Ruth E. Edwards facts for kids

Ruth E. Edwards, also known as Ruth·ology, is a super talented artist. She teaches people how to make unique books. She also started a group called Books in Black. This group is made up of African American artists who create amazing books.

Ruth Edwards' Story

Ruth E. Edwards was born in New York City. She went to Pace University and studied business. After working for a big bank in New York for many years, she found her true passion. In 1998, she discovered the art of making books by hand.

Ruth took many classes at the Center for Book Arts in New York City. She learned all about this special craft. She even joined the board of directors for the Center for Book Arts from 2001 to 2004.

Ruth's Amazing Books

Ruth Edwards creates and publishes her own special books. She calls her work "Ruth·ology." These books are often one-of-a-kind or made in small numbers. They come in many cool shapes and styles. Some are like accordions, while others are tiny miniature books. She also makes pop-up books, scrolls, and star or carousel books.

One of Ruth's famous books is called Black Rodeo. It was shown in a big art exhibit in 2007. This exhibit, called “We, Too, Are Book Artists,” was very important. It was the first large show of African-American book art. It featured books by 23 different artists.

Cool Books by Ruth

Here are some of the special books Ruth Edwards has created:

• Black Rodeo: This book has illustrations by Izell Glover. It's shaped like a star and has a leather cover.
• Book: A fun, tiny book with 14 pages. It's part of a special collection at UCLA Library.
• The Circus (2002): This book was shown in an exhibition at the Center for Book Arts.
• How the Sandwich Got Its Name: This book tells the short history of the sandwich. It explains how it was invented by the Earl of Sandwich.
• On the Ropes: This unique book is about Jack Johnson. He was the first Black heavyweight boxing champion.
• Read: This is a tiny book with 14 pages, just like Book.
• She Put a Dent In It!: This book tells the story of Clotilde Dent Bowen, MD. She was the first Black woman to become a Colonel in the United States Army.
• The Steps of A Giant: This book is about Colin L. Powell.
• With Care: This book has a special dos-a-dos binding. It means it has two front covers and opens in two directions. One side has Ruth's writing, and the other has drawings by Tom Feelings.

Books in Black: A Special Group

Books in Black poster by R Gregory Christie, circa 2007, was used to promote the artists' book making collective.

Books in Black is a group of African American artists. They are "ordinary people who make extraordinary books." The group started in 2002 to create books for a Black History Month event. After their first show was a big hit, Ruth Edwards officially organized the group.

The group focuses on making unique books. These books highlight important parts of African American history and achievements. Ruth once said, "We write a few sentences to steer people in the right direction." They want to show how one person can make a huge difference.

The members of Books in Black come from many different jobs. They include teachers, computer experts, artists, and librarians. Here are some of the artists who have shown their work with the group:

Books in Black Shows

Ruth Edwards organized every Books in Black exhibition. Each show had special postcards and catalogs.

Helping Young Artists in Co-op City

Ruth Edwards lives in Co-op City in the Bronx. From 2007 to 2011, she taught book arts to kids aged 12 to 18. She did this through a program she started called the Scholarship Incentive Awards Program. In 2008, the young people in her program collected recipes. They created a special cookbook called “What’s Cookin? Recipes of the Elders."

After President Barack Obama was elected, eight young people in Ruth's program felt very inspired. They created an artist's book about their hopes for the new leader. Each student wrote a personal letter to the president. They focused on different topics like the economy, education, and health care. They also drew pictures for their sections. Ruth helped them and designed the 30-foot long accordion book.

Deborah Willis, a co-author of a book about Obama, met with the group. She helped them raise money for their project. Over several months, the teens handmade sixteen copies of the long accordion book.

In August 2009, during a community event, Bronx Borough President Rubén Díaz Jr. and Congressman Joseph Crowley joined Ruth and the teens. They unrolled the 30-foot book for everyone to see! Congressman Crowley's office helped deliver a copy of the book to the White House in 2010.

In 2014, this special book, President Obama's To Do List, became part of the permanent collection at the Smithsonian Libraries. This is a very big deal! Only a few books from across the country are added each year.