Brief descriptions of fun times, including parties, luncheons, and picnics, illustrated with many items that are glued or pinned to pages, such as dance cards, ticket stubs, and "my first telegram" (December 1905); also includes a list of Christmas gifts received. 1 volume, 7 x 9 inches, partially held together with red ribbon.

Descriptions of fun times and attendees, illustrated with ticket stubs, place cards, dance cards, calling cards, and programs; includes lists of Christmas gifts received in 1906 and 1907. In the summer of 1907, Ruth visits relatives in Cincinnati and Paducah, traveling between the two cities by steamer on the Ohio River. She also spends a month with the Montgomerys (the family of schoolmate Winona) at Lake Wawasee in Indiana. 1 volume, 7 x 8½ inches, partially held together with ribbon and thread.

Descriptions of fun times, illustrated with calling cards, dance cards, ticket stubs, programs and cast lists, and other mementos. In her junior year at Tudor Hall, Ruth attends the Senior Prom, the Junior Dance, and other dances. Ruth spends two weeks in the summer with Winona at Lake Wawasee. 1 volume, 7 x 8½ inches, held together with a gold and white braided cord.

In addition to daily activities, Ruth mentions events during her senior year at Tudor Hall, such as winning the office of secretary in school elections, resuming music lessons at a local School of Music, attending Junior and Senior dances, working on the school annual, being elected president of the Junior King's Daughters, and upon graduation being elected recording secretary of the Alumnae. She visits her brothers at Purdue University and a former schoolmate at DePauw University and goes with some friends to visit another friend in Williamsport. In the year following graduation, she does not go to college but instead takes up watercolor painting, attends a series of lectures, and enrolls in a literature class. In September 1909 Ruth and her parents move into a six-room flat on Talbot Avenue and rent out their house on North Meridian, the boys having gone back to college. 1 volume, 7 x 8½ inches, with lined sheets, two-hole punched, and held together with red string; 215 pages (every tenth page number is penciled in).

In addition to routine activities, Ruth frets about what school to attend in the fall; observes Halley's comet; spends a month with Uncle Charles, Aunt Louise, and their twin boys in Winnetka, IL; learns to play bridge; and returns to Williamsport to visit a friend. She describes this as "a fairly well kept diary", indicating that she "could have told some things more and more interestingly but this is not a story just record of a few events in a part of year." Bound volume, 5 x 7½ inches, with lined paper; 228 pages.

Ruth enrolls in Bradford Academy, in Haverhill, MA, after a trip with her mother by train to Newport News, VA, and coastal steamer to Boston. She describes school activities, including Literature, Bible, Government, Botany, Psychology, English, and French classes; tennis, swimming, hockey, bowling, volleyball, basketball, and tobogganing; church, vespers, and Christian Union; outings to Salisbury Beach, Bretton Woods (NH), and Whittier's home; concerts and lectures, and her participation in a school play. On school breaks and weekend trips, Ruth visits friends and relatives in Bennington (VT), Boston, and New York City. She travels home to Indianapolis at Christmas to find that the family has moved back to North Meridian Street and to help host her brother Harold's wedding. Before returning to Indianapolis after the spring term, Ruth attends a camp at Silver Bay on Lake George in New York. Front cover: Record. Inside front cover: Book II / Ruth Thompson / Sep 1st – 1910 / ending with / July 30 – 1911 [actually the 31st] / My year at / Bradford / Acadamy. Bound volume, 5 x 7½ inches, with lined paper; 226 pages, plus an inserted, folded sheet, numbered 227.

Ruth chronicles her final year at Bradford Academy, where she takes Astronomy, Government, Sociology, Art history, Bible, and Literature; participates in a debate, a play, various sports and outdoor activities; goes on outings to Salisbury Beach, Georgetown, Boston, Wellesley, Rockport, and Gloucester; attends concerts and lectures, church, vespers and Christian Union, and various graduation events also attended by her mother. Missing from the diary are entries for November 19 through December 31, 1911, a period that includes the Thanksgiving holiday, the death of Ruth's father back in Indianapolis, and her trip home. Upon returning to school in the New Year and resuming her diary, Ruth grieves for her father and spends much time making up assignments and exams missed due to her early departure before Christmas. After graduation Ruth visits friends and relatives in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and New York City, though this itinerary is described only in brief notes on two loose sheets inserted in the diary. Front cover: Record. Inside front cover: Book III / Ruth Elizabeth Thompson / 2022 N. Mer. St. / Indianapolis / Indiana / Her book and not to be / read by any intruding / soul / August 1 – 1911 / ending with . . . Bound volume, 5 x 7½ inches, with lined paper; 226 pages; pages 52-69 and 179 to the end are blank; two loose sheets are inserted in back, with scribbled notes of activities for about June 3 through July 7, 1912.

