Ruth Kramer

Education

Simmons University, M.L.I.S.

Williams College, B.A. 

Biography

Ruth Kramer (she/her in workplace) is a doctoral student at the University of Virginia, where she began her course of study in the Fall of 2024. Previously, she obtained her B.A. in History and French at Williams College and her MLIS from Simmons University in May of 2024. Her research interests include periodical and magazine cultures, lesbian feminism, and archival formation within marginalized communities. 

Prior to beginning her studies at UVA, Kramer worked as a Special Collections post-baccalaureate fellow at Williams College, where she was able to advance her librarianship and archival skills. She worked as the lead processing archivist of the Sterling A. Brown Papers and coordinated many events and programs, including Archives for Liberation, a year long program devoted to bringing historically excluded student groups and individuals into the archive for the purpose of memory-building, records management and retention, and intellectual joy. 

Publications

Kramer, R.  “Archival Reflections: Disrupting History, Questioning Form, and Offering Alternative” Ampersand: An American Studies Journal. Vol. 3, Iss. 2. Spring 2025. 

Kramer, R. 2024 Jun 5. The Necessity of Embracing Collection Gaps: Moving Towards Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive Collecting. RBM: A Journal of Rare Books, Manuscripts, and Cultural Heritage.