If you have spent time at the Charles Tallman Archives and Research Center in recent years, you know what a valuable asset and essential component Ruth Anderson has become to its operation. Ruth has been the volunteer Archive Manager since May of 2002. Prior to volunteering at the research center, Ruth used the archives to pull probate records for a personal project, which showed her how essential the Charles Tallman Archives and Research Center is to Rock County. Her belief in the value of the archives inspired her to offer her services in 2002, when she learned that the current volunteer managers were retiring. She wanted to ensure that the information and documents that were housed at the archives would continue to be available to anyone who needed access.
As an Archive Manager, Ruth wears many hats. Along with supervising the other archive volunteers, planning various projects, and assigning queries to volunteers, Ruth also interacts with clients regarding their requests and creates billing statements for work that has been completed, along with preparing monthly numbers and financial reports. As a lifelong learner, she enjoys the excitement of learning something new every week, along with the mental challenges that come with requests for information and images.
When Ruth is not at the Archives Center, she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, sewing clothes for and dressing dolls as historical figures, and of course, doing research for a personal genealogical project that she has been working on for about 30 years. The Rock County Historical Society is very grateful to have such a dedicated and knowledgeable volunteer Archive Manager in Ruth, and hope that you will take the time to visit the Charles Tallman Archives and Research Center and get to know her!