The Ruth Ryan Jenkins papers date from 1935 to 1938 and measure 12 linear inches. The papers are arranged into one series: biographical.

The Biographical series (1935-1938) consists of one scrapbook kept by Ruth Ryan throughout her years at St. Luke’s Hospital School of Nursing in Davenport, Iowa. This scrapbook contains various pictures of Ryan and her classmates, as well as newspaper clippings, invitations, programs, and decorations from the several social events the student body held for both the students and the general public. Four pins from the Iowa State Association of Registered Nurses meetings can also be found within the scrapbook. There is one newspaper clipping included within the scrapbook that does not relate to St. Luke’s and its students that features twin infant girls who were being sent to Germany to live with their grandfather with no one to accompany them on the journey except for their two-year-old sister.