mnsss70 Ruth Dietrich Tuttle Papers, 1889-1984 Finding Aid Finding aid prepared by Susan Boone . Encoding funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Sophia Smith Collection, Smith College

Northampton, MA

2003

Finding aid encoded using Perl scripts and edited in XMetal 2.0. Encoded by Brook Hopkins. 2003-06-06 Finding aid written in English. 2005-09-23 mnsss70 converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02-5c.xsl (sy2003-10-15). Sophia Smith CollectionSmith College Ruth Dietrich Tuttle Papers, 1889-1984 Finding Aid MS 236 Susan Boone 1990 Encoding funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Collection Overview Tuttle, Ruth Dietrich, 1887-1984 Ruth Dietrich Tuttle Papers1889-1984 1920-1923 MS 236 2 boxes (.75 linear ft.) Sophia Smith Collection

Smith College Northampton, MA

Author, pacifist, and feminist. The Tuttle papers include writings, including an unpublished autobiography; photographs; speeches; research material; and records from Tuttle's involvement with various peace organizations. Topics covered include peace, internationalism, birth control rights, suffrage, women's clubs, and women writers. Correspondents include Virginia Gildersleeve, Florence Lamont, Anna Garlin Spencer, and Portia Willis (Berg) Fitzgerald. English. Biographical Note 1887 Born, Harrisburg, PA, 17 June 1909 Graduated from Smith College 1913 Married Melsom S. Tuttle 1915 Son, Russell Conwell, born 1920 Sailed for China, where Melsom Tuttle was assigned to do educational work for the YMCA. He became principal of the American School in Peking. 1922-1923 Taught English to Chinese boys 1923 Daughter, Carol Cathay, born 1924 Melsom Tuttle sent home because of ill health, died en route, 3 July, rest of family returned to the U.S. 1940- Social worker at Hartford Retreat and Flower Hospital in New York City 1952 Moved to Northampton, MA 1984 Died, Concord, MA, 27 May Scope and Contents of the Collection

The Ruth Dietrich Tuttle Papers consist of eight linear inches of correspondence, printed material, diaries, memorabilia, and photographs. The major portion of the material dates from the Tuttle's service in China from 1920-23, although there is also material relating to Ruth's life before her marriage.

Organization of the Collection

This collection is organized into four series:

I. Correspondence II. Biography and Memorabilia III. Diaries IV. Photographs Oversize Materials Information on Use Terms of Access and Use

The papers are open to research according to the regulations of the Sophia Smith Collection without any added restrictions.

The Sophia Smith Collection owns copyright to the papers of Ruth Dietrich Tuttle. Copyright to materials created by others may be owned by those individuals or their heirs or assigns. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights. Permission must be obtained from the Sophia Smith Collection to publish reproductions or quotations beyond "fair use."

Preferred Citation

Please use the following format when citing materials from this collection:

Ruth Dietrich Tuttle Papers, Sophia Smith Collection, Smith College, Northampton, Mass.

History of the Collection

Ruth Dietrich Tuttle donated her photograph album with other Smith College items in October 1971. The bulk of the Papers was the gift of her daughter, Carol Tuttle Christian, in May 1990. Carol Christian and her brother, Russell Conwell Tuttle donated the 1906-1909 diaries and additional photographs in October 1997.

Processed by Susan Boone, 1990.

Search Terms Missionaries--China--History--Sources Smith College--Students--History--Sources Tuttle, Melsom S. Tuttle, Ruth Dietrich, 1887-1984 China--Description and travel--Sources China--Social life and customs--1912-1937--Sources SERIES I. CORRESPONDENCE

This series contains two sections: Ruth D. Tuttle and Melsom S. Tuttle. The first consists primarily of letters that Ruth wrote home to her parents between 1920 and 1923. These are substantive letters describing her life in Peking, her teaching experiences, and Chinese customs. they reflect the social live of foreign missionaries living in a homogenous community overseas. There are also letters to her from Melsom, 1913-22, and from many of the Chinese students she taught, 1922-27, and a few miscellaneous letters. The second section contains a smaller amount of correspondence from Melsom to his family consisting mostly of postcards, 1920-22, and several miscellaneous letters to him, 1923.

SERIES II. BIOGRAPHY AND MEMORABILIA

This series consists of clippings and other printed material; and notes and lists that belonged to Ruth Tuttle. There are also compositions written by Chinese students and miscellaneous China memorabilia.

SERIES III. DIARIES

This series consists entirely of Ruth's diaries, 1906-1909 and 1918. The four volumes from 1906-1909 are a fairly complete record of her Smith years. She faithfully made daily entries, at minimum recording the day's activities, and often reflecting on the days events and relationships with friends and classmates. The one volume five-year diary appears to encompass the years from 1918 to 1922. Melsom Tuttle's name is written in the volume, and a few of the entries appear to be his, but most are in Ruth's hand.

SERIES IV. PHOTOGRAPHS

This series consists of twenty-one personal and family photographs, 1889, 1920-23; two of the prisoner-of-war camp in Vernon, British Columbia, 1919, where Melsom Tuttle directed YMCA activities; thirty miscellaneous snapshots of China, 1920-23; a photo album, 1907-1915 (including Smith College photos); and an undated oversized photograph of Ruth Tuttle and a class of Chinese students.

SERIES I. CORRESPONDENCE Ruth D. Tuttle 1 1 Outgoing to family, 1915-25 Incoming 1 2 Melsom Tuttle, 1913-22 1 3-5 Students, 1922-27 1 6 Miscellaneous, 1912-24 Melsom S. Tuttle 1 7 Outgoing to family, 1920-22, n.d. 1 8 Miscellaneous incoming, 1923 SERIES II. BIOGRAPHY AND MEMORABILIA 1 9 Clippings, lists, and notes, 1924-84 1 10 Compositions by Chinese students, 1922-23 1 11 Miscellaneous, 1919-26, n.d. SERIES III. DIARIES 1 12 1906-1907 1 13 1908-1909, 1918-circa 1922 SERIES IV. PHOTOGRAPHS 2 14 Personal and family (21), 1889, 1920-1923 2 15 Prisoner of war camp, Vernon, B.C. (2), 1919 2 16 China, miscellaneous (30), 1920-23 2 17 Album (including Smith College), 1907-15 OVERSIZE MATERIALS Ruth Tuttle with Chinese students, n.d.