Ruth Lawless Busbey papers
Abstract
This collection documents the career of Ruth Lawless Busbey, who received her B.S. (1930) and M.S. (1931) in chemistry from the University of Maryland and a second M.S. in languages (Russian) from Georgetown University in 1964. Ruth Busbey was a chemist for the United States Department of Agriculture throughout her career. Her papers consist of academic records, personnel files, correspondence, biographical information, and publications. Files documenting Busbey's 1966 information exchange trip to the former Soviet Union and copies of several chemistry articles and one major chemistry text Busbey translated from Russian to English are also part of the collection.
Important Information for Users of the Collection
This collection is open for research. There are no restricted files.
Ruth Lawless Busbey papers, Special Collections, University of Maryland Libraries.
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This collection is PROCESSED.
Historical Note
Ruth Charlotte Lawless was born on March 7, 1909, in Stanfordville, New York, and grew up in Washington, DC, graduating from Central High School in 1926. She received both her B.S. (1930) and M.S. (1931) degrees in chemistry from the University of Maryland. In 1931, she married Ridgaway J. Busbey (died 1941). Together they had two children, William Robert (1932-1972) and Emma B. Ditman (1933- ).
While completing her degrees, Ruth Busbey began working part time as a chemist with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Bureau of Entomology, which, in those years, maintained a laboratory on the University of Maryland's College Park campus. Her entire professional career was subsequently spent with the Bureau and its successor, the Entomology Research Division. In 1938 Ruth Busbey transferred to Whittier, California, where she worked on the application of cyanide to eradicate red scale, an insect that infests citrus trees. In 1943 Busbey returned to Maryland and continued work with the Bureau's Pesticide Chemicals Research Branch, now located at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center. Throughout the 1940s Ruth Busbey continued to research and publish while assuming increasing administrative responsibilities. She was eventually promoted to Assistant to the Branch Chief, a position she held until her retirement in 1970.
In order to read and translate articles on insecticide research published in Russian journals, Ruth Busbey began studying Russian at the USDA Graduate School during the 1950s. She eventually earned an M.S. in languages from Georgetown University in 1964. In 1966 she represented the Agricultural Research Service during a five-week information exchange tour of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). She visited many institutes engaged in pesticide research and established relationships with several researchers, keeping in contact with them after her return to the United States. In 1969 Ruth Busbey began translation of a major text, N. N. Melnikov's Chemistry of Pesticides; the translation was published in 1971.
After her retirement in 1970, Ruth Busbey volunteered her time to various organizations, including the National Association of Retired Federal Employees, Koininia Agapes, Inc., the Retired Chemists Group of the Chemical Society of Washington, and the Prince George's County Human Relations Committee. Ruth Busbey died March 27, 1990.
Scope and Contents of the Collection
The papers of Ruth Lawless Busbey include materials dating from 1922 to 1990. The collection contains records related to Busbey's education and career as a chemist, personal and professional correspondence, and various publications, including English translations of several articles and a copy of the English-language edition of N. N. Melnkiov's Chemistry of Pesticides. The collection also includes a journal account of Busbey's trip to the USSR, photographs, a map, and ephemera.
Custodial History and Acquisition Information
The University of Maryland Libraries received the papers of Ruth Lawless Busbey from her daughter, Emma Ditman, in December 2007. Additional materials were donated by Emma Ditman in November of 2008.
Processing Information
Processed by Amy French, October 2008.
Four series were created from the papers of Ruth Lawless Busbey. All paper clips and the majority of staples were removed from the collection and replaced by plastic clips over strips of acid-free paper. Sticky notes, pages with tape, brittle papers, and newsprint were photocopied on acid-free paper; originals were discarded. Obviously misfiled items were re-filed as appropriate, and duplicate copies of documents were discarded. The paper documents were placed in acid-free folders and boxes. Rolled oversized items were flattened and placed in custom-sized acid-free folders for storage in mapcase drawers. The photographs were sleeved and transferred to the photograph collection.
EAD markup created using EAD database in Microsoft Access. Markup completed by Amy French, October 2008. Markup edited by Amy French in May 2009 to incorporate accession of additional materials.
Arrangement of Collection
This collection is divided into four series.