Ruth describes a two-month trip (August–October 1912) to California with her mother to visit relatives in San Francisco and Los Angeles, with excursions to numerous other sites and a brief visit with relatives in Winnetka (IL) before returning home. Back in Indianapolis, in addition to routine and social activities, Ruth dances in a play; attends an art class, a current events class, and meetings of a Camp Fire Girls committee and the King's Daughters; teaches a Sunday school class; and gives sewing lessons to five-year-old girls at a settlement house. She gets medical treatments for an unnamed condition, experiences a nervous rave, and has tonsillitis. In June 1913 Ruth visits friends in New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, and attends graduation and alumnae events at Bradford Academy. In the fall she begins seeing Frank Richards, Fred Shafer, and John Darlington, in addition to other male friends. The main diary is located in Folder 8. In addition to the bound volume (last entry: April 26, 1913), there are separate sheets of lined, three-hole paper, 5 x 8 inches, partially held together by a white ribbon, with entries covering intermittently the period from June 10 through December 1913. This addition is located in Folder 9.

Ruth describes a two-month trip (August–October 1912) to California with her mother to visit relatives in San Francisco and Los Angeles, with excursions to numerous other sites and a brief visit with relatives in Winnetka (IL) before returning home. Back in Indianapolis, in addition to routine and social activities, Ruth dances in a play; attends an art class, a current events class, and meetings of a Camp Fire Girls committee and the King's Daughters; teaches a Sunday school class; and gives sewing lessons to five-year-old girls at a settlement house. She gets medical treatments for an unnamed condition, experiences a nervous rave, and has tonsillitis. In June 1913 Ruth visits friends in New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, and attends graduation and alumnae events at Bradford Academy. In the fall she begins seeing Frank Richards, Fred Shafer, and John Darlington, in addition to other male friends. The main diary is located in Folder 8. In addition to the bound volume (last entry: April 26, 1913), there are separate sheets of lined, three-hole paper, 5 x 8 inches, partially held together by a white ribbon, with entries covering intermittently the period from June 10 through December 1913. This addition is located in Folder 9.

In addition to routine activities, Ruth continues to teach Sunday school and attend meetings of the Camp Fire Girls committee, the King's Daughters, and the Junior Auxiliary. She joins a Government Science club. Ruth and a few of her girlfriends go to Winona Lake for a week of classes and lectures. Ruth and her mother spend about six weeks at Lake Maxinkuckee, where she swims, sails, plays tennis, and takes lessons in basket making. Numerous male friends call on Ruth and take her to dances, plays, and concerts. She worries about what to do with her life and about not having found the ideal man. She makes a little money by selling fruit jellies, handkerchiefs, and baskets. Loose sheets, lined, three-hole punched, 5 x 7¾ inches. Many items are glued in or punched in: newspaper clippings, programs, notes, ribbons, bridge scores.

In addition to routine activities, Ruth continues to teach Sunday school and attend meetings of the Camp Fire Girls committee, the King's Daughters, and the Junior Auxiliary. She joins a Government Science club. Ruth and a few of her girlfriends go to Winona Lake for a week of classes and lectures. Ruth and her mother spend about six weeks at Lake Maxinkuckee, where she swims, sails, plays tennis, and takes lessons in basket making. Numerous male friends call on Ruth and take her to dances, plays, and concerts. She worries about what to do with her life and about not having found the ideal man. She makes a little money by selling fruit jellies, handkerchiefs, and baskets. Loose sheets, lined, three-hole punched, 5 x 7¾ inches. Many items are glued in or punched in: newspaper clippings, programs, notes, ribbons, bridge scores.

