Guide to the Ruth Hart papers
1964-2003
Collection number: HMC-1279.
Creator: Hart, Ruth.
Title: Ruth Hart papers.
Dates: 1964-2003.
Volume of collection: 2.2 cubic feet.
Language of materials: Materials in this collection are in English.
Collection summary: Scrapbook and costume renderings created by a costume designer in Anchorage.
Biographical note:
Ruth Hart was born in 1927 in Conshohocken, PA. She married John Hart in 1960 and moved to Anchorage, where she was employed as a bookkeeper. Hart started her own bookkeeping service in the 1970s, and operated the business until she retired. Hart was also an active volunteer in the Alaska arts, including music, dance, and theatre. She also designed costumes for numerous Anchorage productions and acted in plays. In 1981, Hart was awarded the Governor’s Award for the Arts. Ruth Hart died in 2016.
Collection description:
The collection contains the papers of Ruth Hart, which mostly relate to her years designing costumes and volunteering for various Anchorage theatres. Included in the collection are Hart’s job descriptions, an Alaska arts file, nomination letters for the Governor’s Award for the Arts, correspondence, and costume drawings for various plays, as well as a scrapbook. The files with the costume drawings contain costuming and character information, scripts and flyers for the plays, and paintings and fabric samples for the costumes. The scrapbook includes costume designs, flyers, programs and playbills, photographs, and news clippings relating plays sponsored by the Anchorage Community Theatre Guild, University of Alaska Theatre Guild, and The Theatre Guild, Inc.
Arrangement: The collection is arranged by subject.
Digitized copies: This collection has not been digitized. For information about obtaining digital copies, please contact Archives and Special Collections.
Rights note: Archives has copyright to materials created by Ruth Hart. The collection contains materials not created by Hart which may be subject to copyright restrictions.
Preferred citation: Ruth Hart papers, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.
Works used in preparation of inventory:
“Obituary for Ruth Hart – Anchorage, AK.” In Memory of Ruth Hart — Janssen Funeral Homes, Anchorage, AK. Accessed February 22, 2018. http://www.janssenfuneralhomes.com/memsol.cgi?user_id=1822092.
Separated materials: Published material was removed from the collection and some were added to the Consortium Library’s Rare Books collection. Please ask an archivist for further information.
Acquisition note: The collection was given to Archives and Special Collections by the Ruth R. Hart Living Trust in 2018. A deed of gift was signed by Ronald E. Greishen, Trustee of the Ruth R. Hart Living Trust, in 2017.
Processing information: This collection was described by Veronica Denison in 2018. When possible original folder titles were retained.
Container list:
| Box/Folder | Description | Dates |
| 1/1 | Hart’s job descriptions, resumes | circa 1983-2003 |
| 1/2 | Correspondence | 1980-1988 |
| 1/3 | Thank you letters to Hart | undated, 1979-1983 |
| 1/4 | Governor’s Award of the Arts nomination letters; Hart’s background; Art Advisory Commission and Anchorage Arts bulletins, newsletters, calendars | undated, 1979-1981 |
| 1/5 | Certificates and awards, includes Governor’s Award | 1981-1990 |
| 1/6 | Alaska arts file | circa 1980-1988 |
| 1/7 | Costume-organization chart | undated, 1978-1986 |
| 1/8 | Fabric samples | undated |
| 1/9 | Our Town flyer, Earthquake letter [script removed and added to Rare Books] | 1964 |
| 1/10 | Photographs and programs: The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, Hay Fever, After the Fall | 1973 |
| 1/11 | A Sunny Morning | 1977 |
| 1/12 | Chamber Music | 1977 |
| 1/13-14, 2/3 | Shakespeare on the Green | 1978 |
| 1/15-17 | A Little Night Music | 1983 |
| 1/18 | The Gift of the Magi | undated |
| 1/19 | Beauty and the Beast | 1985 September |
| 1/20 | A Christmas Carol | 1985 |
| 1/21 | Waltz of the Toreadors | 1986 January |
| 1/22 | Play It Again, Sam | 1986 September |
| 1/23 | Theater layouts; Event dump report, Carr-Gottstein | undated, 1990 |
| 2/1 | Carousel | 1977 |
| 2/2 | Once Upon a Mattress | undated |
| Box 2 | Scrapbook | 1970-1990 |