Detailed Description of the Collection
Series 1: Personal, 1922-1990 and undated (0.25 linear feet)
This series consists largely of educational records and correspondence related to Ruth Busbey's second master's degree (M.S., languages, Georgetown University), a copy of her Georgetown master's thesis, and records related to her earlier education (B.S. and M.S., chemistry, University of Maryland). There are several certificates and diplomas, as well. Also included is biographical information in the form of notes outlining the dates of various educational achievements, a 1970 newsletter and memo that catalogue Busbey's personal and professional accomplishments, a certificate that records her travel across the equator, several obituaries, a letter discussing her qualifications for a community service position, a poem, a copy of her death certificate, and two letters acknowledging donations made to her church in her memory. This series is arranged alphabetically by subject.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biographical Information, 1943-1990, and undated | series 1 | box 1 | folder 1 | |
| "The Development of Russian Chemical Terminology," M.S. Thesis, Georgetown University, 1964 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 2 | |
| Educational Certificates and Diplomas, 1922-1935, 1964 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 3 | |
| Educational Records and Correspondence, [1931], 1959-1964, 1967, and undated | series 1 | box 1 | folder 4 | |
Series 2: Professional, 1931-[1976] and undated (1.25 linear feet)
This series consists of records and papers related to Ruth Busbey's professional career. Various documents, including awards, correspondence, performance ratings, applications, and memoranda, outline her employment as a chemist with the United States Department of Agriculture. In addition, there are reprints of Busbey's research publications, translations and summaries of Russian insecticide research articles, and USDA departmental reports. Of special interest are correspondence, receipts, travel vouchers, and other miscellanea documenting Busbey's 1966 information exchange trip to the USSR. Busbey's personal account of the trip, in the form of a journal and several drafts of a report and its ancillary documents, are included as well. A copy of the book Chemistry of Pesticides by author N. N. Melnikov, which Ruth Busbey translated from the Russian in 1971, and records and correspondence related to the task of its translation, are also part of this series. Arrangement is chronological.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USDA, Reports and Summary, 1931-1950 | series 2 | box 1 | folder 1 | |
| Employment, 1934-1953 | series 2 | box 1 | folder 2 | |
| Employment, 1954-1970 and undated | series 2 | box 1 | folder 3 | |
| Reprints, Ruth Lawless Busbey, 1937-1966 | series 2 | box 1 | folder 4 | |
| Translations and Summaries, Insecticide Research Publications (Russian), 1959-1962 | series 2 | box 1 | folder 5 | |
| Translations and Summaries, Insecticide Research Publications (Russian), 1962-1968 and undated | series 2 | box 1 | folder 6 | |
| USSR -- Notes on USSR Trip, 1966 | series 2 | box 2 | folder 1 | |
| USSR -- "Report of Visit to the Soviet Union, August 15-September 18, 1966" and Ancillary Materials, Ruth Lawless Busbey, 1966 | series 2 | box 2 | folder 2 | |
| USSR -- "Report of Visit to the Soviet Union, August 15-September 18, 1966" and Ancillary Materials, Ruth Lawless Busbey, 1966 | series 2 | box 2 | folder 3 | |
| USSR -- Talk on USSR Trip, Ruth Lawless Busbey, [1966-1967] | series 2 | box 2 | folder 4 | |
| USSR -- Information Exchange Trip Correspondence, 1966-1967 | series 2 | box 2 | folder 5 | |
| USSR -- Information Exchange Trip, 1966-1976 | series 2 | box 2 | folder 6 | |
| USSR -- Information Exchange Trip, 1966-1976 | series 2 | box 2 | folder 7 | |
| Chemistry of Pesticides, Records and Correspondence, 1969-1971 | series 2 | box 3 | folder 1 | |
| Chemistry of Pesticides, Residue Reviews, Volume 36, Springer-Verlag, 1971 | series 2 | box 3 | folder 2 | |
Series 3: Photographs, 1943-1968 and undated (39 items)
This series consists of 39 photographs related to Ruth Busbey's personal and professional life. Included in the personal set are eight photographs showing Busbey alone or among family and friends; several are from travels abroad. Included in the professional set are five black and white images depicting an awards ceremony, 13 black and white and four color images from Busbey's 1966 trip to the USSR, and five black and white photographs of Russian visitors to Beltsville, MD, along with Busbey and her colleagues.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | Item | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Photographs -- Personal, 1943-1948, 1971, 1980, and undated | series 3 | box 1 | folder 1 | ||