Ruth mentions more activities with male friends. In March she takes the train to Kansas City to visit her Bradford classmate Margaret 'Peggy' Holmes. Ruth's mother meets Ruth in Kansas City, and they continue on to visit relatives in Los Angeles and San Francisco for nearly three months. In San Francisco they spend several days at the 1915 World's Fair. Upon returning home, Ruth suffers a bilious attack that keeps her in bed for nearly a month. It is diagnosed as appendicitis, but no surgery is scheduled. Ruth takes osteopathic treatments and hair treatments, and her activities are curtailed for the rest of the year. Loose sheets, lined, three-hole punched, 5 x 7¾ inches. The first sheet seems to have a reading list, by month, January through May, with titles, authors, and brief comments. Various items are glued in or punched in: invitations, notes, newspaper clippings, dance cards, ticket stubs.

Ruth continues to note health concerns, receives a series of xrays, gets reading glasses, and has her tonsils removed. There are numerous activities with male friends, notably Halleck Ranger and Frank Richards. Ruth and her mother move into an apartment for six months, giving their house over to neighbors whose house has burned down. They visit Ruth's brother Harold and his wife in Brazil, IN, and spend two months on vacation in Leland, MI, on Lake Michigan. Ruth joins a reading class and the Indiana Society of Mayflower Descendants. Worries about finances and the war in Europe occupy her thoughts. Loose sheets, lined, three-hole punched, 5 x 7¾ inches, partially held together by green ribbon. Various items are glued in or pinned in: invitations, notes, newspaper clippings, dance cards, place cards, programs.

Ruth continues to note health concerns, receives a series of xrays, gets reading glasses, and has her tonsils removed. There are numerous activities with male friends, notably Halleck Ranger and Frank Richards. Ruth and her mother move into an apartment for six months, giving their house over to neighbors whose house has burned down. They visit Ruth's brother Harold and his wife in Brazil, IN, and spend two months on vacation in Leland, MI, on Lake Michigan. Ruth joins a reading class and the Indiana Society of Mayflower Descendants. Worries about finances and the war in Europe occupy her thoughts. Loose sheets, lined, three-hole punched, 5 x 7¾ inches, partially held together by green ribbon. Various items are glued in or pinned in: invitations, notes, newspaper clippings, dance cards, place cards, programs.

Ruth writes much about her relationship with Frank Richards; they talk of marriage, but he resists during wartime; he eventually enlists and goes off to camp. War preoccupies everyone; Ruth joins the Red Cross; her brother Harold gets a military position in Washington, DC; after marrying Lucille Thomas in July, brother Lyman is drafted, transfers to various camps, and eventually gets a position in Washington with Harold. Ruth researches, writes, and reads two papers to her Government Science Club, attends a King's Daughters convention in Terre Haute, and participates in a 'pageant'. Financial concerns cause Ruth and her mother to rent out their house and move temporarily into a room near the city, before leaving to spend 2½ months on vacation in Leland, MI. They return to their house in Indianapolis but think of selling it. Ruth visits her brother Lyman when he is in camp near Louisville. She complains about fatigue and nerves, spends time in bed with a 'cold on [her] lungs', and suffers a sprained rib caused by coughing. Loose sheets, lined, three-hole punched, 5 x 7¾ inches, partially held together by string. Various items are glued in: newspaper clippings, a program, ticket stubs, an invitation, a postcard, a calendar.

Ruth travels back east over the holiday season to visit friends in Marblehead, New Haven, and Poughkeepsie. In January she joins her mother in Washington, DC, visiting her brothers and sisters-in-law and sightseeing. There is much war news; back in Indianapolis Ruth continues Red Cross work and attends parties for officers; her two brothers and Frank Richards are sent to Europe, though not to the front lines; Ruth goes to work for the sugar division of the government's rationing administration, but the job ends shortly after the armistice. Ruth mentions social occasions involving a number of male friends, while continuing to express a special concern for, and commitment to, Frank Richards. Ruth and her mother rent out their house once again and move into a flat. The influenza epidemic arrives. Ruth hopes to find another job and looks forward to the return of the men from overseas. Three-ring binder, lined paper, 5 x 7¾ inches. Various items are inserted or glued in: business cards, photograph, newspaper clippings, menu.

1891 August 4 Ruth Elizabeth Thompson is born to Elizabeth Hubbard Thompson and Evert M. Thompson, with older brothers Harold and Lyman. By 1905 the family is residing in a house on North Meridian Street in Indianapolis.

1905 April Ruth begins keeping a 'memory book', while attending Tudor Hall School for Girls in Indianapolis. August Ruth goes to camp at Lake Maxinkuckee in Indiana.

