Guide to the Ruth B. Ekstrom papers, 1924-1988


John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts
Box A
Brown University
Providence, RI 02912
Telephone: Manuscripts: 401-863-3723; University Archives: 401-863-2148
Email: Manuscripts: hay@brown.edu; University Archives: archives@brown.edu

Published in 2019

Collection Overview

Title: Ruth B. Ekstrom papers
Date range: 1924-1988
Creator: Ekstrom, Ruth Bert
Extent: .5 Linear Feet
(1 file box, 1 half file box)
Abstract: This collection consists of the papers of Ruth B. Ekstrom, education testing researcher and early woman member of the Brown Corporation. The collection documents Ekstrom's student life, career, and participation in establishing the Pembroke Center for Teaching and Research on Women at Brown University. Materials include correspondence, clippings, Pembroke College ephemera, subject files, and published works by Ekstrom, dating from 1924-1988. The collection is arranged alphabetically by record type into 1 series.
Language of materials: English
Repository: John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts
Collection number: Ms.2019.004

Scope & content

This collection consists of the papers of Ruth B. Ekstrom, education testing researcher and early woman member of the Brown Corporation. The collection documents Ekstrom's student life, career, and participation in establishing the Pembroke Center for Teaching and Research on Women at Brown University and to the advancement of women in education. Materials include correspondence, clippings, Pembroke College ephemera, subject files, and published works by Ekstrom, dating from 1924-1988. The collection is arranged alphabetically by record type into 1 series.

Access Points

Subject Organizations Subject Topics Subject Topics

Arrangement

This collection is arranged alphabetically by record type into one series.

Biographical / Historical

Ruth Burt Ekstrom was born Ruth Elizabeth Burt on July 2, 1931, a single child raised by her parents and maternal grandfather in Bennington, Vermont. She graduated from Pembroke College in Brown University in 1953 with her A.B. in psychology. She later earned a master's and PhD in educational psychology from Rutgers University in the early 1960s.

In 1957, Ruth Ekstrom married Lincoln Ekstrom, Brown University class of 1953, who was a chemist and environmental scientist. The two moved to Princeton, New Jersey where Lincoln Ekstrom accepted a job at RCA Laboratories. Ruth Ekstrom took the opportunity to pursue her dream of working for the Education Testing Service where she enjoyed a successful four-decade career conducting research on assessments of human talents and experiential learning. She retired from the Educational Testing Service in the 1990s.

Throughout her career and volunteer life, Ruth Ekstrom remained committed to Brown University as an active alumna and fundraiser, becoming an early woman elected to Brown University's Corporation in approximately 1972. She served as a Trustee, Fellow, and finally Secretary from 1982-1988. Ekstrom dedicated her work on the Corporation to increasing the acceptance of women serving there; women's involvement with Brown University leadership overall, and to the advancement of women, minorities, and people with disabilities, in education.

Access & Use

Access to the collection: There are no restrictions on access. The collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested.
Use of the materials: Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Preferred citation: Ruth B. Ekstrom papers, Ms.2019.004, Christine Dunlap Farnham Archive, Brown University Library.
Contact information: John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts
Box A
Brown University
Providence, RI 02912
Telephone: Manuscripts: 401-863-3723; University Archives: 401-863-2148
Email: Manuscripts: hay@brown.edu; University Archives: archives@brown.edu

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION  
Acquisition: Gift of Ruth B. Ekstrom in 2016.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID  
Author: Mary Murphy on behalf of the Pembroke Center for the Teaching and Research on Women and the Brown University Library.
Encoding: This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2019-03-25.
Descriptive rules: Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Sponsor: Curatorial work and processing provided by the Pembroke Center for Teaching and Research on Women on behalf of the Christine Dunlap Farnham Archive, Brown University Library.

Additional Information

Related material: The Brown University Library also holds the Pembroke Center Oral History Collection (OH.1S.2013.002) that captures the experiences of women faculty and students at Pembroke College and Brown University from 1911 to the present. View finding aid here: https://www.riamco.org/render?eadid=US-RPB-oh.1s.2013.002 Ekstrom contributed an interview to this collection in 2013 that you can view here: https://www.brown.edu/initiatives/pembroke-oral-histories/interview/ruth-elizabeth-burt-class-1953

Inventory


Box 1, Folder 1 Awards and honors
1988
Box 1, Folder 2 Clipping about Ruth Burt Ekstrom
1971
Box 1, Folder 3 Correspondence
1949-1988
Box 1, Folder 4 Correspondence re: Pembroke Club alumnae honorees
1967-1969
Box 1, Folder 5 Correspondence re: election as Brown University Trustee and Fellow
1972-1977
Box 1, Folder 6 Correspondence re: establishment of the Committee on the Status of Women at Brown; includes reports and research material
1976-1985
Box 1, Folder 7 Correspondence re: establishment of the Pembroke Center; inlcudes memos, reports, notes, and print material
1978-1982
Box 1, Folder 8 Correspondence re: "Cultural Construction of the Female" research proposal [affliliated with the Pembroke Center]; includes grant application and related material
1981-1985
Box 1, Folder 9 Pembroke College ephemera
1924-1953
Box 1, Folder 10 Pembroke College freshman handbook
1949-1950
Box 1, Folder 11 Pembroke College pin
1953
Box 1, Folder 12 Pembroke College scrapbook items (1 of 4)
1950-1953
Box 1, Folder 13 Pembroke College scrapbook items (2 of 4)
1950-1953
Box 2, Folder 1 Pembroke College scrapbook items (3 of 4)
1950-1953
Box 2, Folder 2 Pembroke College scrapbook items (4 of 4)
1950-1953
Box 2, Folder 3 Pembroke College student identification card
1950-1953
Box 2, Folder 4 Photographs
1966-1968
Box 2, Folder 5 Subject file re: Nancy Duke Lewis Professorship
1980
Box 2, Folder 6 Subject file re: Pembroke College oral history project
1968-1982
Box 2, Folder 7 Writings (published) by Ruth Burt Ekstrom