Ruth Edna Kelley was an American librarian and author. She is chiefly remembered for The Book of Hallowe'en (1919), the first book-length history of the holiday.

Kelley was born in Massachusetts

Massachusetts

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...

, the only child of Charles F. Kelley, a carpenter, and his wife Mary. She grew up in Lynn, Massachusetts

Lynn, Massachusetts

Lynn is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 89,050 at the 2000 census. An old industrial center, Lynn is home to Lynn Beach and Lynn Heritage State Park and is about north of downtown Boston.-17th century:...

, and received a master of arts degree. Her other book was A Life of Their Own (1947), which dealt with immortality and spirituality.

Kelley died in Marblehead, Massachusetts

Marblehead, Massachusetts

Marblehead is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 19,808 at the 2010 census. It is home to the Marblehead Neck Wildlife Sanctuary and Devereux Beach...

at the age of 88.

Further reading

• The Book of Hallowe'en.
• Who Was Who Among North American Authors, 1921-1939. Detroit: Gale Research, 1976.
• Who's Who in Library Service: A Biographical Directory of Professional Librarians of the United States and Canada. Third edition. Edited by Dorothy Ethlyn Cole. New York: Grolier Society, 1955.