An Inventory of Her Collection at the Harry Ransom Center
Creator:
Ainsworth, Ruth
Title:
Ruth Ainsworth Collection
Dates:
circa late 1930s-1985, undated
Extent:
7 document boxes (2.94 linear feet)
Abstract:
The collection includes manuscript material
documenting Ainsworth's career as a children's literature writer from the 1930s to
the late
1980s. Items include typescripts, handwritten drafts, correspondence, proofs, clippings,
notes, and an award (Dutch).
Call Number:
Manuscript Collection MS-00041
Language:
English; one document in Dutch
Access:
Open for research. Researchers must create an online Research Account and agree to
the
Materials Use Policy before using archival materials.
Use Policies:
Ransom Center collections may contain material with sensitive or confidential information
that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Researchers
are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable
living
individuals represented in the collections without the consent of those individuals
may have
legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy
may
arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be
deemed
highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which the Ransom Center and The University
of
Texas at Austin assume no responsibility.
Restrictions on Use:
Authorization for publication is given on behalf of the University of Texas as the
owner of
the collection and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright
holder
which must be obtained by the researcher. For more information please see the Ransom
Centers' Open Access and Use Policies.
Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
Ruth Ainsworth Collection (Manuscript Collection MS-00041). Harry Ransom Center, The
University of Texas at Austin.
Ruth Gallard Ainsworth Gilbert was born in Manchester, England, on October 16, 1908.
After
the death of her father in 1909, Ainsworth and her family moved to Felixstowe, Suffolk.
She
later moved to Leicester, where she worked as a nursemaid, teacher, and a junior school
mistress. She married Frank Gilbert on March 29, 1935, in Leicester and had three
sons.
Throughout her career, Ainsworth used her maiden name professionally. During World
War II,
the family left London for Wales. The Gilberts later moved to Harpenden before settling
in
Corbridge, Northumberland, where Ainsworth remained for the rest of her life.
Ainsworth's first publication came with
Windfalls
(1928), which was focused on her poetry. She began her career as a writer of children's
literature
with the publication of her stories in
The Kiddies’ Magazine
in the 1930s. Over the course of over 50 years, Ruth published a wealth of material
geared
towards children. Her works included both original stories and re-telling of classic
tales.
Ainsworth also collaborated with Ronald Ridout for a series of educational books.
She also
contributed numerous scripts to British Broadcasting Corporation programs,
Listen with Mother
, and contributed material to several anthologies. Along with children's literature,
Ainsworth also published
The Evening Listens
(1953), a book of poetry geared towards adults.
Ruth Ainsworth Gilbert died on May 16, 1984, in Corbridge, Northumberland.
"Life with Ruth Ainsworth."
Ruth Ainsworth
, http://www.ruthainsworth.co.uk/bio.html (accessed July 2018).
Scope and Contents
The collection includes manuscript materials documenting Ainsworth's career as a children's
literature writer from the late 1930s to the late 1980s. Items include typescripts,
handwritten drafts, correspondence, proofs, clippings, and one award (Dutch). It is
arranged
into two series: A. Works, circa 1930-1980s, undated and B. Personal and Career Related,
1975-1984, undated. The Works series is further divided into two subseries: A. Manuscripts
and B. Book Withdrawals.
The material in the collection was arranged into parcel envelopes labeled by Frank
Gilbert,
Ruth Ainsworth's husband, using the English alphabet. Each envelope contained detailed
notes
providing information and context about Ainsworth's work. Also included in the parcels
were
books that were separated and transferred to the Ransom Center library and form the
Ruth
Ainsworth Book Collection. A concise order could not be determined from Gilbert's
original
arrangement, but as the notes provide information about the material in the specific
parcels, the arrangement was maintained. For parcels that contained only books, Gilbert's
notes and the envelopes remain with this material. The dates of materials were taken
from
the notes as a vast majority of the material is undated. Excluding one note, all of
the
notes are also undated.
Subseries A. Manuscripts contains Ainsworth’s drafts, notes, and correspondence. A
bulk of
the materials are typescripts and handwritten drafts of Ainsworth's work. Much of
the
handwritten drafts are in notebooks, notepads, and a couple of planners. There is
some
correspondence with publishers, scripts for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC),
a
few illustration proofs, and a very small number of clippings. In addition to providing
notes and arranging the collection, Gilbert also annotated some of the material in
pen
(typically, red) and pencil. He also transcribed or copied some of Ainsworth’s material.
Folders with Gilbert's notes and envelopes were arranged in Subseries B. Book
Withdrawals.
Series II. Personal and Career Related contains biographical material and an award.
The condition of the collection is fair with some minor wear and discoloration. A
number of
the notebooks and notepads are difficult to open or the pages have loosened from the
binding.
Related Material
The Harry Ransom Center also has the Ruth Ainsworth Book Collection, which includes
over
150 cataloged titles in English, French, German, Swedish, Dutch, and Norwegian.
Separated Material
Books were transferred to the Ruth Ainsworth Book Collection. Any corresponding notes
and
envelopes were left with the collection.
