These papers document the life of Jane Eleanor Ruby, who was a history professor at Wheaton College from 1954 to 1978, including her education and employment before Wheaton and her activities after her retirement until she died in 1992. The materials of the collection are organized chronologically. There are many gaps within the collection due to the lack of material for each series. The strengths of the collection are found in her writing material and periodicals that provide a insight into Ruby’s life. The collection is divided up into four series, EDUCATION, PROFESSIONAL LIFE, WRITINGS, and PERSONAL LIFE.

The EDUCATION series cover the years from 1925 to 1979 covering from Ruby’s high school education at U.S Grant High School in Portland Oregon to her time at Reed College. The materials of the series are organized chronologically. The series includes scans of Ruby’s High School year book of her senior year, Memoirs, along with newspaper clippings of her time there and her 50th High school reunion. The series also includes her yearbook, The Griffin from Reed College in 1931 in addition to her alumni register from 1955.

The PROFESSIONAL life series documents the years from 1939 to 1963. The series covers her time spent at Rutgers University and Smith College. The material from Rutgers University is little consisting of publications Ruby is mentioned in from 1939 to 1941. The material on Ruby’s time at Smith College is more extensive, including multiple directories and bulletins during her time there from 1945 to 1963. An interesting peice in this series is a scrapbook of letters Ruby received from students when she retired from Wheaton College in 1978. The series also includes Ruby's black graduation cap with black tassle from when she was a professor at Wheaton.

The WRITINGS series comprises materials from 1933 to 1990. The series includes Ruby’s BA and MA thesis along with her Doctorate thesis as well. An interesting part of this series is the multiple copies and drafts of Ruby’s “Perspective” paper, including many complete drafts, partially complete drafts, and incomplete drafts, showing Ruby’s editing process. The series also includes other publications by Ruby during her career and also after retirement. A weakness of the series is the lack of other publications of Ruby’s or simply her process of writing the publications that is provided for her “Perspective” paper, which is a definite strength of the series.

The PERSONAL LIFE series is mainly undated. It includes Ruby’s book of recipes along with recipe cards and there is little information towards their origins. What is also in the series is a property deed in French from 1698 whose origin is also unknown.