1907 June/July Ruth visits relatives in Cincinnati and Paducah. August Ruth spends a month with the family of her schoolmate Winona Montgomery at Lake Wawasee in Indiana.

1908 July/August Ruth spends two weeks with Winona's family at Lake Wawasee.

December 3 Ruth begins music lessons at the Metropolitan School of Music, Indianapolis.

1909 Jan 30-Feb 1 Ruth visits her brothers at Purdue University in Lafayette, IN.

June 2 Ruth graduates from Tudor Hall School for Girls.

July 19-23 Ruth and some friends visit another friend in Williamsport, IN.

September The Thompson family moves into a flat on Talbot Avenue and rents out their house on North Meridian.

October 16-17 Ruth visits her brothers at Purdue University.

December 11-13 Ruth visits her friend Winona at DePauw University in Greencastle, IN.

1910 May 26 Ruth sees Halley's Comet.

June/July Ruth spends a month with her Uncle Charles, Aunt Louise, and their twin boys in Winnetka, near Chicago.

July 27-30 Ruth and some friends visit another friend in Williamsport, IN.

September Ruth enrolls in a two-year program at Bradford Academy, in Haverhill, MA. Her classes are Literature, Bible, Government, Botany, Psychology, English, and French.

November Ruth spends the Thanksgiving holiday with a classmate in Bennington, VT.

Dec/Jan Ruth spends the holiday season in Indianapolis, where the family has moved back to North Meridian Street.

December 31 Ruth's brother Harold marries Suzanne Robertson.

1911 March/April Ruth spends her two-week spring vacation with friends and relatives near and in New York City.

June 19-30 Before returning to Indianapolis for the summer, Ruth attends a camp at Silver Bay, NY.

August 8-14 Ruth visits her friend Leila in Williamsport, IN.

September Ruth goes back to Haverhill, MA, for her second year at Bradford Academy. Her classes are Astronomy, Government, Sociology, Art history, Bible, and Literature.

November Ruth spends the Thanksgiving holiday with friends near and in Boston.

December Ruth's father dies; she returns to Indianapolis for the funeral and the holiday season.

Letter from Suzanne, back in Indianapolis. 1912 March/April Ruth spends her spring vacation with friends in Winter Hill, MA.

June 19 Ruth graduates from Bradford Academy, with her mother attending. Ruth visits friends and relatives in New England and New York City, before returning to Indianapolis in July.

Sept/Oct Ruth and her mother visit relatives in California.

December Ruth begins teaching a Sunday school class for young girls.

1913 January/April Ruth gets medical treatments for an unnamed condition, experiences a nervous rave, and has tonsillitis.

June Ruth travels back east to visit friends and attend graduation and alumnae events at Bradford Academy.

Fall Ruth begins seeing Frank Richards, Fred Shafer, and John Darlington, in addition to other male friends.

1914 March 26 Ruth begins attending meetings of a Government Science club.

June/July Ruth and some friends go to Winona Lake for a week of classes and lectures.

July/Sept Ruth and her mother vacation at Lake Maxinkuckee.

Fall Ruth makes a little money by selling fruit jellies, handkerchiefs, and baskets.

1915 March 12-23 Ruth travels to Kansas City to visit her Bradford classmate Margaret 'Peggy' Holmes.

March/June Ruth and her mother travel to California to visit relatives and attend the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco.

June 22-30 Ruth and her mother spend a week with Harold and Suzanne at their new home in Brazil, IN.

August Ruth spends most of the month in bed recovering from bilious attacks.

October 15 Ruth is diagnosed with appendicitis and soon begins osteopathic treatments.

1916 January Ruth undergoes a series of xrays.

February 23 Halleck Ranger comes to call, their relationship grows, but Ruth ends it in July.

March 16 Ruth and her mother move into an apartment for six months, while renting their house to neighbors whose house has burned down.

March 21 Ruth goes to Brazil for a two-week stay with Harold and Suzanne.

April Ruth joins the Indiana Society of Mayflower Descendants.

June 15 - July 9 Three more weeks in Brazil.

July/September Ruth and her mother spend two months on vacation in Leland, MI, on Lake Michigan.

October 14 Ruth's tonsils are removed.

Fall Ruth's relationship with Frank Richards intensifies; Ruth and her mother worry about finances.

1917 March 28-30 Ruth attends a King's Daughters convention in Terre Haute, IN.

May 11 Preoccupied with war news, Ruth begins volunteering with the Red Cross.

