Ruth (Sawyer) Durand (1880 - 1970)

Born 5 Aug 1880 in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States

Wife of Albert Cyrus Durand — married 4 Jun 1911 in Lincolnville, Knox, Maine, United States

Died 3 Jun 1970 at age 89 in Lexington, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States

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Biography

Ruth (Sawyer) Durand is Notable.

Storyteller and a writer of fiction and non-fiction for children and adults. A 1937 Newbery Medal awardee and the 1965 Laura Ingalls Wilder Award recipient for lifetime achievement in children's literature.

Ruth was born in 1880. She is the daughter of Francis Milton Sawyer and Ethalinda Jane Smith. She married Albert Cyrus Durand on 4 June 1911 in Lincolnville, Knox, Maine, United States.^{[1] [2]}

She was an author. She was called "a storyteller with consummate gifts – whose tales both oral and written should be characterized as living folk art". Her first book was a 1915 adult novel entitled "The Primrose Ring." The story was made into a silent film in 1917, starring Mae Murray and an uncredited Loretta Young in her film debut as a fairy. In 1916, she published her first book for children, This Way to Christmas. She published one book every year or two for the next twenty years. Her first juvenile fiction book was "The Tale of the Enchanted Bunnies" in 1923.

The Tale of the Enchanted Bunnies

One of her best-known books was "Roller Skates." The book won the 1937 Newbery Medal recognizing the book as the previous year's "most distinguished contribution to American children's literature". She received the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award in 1965 for her lifetime achievement in children's literature.

She died on 3 June 1970. ^[3]

Census Records

• In the 1915 census, Ruth (age 34) was the wife of Albert C Durand in Ithaca Ward 04, Tompkins.^[4]
• In the 1925 census, Ruth (age 44) was the wife of Albert C Durand in Ithaca, Tompkins.^[5]
• In the 1930 census, Ruth (age 49), Auther, was the wife of Albert C Durand at 501 Highland Rd, Cayuga Heights, Tompkins, New York, United States.^[6]
• In the 1940 census, Ruth (age 59), Author, was the wife of Albert C Durand in Ithaca, Tompkins, New York.^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ Marriage: "Maine, U.S., Marriage Records, 1713-1922"
   Maine State Archives; Cultural Building, 84 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0084; 1908-1922 Vital Records; Roll Number: 17
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 1961 #2927293 (accessed 13 February 2023)
   Ruth Sawyer (30) marriage to Albert Cyrus Durand on 4 Jun 1911 in Lincolnville, Knox, Maine, USA.
2. ↑ Marriage:"Maine, U.S., Marriage Index, 1892-1996"
   Maine State Archives. Maine Marriages 1892-1996 (except 1967 to 1976). Maine. Index obtained from Maine Department of the Secretary of State, Maine State ArchivesAncestry Record 6904 #1453928 (accessed 13 February 2023)
   Ruth Sawyer marriage to Albert C Durand on 4 Jun 1911 in Maine, USA.
3. ↑ Burial: "Global, Find a Grave™ Index for Burials at Sea and other Select Burial Locations, 1300s-Current"
   Find a Grave™. Find a Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi; URL: Find A Grave: Memorial #65973334
   Ancestry Record 60541 #1055798 (accessed 13 February 2023)
   Ruth Durand burial (died on 3 Jun 1970).
4. ↑ 1915 Census: "New York, U.S., State Census, 1915"
   New York State Archives; Albany, New York; State Population Census Schedules, 1915; Election District: 03; Assembly District: 01; City: Ithaca Ward 04; County: Tompkins; Page: 06; Line Number: 15
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2703 #4550196 (accessed 13 February 2023)
   Ruth S Durand (34), wife, in the household of Albert C Durand (36) in Ithaca Ward 04, Tompkins. Born in the United States.
5. ↑ 1925 Census: "New York, U.S., State Census, 1925"
   New York State Archives; Albany, New York; State Population Census Schedules, 1925; Election District: 02; Assembly District: 01; City: Ithaca; County: Tompkins; Page: 3; Line Number: 43
   Ancestry Record 2704 #15372558 (accessed 13 February 2023)
   Ruth Sawyer Durand (44), wife, in the household of Albert C Durand (45) in Ithaca, Tompkins. Born in the USA.
6. ↑ 1930 Census: "1930 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1930; Census Place: Cayuga Heights, Tompkins, New York; Page: 5B; Enumeration District: 0031; FHL microfilm: 2341388
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 6224 #46544091 (accessed 13 February 2023)
   Ruth Durand (49), wife, Auther, in the household of Albert C Durand (50) at 501 Highland Rd, Cayuga Heights, Tompkins, New York, USA. Born in Massachusetts.
7. ↑ 1940 Census: "1940 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1940; Census Place: Ithaca, Tompkins, New York; Roll: m-t0627-02793; Page: 6B; Enumeration District: 55-32
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2442 #9785192 (accessed 13 February 2023)
   Ruth S Durand (59), wife, Author, in the household of Albert C Durand (60) in Ithaca, Tompkins, New York. Born in Massachusetts.

See also:

• "United States 1950 Census", database, FamilySearch (ark:/61903/1:1:6FMG-81SD : Mon Jan 30 00:46:20 UTC 2023), Entry for Albert C Durand and Ruth S Durand, 18 April 1950.
• Wikipedia: Ruth Sawyer
• Wikidata: Item Q4977173, en:Wikipedia