Ruth Edna Kelley

Born in Massachusetts in 1893, Ruth Edna Kelley was an American librarian and writer remembered above all for The Book of Hallowe'en (1919). The book is often noted as the first full-length history of Halloween, bringing together folklore, customs, and literary references in a way that made the holiday's background accessible to general readers.

Kelley studied at Radcliffe College and went on to build her career around books, research, and libraries. That background shows in her writing: even when she was exploring legends and old celebrations, she approached the subject with the curiosity and care of someone used to tracking down stories in many different sources.

Today, she is still read by people interested in folklore, Halloween history, and early twentieth-century nonfiction. Though not a widely famous literary figure, her work has had a long afterlife because it captured a subject that continues to fascinate readers year after year.