Ruth Eleanor McKee (1903- ) spent ten years at the Library of Hawaii publishing poetry in small magazines and published her first novel on the history of Hawaii in 1934. While working as a historian for the War Relocation Authority (WRA) she wrote 3 monographs. In 1951 she began working for the United States Department of State and was appointed United States Consul at Tokyo in 1958. The collection consists of manuscripts, correspondence, and research materials related to Ruth E. McKee's work as a novelist, poet, United States Foreign Service officer, and writer for the War Relocation Authority (WRA). McKee's research for the WRA focused on Japanese American evacuation and internment during World War II.

McKee was born in 1903 and grew up in Ventura County, California; BA, University of California, Southern Branch (later University of California, Los Angeles), 1926; spent ten years at the Library of Hawaii, publishing poetry in small magazines; published first novel on the history of Hawaii, 1934; wrote 5 subsequent novels; moved to Sonoma County, California, 1936; wrote 3 monographs while working as a historian for the War Relocation Authority (WRA); began working for the United States Department of State, 1951; appointed United States Consul at Tokyo, 1958; retired to Cape Cod, 1963.Ruth Eleanor McKee (1903-) was a poet and novelist, a historian for the War Relocation Authority (WRA) and an officer in the U.S. Foreign Service. Her childhood was spent in Ventura County, California. She later wrote that it was this environment of isolation which caused her to begin reading and writing at an early age. Her first writings were journals and poems. At the age of 14 she took her father's car and a revolver and ran away to Los Angeles, seeking local color for a novel. She was found three days later, employed as a cook.

5.5 linear feet (11 boxes and 1 oversize box)

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