Robert C. Ruiz Papers, PC.2014

Abstract

Robert Charles Ruiz (1929-2023) was born in Oteen, Buncombe County, N.C., to Cipriano Nilo and Elsie M. (Brown) Ruiz (1893-1984). He trained as an x-ray technician, working as early as 1947 and thereafter in that capacity with the Tuberculosis Section of the N.C. State Board of Health, headquartered in Raleigh. By the late 1940s Ruiz was involved in a state-wide survey that utilized mobile x-ray units travelling to all counties within the state, part of an effort to eradicate tuberculosis in North Carolina. In 1951 Ruiz enlisted for service in U.S. Army Medical Corps, and until 1953 he served in mobile army surgical hospital (MASH) units. Following his honorable discharge, Ruiz returned to North Carolina and worked with the board of health in Raleigh.
The papers reflect the civilian work of Ruiz in the fields of photography and chest x-ray technology, ca. late 1940s to early 1960s, and his service in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, 1951-1953, in mobile army surgical hospital (MASH) units, from Fort Meade, Md., Camp Pickett, Va., to Korea. His personal correspondence is primarily with family members. Photographs, slides, and scrapbooks reflect Ruiz's interests in subjects such as political figures, Hurricane Hazel, travel, colleagues, and friends.

Descriptive Summary

Title: Robert C. Ruiz Papers
Call Number: PC.2014
Creator: Ruiz, Robert C.
Date: 1918-2010
Extent: 2.3 cubic feet
Estimated Count: 2.5 fibredex boxes, 0.5 manuscript boxes
Language: English
Repository: Western Regional Archives, State Archives of North Carolina

Quick Links

Collection Contents

Restrictions on Access & Use

Access Restrictions

Available for research

Use Restrictions

Copyright is retained by the authors of these materials, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law (Title 17 US Code). Individual researchers are responsible for using these materials in conformance with copyright law as well as any donor restrictions accompanying the materials.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item] in PC.2014, Robert C. Ruiz Papers, State Archives of North Carolina, Raleigh, N.C., U.S.A.

Collection Overview

The Ruiz papers reflect his personal, military, and professional work and interests, including photography and work as an x-ray technician with the Tuberculosis Section of the N.C. State Board of Health (circa 1940s-early 1960s), centered primarily in Raleigh, N.C., and its statewide survey. The latter consisted of mobile tuberculosis x-ray units traveling about the state in a concerted effort of the state board and county health departments to detect and ultimately eradicate tuberculosis in the state. The papers also document Robert C. Ruiz's service in U.S. Army Medical Corps, 1951-1953 in mobile army surgical hospital (MASH) units, from Fort Meade, Md., Camp Pickett, Va., to Korea.

Materials include correspondence primarily with family; greetings cards; scrapbook and five photo albums containing a variety of materials in addition to photographs, and negatives, such as personal and official army correspondence, clippings, church bulletins; postcards, photocopies of pocket diary; negatives; slides; printed materials; loose materials of the type contained in albums; a Korean maps; ephemera and miscellaneous materials, with dates ranging ca. 1949-2010, with the bulk from the early 1950s. Additionally, a small quantity of World War I and World War II materials, photocopies and two items of correspondence, 1918, and two v-mail letters, 1944.

Overview of the correspondence series, 1918-2010, and undated: This series includes letters written by serveral different correspondents, but the bulk of the correspondence is that of Robert Ruiz written to family members in the Asheville area, particularly his mother, Elsie M. Brown Ruiz. Of these, most of the letters were written during the period, 1951-1953, while Ruiz was with the United States Army, MASH unit, primarily stationed in Korea. Early correspondence is found in Box PC.2014.1, Folder 1, in the category of World War I Letters, 1918. Two letters were written by John E. Melton, of Dysartville, N.C., to Miss Annie [Logan] Brown, a sister of the mother of Robert Ruiz. Melton was with Company I, 324 Reg. Infantry, 81 Division, American Expeditionary Forces (AEF), France. Annie Brown (1898-1983) eventually married Richard Valentine Nicely. There is one letter written to Miss Brown from Zeb Holder, with Company B., 105. M.P., AEF, France.

The collection of papers also includes a scrapbook, five photo albums containing a variety of materials in addition to photographs, and negatives, such as personal and official army correspondence, clippings, church bulletins; postcards, photocopies of pocket diary; also a scrapbook and large photo from his days working with the Tuberculosis Section of the N.C. State Board of Health (circa 1940s-1960); and over 500 items consisting of slides, negatives, but also miscellaneous items such as a map and other materials, and memorabilia such as pocket guides, booklets, baggage tickets, ID tags, placards and signs.

Biographical/Historical note

Robert Charles Ruiz (b. 1929) was born in Oteen, Buncombe County to Cipriano Nilo and Elsie M. (Brown) Ruiz (1893-1984). Cipriano Ruiz was a native of Cuba, while Elsie was born in Buncombe County to natives of the area, Berkley Cane and Lou Emma Ray Brown. The Brown family farmed in a part of the county that is now the Browntown area of Biltmore Forest. The Ruiz family lived nearby and included in addition to Robert Charles, sons, William Nilo (ca. 1926-2011), and Berkley Julian (b. ca. 1927).

In November of 1947 Ruiz was certified as a photofluographic trainee and accepted a job at the High Point Health Department. Subsequently, he worked as an x-ray technician with the Tuberculosis Section of the N.C. State Board of Health (NCSBH). By the late 1940s he was involved in a state-wide survey that utilized mobile tuberculosis x-ray units travelling to all counties within the state. This was part of a concerted effort of the NCSBH and county health departments to detect and ultimately eradicate tuberculosis in North Carolina. In 1951 Ruiz enlisted for service in U.S. Army Medical Corps. From 1951 to 1953 he served in mobile army surgical hospital (MASH) units, from Fort Meade, Md. Camp Pickett, Va. to Korea. Following his honorable discharge, Ruiz returned to North Carolina and worked with the NCSBH in Raleigh. In October of 1961 Ruiz resigned his position with NCSBH, Occupational Health, to work with the Veterans Administration Hospital, Oteen, N.C. Today Ruiz is retired and lives with his wife, Betty, in Swannanoa, Buncombe County.

Contents of the Collection

➤ Container Count 6 Boxes

• Robert C. Ruiz Papers Box 1

1

• Robert C. Ruiz Papers Box 2

2

• Robert C. Ruiz Papers Box 3

3

• Robert C. Ruiz Papers Box 4

4

• Robert C. Ruiz Papers Box 5, 2 scrapbooks

5

• Robert C. Ruiz Papers Box 6

6

WWI Correspondence

PC.2014.01 FOLDER 1

V-Mail from Charles Brown to Bessie Brown, 1944

PC.2014.01 Folder 2

NC Board of Health Correspondence, Poem re X-ray Survey, 1947-1949

PC.2014.01 Folder 3

General Correspondence 1947-1950

PC.2014.01 Folder 4

General correspondence, January-June 1951, 1951

PC.2014.01 Folder 5

General Correspondence, July-October 1951, 1951

PC.2014.01 Folder 6

General Correspondence, November-December 1951, 1951

PC.2014.01 Folder 7

Correspondence of Julian B. Ruiz, 1951

PC.2014.01 Folder 8

Robert C. Ruiz correspondence during Army service, Korean War, January-February 1952, 1952

PC.2014.01 Folder 9

Correspondence, NC Board of Health employee Helen Fallows Greeson, 1952

PC.2014.01 Folder 10