The Ruth Newman Schwarz papers, 1939-1989, contains correspondence, writings, and organizational materials relating to her research on Jewish childcare facilities in post-war France. In 1946, Schwarz traveled to children's homes run by organizations such as Oeuvre de Secours aux Enfants and Oeuvre de Protection des Enfants Juifs, while her husband ran the Jewish-American Joint Distribution Committee. which provided support to Displaced Persons (DP) camps. The collection contains correspondence with organizational leaders, reports on the condition of the homes, financial reports, and meeting minutes.

There is also a series of correspondence after the death of her husband, containing condolence letters, correspondence regarding the donation of his books and papers to the University of Iowa library, and correspondence with editors about her husband's works-in-progress.