1929YWCA summer training school for rural secretaries1929-34YWCA Secretary, Johnstown, Pennsylvania, worked in towns and cities in the area as Business Girls Traveler's Aide1934-37YWCA Group Work Secretary, Brockton, Massachusetts1937-41YWCA General Secretary, Billings, Montana1941-42Administrator, Mission Center Branch YWCA, San Francisco, California1945-71National Board YWCA staff1945-52Community Division Staff, Advisory Secretary to small associations in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming1952-59International Division Staff as Advisory Secretary to the YWCA of the Republic of Liberia1959-63Eastern Region Staff, New England area, based in New York City1963-65Correlator, Southern Region, for nine southern states, based in Atlanta, Georgia1965-71Associate Executive Director, Program National Headquarters, New York City1971Retired2005Ruth Hill died
Scope and Contents of the Collection Liberia YWCA staff members: Ruth Hill, Nancy Martins, and Bea Blanche, Monrovia, 1952 The Ruth Lois Hill Papers consist of one linear foot of correspondence, reports, memorabilia, printed material, and photographs. The inclusive dates are 1952 to 1979, but the major portion of the material dates from her service with the YWCA in Liberia from 1952 to 1959. The PERSONAL material consists primarily of letters that Hill wrote home to her mother and her sister, Daisy, from Liberia, 1952-59. These are substantive, personal letters describing in detail her life in Liberia and her work with the YWCA. In addition there is a small quantity of incoming letters from friends, 1959-65. The PROFESSIONAL series consists of YWCA material contained in three sections: correspondence, reports, and activities. The correspondence consists of letters from I. Beatrice Branch, office secretary, 1954-59; Nancy Randall Martin, Matron, 1959-65; and Clara Davis Brown, National Secretary of the National Board, 1952-65. Also in this section is correspondence with the National Board, 1952-65, which includes Hill's reports to them on her activities in Liberia. The second section consists of reports to the National Board of Directors by the president of the YWCA of Liberia primarily between 1952 and 1962. There are four significant activities included in the third section. Specifically these consist of programs and correspondence related to the United Christian Fellowship Conference, 1953-58, including a Study of the Christian Response in Liberia which was part of the Conference in 1957; programs and correspondence from women's rallies held between 1954 and 1962; Y-Teen activities in 1956; and correspondence about "Fancy Fairs" sponsored between 1959 and 1962. In addition there are programs and correspondence on the farewell party given for Hill before she left Liberia in 1959 and some miscellaneous program material. The SUBJECTS series contains printed material and postcards saved by Ruth Hill that give a sense of Liberian life in the 1950's. There are 72 photographs in the PHOTOGRAPHS series. There are eight personal photos of Hill and friends. The remainder consists of YWCA staff and activities.
Education--Liberia--History--Sources
lcsh
lcnaf
Young Women's Christian Associations--Liberia--History Young Women's Christian Association of the U.S.A.--History
Liberia--Description and travel--Sources
series
SERIES I. PERSONAL
Correspondence
Outgoing to family from Liberia, 1952-59
Incoming from friends, 1959-65
Clippings, articles, citations 1954-59
SERIES II. PROFESSIONAL
I. Beatrice Branch, 1954-79
Nancy Randall Martin 1959-65
Clara Davies Brown, 1960-62
National Board, 1952-65
Reports of the President of the YWCA of Liberia, 1952-62, 1975
Activities
United Christian Fellowship Conference, Study of Christian Response in Liberia: programs, reports, correspondence , 1953-58
Women's rallies: programs, correspondence 1954-62
Y-Teens: notes, correspondence, publicity, 1956
Farewell reception for Ruth Hill: programs, correspondence, 1958
Fancy Fair: correspondence, 1959-62
Miscellaneous activities: printed material, 1957-58, 1961
SERIES III. SUBJECTS
Literacy in Liberia: printed material, 1953-56
William V.S. Tubman: printed material, 1955-56
Liberia: printed material, unused postcards, 1952-56
SERIES IV. PHOTOGRAPHS
Personal
Ruth Lois Hill (4), 1953-59
Friends (4), 1950-60
Professional
Staff, Board of Directors, and miscellaneous activities (10), 1949-59
Christmas party (14), 1952-53, n.d
United Christian Fellowship Conference (5), 1958
Women's Rallies (8), 1954-56
Y-Teens (3), n.d.
YWCA/YMCA activities (19), 1950s
Miscellaneous (5), 1950s
OVERSIZE MATERIALS
Citation: Knight Official of the Liberian Humane Order of African Redemption June, 1959