Elmer Ruark papers 1 linear foot; 1 record center carton 1830-1970, bulk 1930-1958 Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture, Salisbury University, Salisbury, Maryland Finding aid written by Artura Jackson, November 2015. Accession Number: 2015.072 Creator: Acquisition: Language: Use: Citation Style: Related Materials: Separated Materials: Elmer F. Ruark The Elmer Ruark papers were donated to the Nabb Research Center by Robert L. Shores, April 2015. Material entirely in English. Records are open for research. Copyright, including literary rights, belongs to the author(s) or their legal heirs. Item, Elmer Ruark papers, Box [#], Folder [#], Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture, Salisbury University, Salisbury, Maryland. Folklore Project, FK94.042R Old School Baptist Church Publication, 2013.014 Old School Baptist Church records, 2008.067 Snow Hill Baptist Church records, 2010. Oversize materials have been housed in the Nabb Research Center s flat file system.
Biographical History: Elmer Francis Ruark (1905-1982) was born in Wicomico County, Maryland to Lee and Janie Ruark. Elmer and his family were lifelong members of Allen Memorial Baptist. Elmer was a devout Baptist and spent much of his time writing for Christian publications or researching his relative Noah Davis. Elmer was the father of two sons Richard and Davis. He was married Aline Adkins Ruark; after Aline s death he married Eunice Hayes Ruark. Elmer was not only dedicated to his faith and family; he was dedicated to his community. Elmer was involved in many civic organizations the Kiwanis, The American Legion, and the Wicomico County Historical Commission. Elmer would have many professions throughout his life he served in the United States Armed Service, and worked for the United States Postal Service. After his retirement from the postal service, he and his wife Eunice operated John Wilcox Insurance Company in Salisbury. In 1974 Elmer Ruark was elected Mayor of Salisbury, Maryland. Scope and Content Note: The Elmer Ruark papers document the religious work of the former mayor of Salisbury Maryland. The collection spans Ruark s research into the history of Allen Memorial Baptist Church of Salisbury. In addition the records include research and publications related to Rev. Noah Davis, founder of the Baptist Publication Society; Elmer Ruark and Noah Davis are distant relatives. The collection dates from 1830-1970 with the bulk of the material dating from 1930-1958. Arrangement Statement: The Elmer Ruark papers are divided into two series, ALLEN MEMORIAL BAPTIST CHURCH and NOAH DAVIS. The first series focuses on the Allen Memorial Baptist Church in Salisbury, Maryland. The series is composed of church directories, photographs, programs, and administrative records. The second series, Noah Davis who founded the Baptist Publication Society, includes material related to the Davis, Wilcox, and Ruark families. In addition the series consist of writings by Elmer Ruark. Folders are listed by their location in each box; any given subject may be dispersed throughout the entirety of the collection. 2
Subject Terms: General Terms Baptist History Baptist Publications Christian Education Maryland Baptists Corporate Names Allen Memorial Baptist Church American Baptist Publication Society Division Street Baptist Church Elmer F. Ruark Insurance Agency John T. Wilcox Insurance Maryland Baptist Union Association Personal Names Davis, Noah Ruark, Adline Ruark, Davis Ruark, Elmer Ruark, Eunice Ruark, Richard Tawes, Millard. J 3
Series I: Allen Memorial Baptist Church Box 1 1. Sermons, Rev. J. Nual Stewart, 1926-1950 2. Church Programs,1933-1985 3. Anniversary Programs, 1919-1984 4. Program, Sixty-Sixth Annual Meeting, Woman s Missionary Union of Maryland, 1954 October 21-23 5. Church Directory, 1921-1956 6. Constitution and By-Laws, 1970 March 11 7. Correspondence, Allen Memorial Baptist Church One-Hundredth Anniversary, 195 Correspondence, Resignation of Reverend Joseph T. Watts, 1951 May 26 8. 9 March-September 9. Correspondence, Dedication of Building B, 1937 June 15-16 10. Correspondence, Building Expansion, 1937-1952 11. Newspaper Clippings, 1932-1967 12. Newspaper Clippings, Reverend Ballach Announces He s Leaving Allen Memorial, 1959 February 9 13. Our Baptist Heritage, Elmer Ruark, undated 14. History of Baptist in Maryland, Joseph A. Carr, 1969 August 20 15. History of Salisbury Baptist, 1959-1978 16. Publication, Baptist Leader, 1944-1959 17. Publication, The Watchman Examiner: A National Baptist Paper, 1948-1952 18. Publication, The Maryland Baptist, 1931-1975 19. Publication, The Messenger, Division Street Baptist Church, 1921 January 20. Photographs, undated 21. Photographs, Members, undated 22. Photographs, Pastors, undated 23. Ephemera, Invitation, undated 24. Ephemera, Seventy-Third Church Anniversary, 1932 Series II: Noah Davis 25. Cards, Emma and Mary Wilcox, 1915 December 26. Photographs, Kerr and Slemons Family, undated 27. Photographs and Correspondence, Family Members, undated 28. Photographs, Elmer and Davis Ruark, 1929-1967 29. Drawing, Noah Davis, undated 30. Photographs, Noah Davis, undated 31. Correspondence, Elmer Ruark and The American Baptist Publication Society, 1933-1957 4
32. Correspondence, Elmer Ruark s Publications, 1933-1973 33. Newspaper Clippings, Noah Davis, 1949-1970 34. Biography of Noah Davis, Elmer Ruark, 1945-1969 35. Pamphlet, A Concise Account of the Late Rev. Noah Davis, American Baptist Tract Publication Society, undated 36. Pamphlet, The Mason Dixon Line-An Historical Sketch, Frederick W.C Webb, 1949 37. Publication, Baptist Hymn Writers, Elmer Ruark, undated 38. Publication, Tidewater Maryland, Elmer Ruark, undated 39. Publication. The Maryland Baptist, 1958 January 40. Publication, Our Army, August 1945 41. Program, Maryland Baptist Annual, 1958-1959 42. Ephemera, Eastern Shore Real Estate, 1879-1927 43. Ephemera, Parties at Division Street Baptist Church, 1913 44. Ephemera, Civic Programs, 1926-1963 Oversize 1. Publication, Young People, 1949 February 20 2. Publication, Young People, 1949 March 6 3. Publication, Young People, 1949 February 6 4. Publication, Young People, 1949 February 20 5. Publication,Young People, 1949 February 27 6. Publication, Young People, 1949 March 13 7. Newspaper, The Sunday Star Magazine, 1952 August 10 8. Newspaper, The Sunday Star Magazine, 1952 May 4 9. Newspaper, The Sunday Star Magazine,1952 June 29 10. Newspaper, The Sunday Star Magazine, 1952 August 17 11. Newspaper, The Sunday Star Magazine, 1952 June 1 12. Newspaper, The Sunday Star Magazine, 1952 September 14 13. Newspaper, The Sunday Star Magazine, 1953 February 15 14. Newspaper, The Sunday Star Magazine, 1952 December 28 15. Newspaper, A Supplement of The Sunday Star, 1952 December 16. Newspaper, The Sunday Star Magazine, 1952 November 23 17. Newspaper, The Sunday Star Magazine, 1952 September 7 18. Publication, The Baptist Visitor, 1870 5