Ruth Wheeler was born on November 19, 1901 in Austin, Texas to William and Maggie Wheeler. Ruth Wheeler Eastman Woody married for the third time on July 21, 1944 to Robert L. Harris. Just prior to her marriage to Harris she worked as a nurse caring for Governor James E. Ferguson.
Robert, a chef, and Ruth owned and operated the Harris' Wayside Inn at 1502 Barton Springs during the 1940s and 50s as well as the Harris Restaurant on Riverside Drive in the 1960s. Once she retired Ruth became active in the Heart of Texas Grandmothers' Club, holding several offices throughout the years of that organization. She was also an active member of the First Methodist Church in Austin.
Ruth Harris died on January 7, 2000 and was buried at the Oakwood Cemetery Annex in Austin.
Source: adapted from a biography provided from the donor.
The Ruth Harris Papers are a small collection (.2 linear feet) that include a patient record book for Governor Ferguson from February of 1944, meeting minutes for the Heart of Texas Grandmothers' Club spanning the years 1961-1973, a history of the Travis County Council of Women written in 1966, and a couple of photos of early Austin.
Arranged by materials type.
This record series is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.
Open to all users.
None.
The collection was donated by the step-granddaughter of Ruth Harris.
Ruth Harris Papers (AR.2011.001). Austin History Center, Austin Public Library, Texas.
Donor #: DO/2011/004
Donation Date: 2011
Finding aid created and encoded by Molly Hults/2011.