| A black and white photograph of Ruth Busbey with children Emma and Billy, California, 1943 | series 3 | box 1 | folder 1 | item 1 | |
| A color photo of Ruth Busbey with a great grandchild, undated | series 3 | box 1 | folder 1 | item 2 | |
| Color photograph of Ruth Busbey from travel abroad (?), undated | series 3 | box 1 | folder 1 | item 3 | |
| Color photograph of Ruth Busbey holding a koala bear. Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, Brisbane, Australia, 1980 | series 3 | box 1 | folder 1 | item 4 | |
| Black and white portrait photograph of Ruth Busbey, ca. 1948 | series 3 | box 1 | folder 1 | item 5 | |
| Black and white group portrait of Ruth Busbey and others. Sun Rise Holiday Tour, Japan Travel Bureau, 1971 | series 3 | box 1 | folder 1 | item 6 | |
| Black and white photograph of Ruth Busbey and others riding an elephant, undated | series 3 | box 1 | folder 1 | item 7 | |
| Color portrait of Ruth Busbey and others. Athabasca Glacier, undated | series 3 | box 1 | folder 1 | item 8 | |
| Photographs -- Professional, 1948, 1966-1968, and undated | series 3 | box 1 | folder 2 | ||
| Black and white photograph depicting Ruth Busbey receiving award. Found with a program for the Honor Award Ceremony, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Center, [June 25, 1948] | series 3 | box 1 | folder 2 | item 1 | |
| Black and white photograph depicting unidentified person receiving award. Found with a program for the Honor Award Ceremony, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Center, [June 25, 1948] | series 3 | box 1 | folder 2 | item 2 | |
| Black and white photograph depicting unidentified person receiving award. Found with a program for the Honor Award Ceremony, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Center, [June 25, 1948] | series 3 | box 1 | folder 2 | item 3 | |
| Black and white photograph depicting unidentified person receiving award. Found with a program for the Honor Award Ceremony, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Center, [June 25, 1948] | series 3 | box 1 | folder 2 | item 4 | |
| Black and white photograph depicting unidentified person receiving award. Found with a program for the Honor Award Ceremony, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Center, [June 25, 1948] | series 3 | box 1 | folder 2 | item 5 | |
| A single black and white group photo depicts participants of the Supervisory Development Program at the Motel Washingtonian, Gaithersburg, Maryland, February 11-15, 1963 | series 3 | box 1 | folder 2 | item 6 | |
| A black and white photograph of three women seated at desk. Ruth Busbey sits center. All-Union Institute of Plant Protection, Leningrad, Dr. Shumakova and Gusilya, 1966 | series 3 | box 1 | folder 2 | item 7 | |
| A black and white photograph of man and woman seated at desk. All-Union Institute of Plant Protection, Leningrad, Dr. Shumakov and Dr. Edelman (f), 1966 | series 3 | box 1 | folder 2 | item 8 | |
| A black and white photograph of two men standing. All-Union Institute of Plant Protection, Leningrad, Drs. Gusev, Sazonov, 1966 | series 3 | box 1 | folder 2 | item 9 | |
| A black and white photograph of three individuals standing in laboratory. Label identifies place as laboratory at Institute of Heteroorganic Chemistry, Moscow; people pictured are Dr. Kabachink, one of his assistants, and Busbey's Moscow interpreter, Claudia Grouzinova, August 19, 1966 | series 3 | box 1 | folder 2 | item 10 | |
| Black and white photograph of Ruth Busbey and others seated at dining table. Luncheon given by staff at All-Union Institute of Plant Protection, Leningrad. Several signatures are on back of photograph, 1966 | series 3 | box 1 | folder 2 | item 11 | |
| Black and white photograph of Ruth Busbey and others seated at dining table. Cherkassy. Several names (in Russian) are on back of photograph, 1966 | series 3 | box 1 | folder 2 | item 12 | |
| Black and white photograph of Ruth Busbey and six others. Ukrainian Institute of Organic Chemistry, Kiev. Several names listed on back of photograph, as well, 1966 | series 3 | box 1 | folder 2 | item 13 | |
| Black and white photograph of Ruth Busbey and three others, standing. All-Union Institute of Plant Protection, Leningrad, Drs. Shipinov, Detunova, Dr. Andreev, 1966 | series 3 | box 1 | folder 2 | item 14 | |
