Ruth E. Messenger

MESSENGER, Ruth Ellis. b. New York City, 29 February 1884; d. New York City, 3 March 1964. Distinguished hymnist, teacher, and the first archivist for The Hymn Society of America (now Hymn Society in the United States and Canada*), Messenger attended Normal College (later Hunter College), New York City (BA, 1905), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (MA, 1911), and Columbia University, New York City (PhD, 1930). Her dissertation, ‘Ethical Teachings in the Latin Hymns of Medieval England’, was published by Columbia University Press (New York, 1930) with the subtitle, ‘With Special Reference to the Seven Deadly Sins and the Seven Principal Virtues’. Messenger taught ancient and medieval...