Elmhurst in DuPage County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Ruth Strand

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, September 6, 2024

1. Ruth Strand Marker

Inscription. Born in Chicago in 1904, Ruth Strand moved to Elmhurst with her family in 1915. While attending York Community High School, she began a long career of public service at Elmhurst Public Library as a high school page. Strand earned library science degrees from Northwestern and Columbia Universities and went on to serve twenty years as head librarian in Elmhurst until her retirement in 1968.

Strand had a keen sense for helping patrons find books they didn't know they wanted or needed. She spearheaded the addition of a new wing to the old library building in 1965 that included The Ruth Strand Children's Room. Ruth Strand also had an avid interest in the history of Elmhurst. After her retirement she became an active volunteer at Elmhurst History Museum and contributed to several volumes on the city's history.

The Elmhurst History Museum is proud to honor her legacy by naming these little libraries after her as the combination of her two passions: literacy and history.

Erected by Elmhurst History Museum.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Charity & Public Work. A significant historical year for this entry is 1915.

Location. 41° 53.948′ N, 87° 56.328′ W. Marker is in Elmhurst, Illinois, in DuPage County. It is on Park Avenue west of Robert T. Palmer Drive, on the right. The marker is on the side of one of the Little Free Libraries next to Park Avenue in front of the Elmhurst History Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 120 East Park Avenue, Elmhurst IL 60126, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago.

It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically,

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it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Elmhurst Municipal Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Elmhurst National Bank Parapets (within shouting distance of this marker); "Big Rock" (within shouting distance of this marker); The Old Elmhurst Fire Bell (within shouting distance of this marker); Galena & Chicago Union R.R. (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Carl F. Kranz and Elmhurst College (about 700 feet away); The York Theatre (approx. 0.2 miles away); Spirit of Bessie Coleman (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Elmhurst.

Regarding Ruth Strand. Ruth Strand died in 1999. She was co-author of The First Ladies of Elmhurst: Prominent Women of the Twentieth Century, which was published posthumously in 2001.

Also see . . .
1. History Highlight: Ruth Strand. From the Elmhurst History Museum, a longer version of the Ruth Strand biography from the historical marker. (Submitted on September 7, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

2. Ruth Helen Strand, 94, Librarian.

Ruth Strand Marker on the Little Free Library image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, September 6, 2024

2. Ruth Strand Marker on the Little Free Library

Strand's obituary in the Chicago Tribune. (Submitted on September 7, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Elmhurst History Museum image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, September 6, 2024

3. Elmhurst History Museum

Credits. This page was last revised on September 7, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 7, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 184 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 7, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.