June 1-8 Ruth and her mother spend a week visiting relatives in Cincinnati, OH, and Greensburg, IN.

June 9 Having rented out their house again, Ruth and her mother take a room in a home just outside Indianapolis, for four weeks.

July 11 Ruth's brother Lyman marries Lucille Thomas.

July/Sept Ruth and her mother vacation at Leland, MI. They hear that Lyman has been drafted and Harold and Suzanne have arrived in Washington, DC, where he takes a position in the War Department.

October 18-22 Ruth visits her brother Lyman at Camp Taylor, near Louisville, shortly before he is transferred to Rock Island, IL. In November he is ordered to Washington, a move Harold has been working for.

October Having told Ruth he doesn't think they should marry during wartime, Frank Richards enlists and leaves for camp in Hattiesburg, MS.

November Ruth complains about fatigue and nerves, spends time in bed with a 'cold on [her] lungs', and suffers a sprained rib caused by coughing.

December Ruth travels back east to spend the holidays with friends in New England and New York.

1918 January Ruth joins her mother in Washington, DC, where both her brothers are stationed; back in Indianapolis she continues her work with the Red Cross.

May 31 Lyman and Lucille have a son, Thomas Hubbard Thompson.

July 1 Ruth learns that Harold has arrived safely in France; he went with 225 men, whom he had equipped, but he is safely behind the lines.

Chronology after the letters:

November Ruth has a position with the sugar division of the government's rationing administration.

November 11 The war is over. Presumably, Frank Richards has arrived in England. Ruth learns that Lyman will go to France with the Motor Transport Corps.

November 14 Having rented out their house once again, Ruth and her mother move into a flat.

November 18 Ruth's job ends, and her Red Cross work is over; she will look for a new job. The flu germ has arrived. There is much news of the Kaiser, Germany, and peace.

1920 August Ruth is an instructor of girls at Pinewood Camp, Brutus, MI. [This is the last these papers reveal about her.]

About a dozen writing assignments dated 1905 and 1908, with teachers' marks and comments. I volume, 7 x 8½ inches, lined paper, two-hole punched, partially held together with string and ribbon.

Some of Ruth's friends enter responses to various inquiries: Name & address, Nicknames, Birthday, Age, Of what descent, General appearance, Color of eyes and hair, Candid opinion of yourself, Motto, Favorite expression, One ambition in life, Favorite sports, School you like best, College you like best, Frat or sorority you like best, Your best accomplishment, Latest fad, Ever had your fortune told?, What did they tell you?, Date you wrote in here.  The respondents are John Baker, Dorothy Pray, Erna Francke, Gladys Bocknatter(?), Mary Johnston (New York City), Mary Winona Montgomery, Sylvia Johnston (Connersville(?), Ind.), Alexander Walton (Wyoming, Ohio), Callie Ballard (Watkins, Colorado), Elnora Herzsch, Helen Eaglesfield (Woodruff), Eleanor Taylor, Ruth Hellekson, Portia Pratt, and Kurt Francke.  [Those with no place noted are from Indianapolis.] Inside front cover:  Ruth E. Thompson / 2018 N. Meridian St. / June 1, '07. Bound volume, softcover, 8 x 10 inches.

This volume contains a variety of accounts and lists. Most entries are not dated, but the dates noted are in the period 1913-1916. There are lists of novelties made and sold, apparently by Ruth and her mother, with prices. Among the items are sachets, handkerchiefs, garter purses, and fruit jellies. Lists of materials purchased include costs, and some invoices are inserted. There is a list of guests invited to a dance hosted by Ruth and her brother Lyman on April 3, 1914. Other lists possibly include guests at other parties, and there is a list of names with addresses. Inside front cover: Mrs Elizabeth H Thompson [Ruth's mother] / 629 N. Illinois St. / Indianapolis / Ind. Bound volume, lined paper, 7½ x 9¾ inches, with front and back covers broken free; pages are numbered to 98, but numerous leaves have been either cut out or left blank.

Each small photograph is a portrait of one or two individuals, none of whom is identified. The photographs were divided between two cut-off envelopes.

Four of Ruth's report cards from the Tudor Hall School for Girls.The report cards record monthly attendance and grades for October through May. Mrs. E. M. Thompson signed the reports every month except May.

9 items, including a map of the World's Fair [San Francisco, 1915]