| Black and white photograph of Ruth Busbey and six others, standing. Institute of Chemical Agents for Plant Protection, Moscow, Dr. Melnikov's staff. Several signatures are on back of photograph, 1966 | series 3 | box 1 | folder 2 | item 15 | |
| Black and white photograph of ornate archway and columns. Archangel in Kremlin, 1966 | series 3 | box 1 | folder 2 | item 16 | |
| Black and white photograph of Ruth Busbey and others seated at dining table. Collective Farm 'Dnipro' near Cherkassy in the Ukraine. Several names listed on back of photograph., 1966 | series 3 | box 1 | folder 2 | item 17 | |
| Black and white photograph of Ruth Busbey and others, standing. All-Union Institute of Hygiene and Toxicology of Pesticides, Polymers, and Plastics, Kiev. Several names listed on back of photograph, 1966 | series 3 | box 1 | folder 2 | item 18 | |
| Black and white photograph of Ruth Busbey and others, standing. All-Union Institute of Plant Protection, Leningrad, Dr. Andreev and assistants. Note (in Russian) on back of photograph, 1966 | series 3 | box 1 | folder 2 | item 19 | |
| Black and white photograph of Dr. A. A. Potapov with camera. Found with paper with label identifying images as showing visitors to Beltsville, January 24, 1968 | series 3 | box 1 | folder 2 | item 20 | |
| Black and white photograph of Dr. A. A. Potapov and Dr. D. J. Vooden. Found with paper with label identifying images as showing visitors to Beltsville, January 24, 1968. | series 3 | box 1 | folder 2 | item 21 | |
| Black and white photograph of Dr. A. A. Potapov and Russian conversational group. Found with paper with label identifying images as showing visitors to Beltsville, January 24, 1968. | series 3 | box 1 | folder 2 | item 22 | |
| Black and white photograph of Ruth Busbey taken by Dr. Andreev. Found with paper with label identifying images as showing visitors to Beltsville, 1965 | series 3 | box 1 | folder 2 | item 23 | |
| Black and white photograph of Stan Hall and William Sullivan. Found with paper with label identifying images as showing visitors to Beltsville, undated | series 3 | box 1 | folder 2 | item 24 | |
| Black and white photograph of Ruth Busbey, undated | series 3 | box 1 | folder 2 | item 25 | |
| Black and white photograph of Ruth Busbey and several others. Note in Russian on back, 1968 | series 3 | box 1 | folder 2 | item 26 | |
| Black and white photograph of Ruth Busbey. Note in Russian on back, 1968 | series 3 | box 1 | folder 2 | item 27 | |
| Color photograph from Ruth Busbey's trip to the USSR. Image is of statue. Label on back in Russian, 1966 | series 3 | box 1 | folder 2 | item 28 | |
| Color photograph from Ruth Busbey's trip to the USSR. Image is of building. Label on back in Russian, 1966 | series 3 | box 1 | folder 2 | item 29 | |
| Color photograph from Ruth Busbey's trip to the USSR. Image is of building, 1966 | series 3 | box 1 | folder 2 | item 30 | |
| Color photograph from Ruth Busbey's trip to the USSR. Image is of building, 1966 | series 3 | box 1 | folder 2 | item 31 | |
Series 4: Memorabilia, 1926-1927, 1930 (2 items)
This series consists of two honor society pins awarded to Ruth Busbey for her educational achievements.| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | Item | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memorabilia, 1926-1927, 1930 | series 4 | box 1 | folder 1 | ||
| Phi Kappa Phi pin. Back is engraved "R.C.L. Univ. of MD. 1930", 1930 | series 4 | box 1 | folder 1 | item 1 | |
| Sigma Phi Sigma pin. Front is engraved "Scholarship Univ. of MD." Back reads "Won by Ruth Charlotte Lawless, Freshman Class, 1926-1927", 1926-1927 | series 4 | box 1 | folder 1 | item 2 | |
Related Material
McKeldin Library holds a copy of N. N. Mel'nikov's Chemistry of Pesticides, translated from the Russian by Ruth L. Busbey. The call number is SB951 .M413. Copies of Busbey's master's thesis, "The toxicity of thiocyanates and isothiocyanates toward goldfish," are held in both White Memorial (Chemistry) Library and Hornbake Library. The call number for this text is LD3231 .M70m.
For other related archival and manuscript collections, please see the following subject guides.
Selected Search Terms
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the University of Maryland Libraries' Catalog. Researchers desiring related materials about these topics, names, or places may search the Catalog using these headings.
Subjects
- Busbey, Ruth L. (Ruth Lawless), 1909-1990 -- Archives.
- Insecticides -- Research.
- Soviet Union -- Description and travel.
- Women chemists -- United States -- Archives.
Names (Added Entries)
- Mel'nikov, N. N. (Nikolai Nikolaevich). Chemistry of Pesticides.
- United States. Bureau of Entomology.