Ruth Starke Burkhead papers

Record Group

Identifier: UA-10.3.182

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of newspaper clippings and photographs relating to Concord House and Ruth Starke Bulkheads' crowning as Agriculture Queen in 1938. Included are two songs that were sung by the Concord House residents and a copy of Spartan from June 1938 that contained a photo of Ruth Starke after winning the title of Queen of Agriculture. The collection also contains photographs of Ruth Starke and Concord House.

Dates

Creation: 1936 - 1938

Creator

Burkhead, Ruth Starke (Donor, Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish material from this collection must be obtained from University Archives & Historical Collections, Michigan State University.

Biographical Note

Ruth Starke Burkhead was born 1916 in Acadia, Michigan, a small town of approximately 650 residents. She began school in 1922 at the age of six at Acadia Lutheran Church School where both German and English were spoken for the first six grades.

Ruth graduated from Michigan State College (now Michigan State University) in 1938 with a degree in Food and Nutrition. In her senior year Ruth received the Mortar Board, the highest honorary fraternity for women at Michigan State College. Membership is based on scholarship, leadership and service. She belonged to Concord house, Michigan State College first co-operative home for co-eds. The eighteen members were selected by the dean of women's office from a long list of applicants. On May 20, 1938 Ruth Starke was crowned queen of the All-Ag carnival.

Ruth married Howard Burkhead and had four children. Howard passed away in September of 1997. Additional information can be found at http://www.arcadiami.com/OralHistories/ruthburkhead.htm.