This fonds consists of records created, accumulated and used by Ruth Matheson Buck, relating to her childhood in Saskatchewan as the daughter of an Anglican missionary and one of Canada's first female doctors; as an educator; as an advocate for adult education; and as an historian and published author on Saskatchewan history and its people.
The types of records included pertain mostly to Buck's published works and to her family, and are comprised of clippings; photographs; correspondence; an object; background research for her articles, sketches, drafts, typescripts and manuscripts of published and unpublished works including "Voices of the Plains Cree" the edited letters of Edward Ahenakew; "The Doctor Rode Sidesaddle", a biography of her mother; "Letters from Hessie McLean" and "Mail Carrying by Western Trails". Genealogical material is also included for Joseph "Forty" Fortescue, Fred Rowland, the Quinney family, and the Matheson, Pritchard and Scott families. The fonds includes sound recordings of an interview with J. Fortesque McKay of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, a trader born in 1890, conducted by Ruth M. Buck in 1975, in which McKay discusses his work with the Hudson's Bay Company (Tape R-1682; Tape R-1683; Tape R-1684). Also included is a sound recording of an oral history interview conducted by Ruth Buck with Maria Rivard of Edmonton, Alberta regarding her experiences growing up at the St. Barnabas Anglican Mission, Onion Lake, from 1896 to 1914 (Tape R-8717).
Records in this fonds also pertain to Buck's involvement in various boards, associations and committees related to adult education and include minutes; agendas; reports; notes; briefs; correspondence; programs; pamphlets; orders in council; and membership lists, including some member biographies.
Records also include notes on Onion Lake, The Pas and the Devon Mission in Saskatchewan, and the bishops of the Diocese of Saskatchewan. Lists of speeches given by Buck; awards, tributes and certificates received; and photographs are located in the fonds.
Articles and correspondence written by Buck and records accumulated by Buck are also contained in: R-E682; R-E1928; R-E2539; R-E2564; R-E3327; and R-E3426. Biographical sketches written by Buck about Elizabeth Beckett Matheson, Frances McGill and Catherine Sheldon-Williams are contained in clippings files.
No series assignment has been applied to the records in this fonds.