R. Sturgis (Robert Sturgis) Ingersoll

Born in 1891, Robert Sturgis Ingersoll was a Philadelphia attorney who became closely connected with the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Archival records from the museum describe him as president of the corporation from 1948 to 1964 and note that he played an important role in legal and administrative matters during a period of major change.

He also published fiction under the name R. Sturgis Ingersoll. Project Gutenberg lists Open That Door! under his full name, showing that alongside his legal and civic work, he wrote imaginative, accessible stories.

The surviving online record is much clearer about his museum and legal career than about his personal life as a writer, so some biographical details remain hard to confirm. Even so, he stands out as a figure whose work moved between professional leadership and popular storytelling.