Ruth Lee Koch papers
Collection — Box: 1
Identifier: 1977_004-UA
The collection is composed almost entirely of material relating to the Speed Scientific School (now known as the J.B. Speed School of Engineering), especially the work of its first dean, Bennett M. Brigman (1881-1938). As an employee of the university, Ms. Koch worked with Brigman during the early days of the Speed School, and in 1964 and 1965 she researched a brief history of that school. The collection includes primary documents from the 1920's and 1930's which deal with Brigman's work in establishing the Speed School and his contribution toward improving the university's buildings and grounds. The remainder of the material was collected by Ms. Koch during the mid-1960s for her work on the history of the Speed Scientific School.
Open to researchers.
Copyright has been transferred to the University of Louisville; please consult a reference archivist for more information.
0.25 linear feet (1 half-manuscript box)
Ruth Lee Koch (born 1898) was in turn assistant to the dean of the Speed Scientific School, head of the university purchasing system, secretary to the dean of the Speed School, and instructor in correlation in the same. She occupied these various positions from 1924 until she became cashier of the University of Louisville in 1935. She remained in this position until her retirement in 1964.
Ms. Koch was born in Louisville, Kentucky on December 28, 1898. She attended the University of Louisville from 1915 until she received her B.A. in mathematics in 1919. She next received her M.A. in history from the University of Louisville in 1922. Ms. Koch continued her association with the university by becoming an assistant to Dean Brigman of the Speed Scientific School (now known as the J.B. Speed School of Engineering) in 1924, and remained with the university until her retirement in 1964, after which she became a research associate. Ms. Koch's other activities include membership and offices held in several organizations including the Soroptomist Club of Louisville, the Business and Professional Women's Club, Baraca-Philathea, the Kentucky-Tennessee Synod of the Lutheran Business Women's Missionary Group, and the Businesswomen's Group of Christian Women's Fellowship. In 1954 she was named as the Louisville Businesswoman of the Year.
Part of the University of Louisville Archives and Special Collections Repository