From NKAA, Notable Kentucky African Americans Database (African American Women Veterans in and from Kentucky)
Military Branch
Women's Army Auxiliary Corps
Women's Army Corps
Active Duty Entered
February 1943
September 1, 1943
Active Duty Exit
September 1, 1943
January 20, 1946
Awards & Decorations
Victory Medal, American Theater Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal Meritorious Unit Award, WAAC Ribbon Award
Notes
This entry was updated with additional information provided by Marcia L. Wilson, the niece of Ruth B. Dunham. The additional information is enclosed in quotes.
"Ruth B. Dunham first enlisted in the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps in 1943. She elected to remain in the military when the WAAC was incorporated into the regular army as the Women’s Army Corps." Her enlistment took place in Cincinnati, OH, according to her record in the National Archives, Access to Archival Databases.
Ruth B. Dunham was born in Lexington, KY, the daughter of Lula Washington and Henry Dunham. The family is enumerated in the 1920 U.S. Census when they were living with Ann Scott. Ruth Dunham's mother was a widow when the family was enumerated in the 1930 U.S. Census. The family was also enumerated in the 1940 U.S. Census.
In 1935, she served as secretary of the newly formed community church school in Lexington. The school was nondenominational. The following year, in September of 1936, Ruth B. Dunham was one of the students to receive a diploma from a cooking school. The closing program was held at St. Paul Church in Lexington. Four years later, Ruth Dunham was listed in the 1940 Lexington city directory, she was employed as a maid. "Ruth B. Dunham was a graduate of Dunbar High School in Lexington and Packard Business College in New York City. She attended the University of Cincinnati and New York University."
She enlisted in the military in 1943, and the next year, she was listed among the 153 WACs from Kentucky serving in the Army. "She served in Fort Des Moines, IA; Fort Dix, NJ; and Halloran General Hospital on Staten Island in New York. Her job entailed making up the payroll (Personnel Department) and distributing Army pay to the returning wounded European servicemen. According to her military personnel records (St. Louis, Missouri), while in service she received several citations and decorations." [They are listed above.]
"Ruth B. Dunham received an Honorable Discharge and separated from the Army in 1946: S/SGT 9th WAC Hospital." After her military service, she lived in New York City, NY, and her post-military career was banking. "She was employed at Empire Savings Bank and retired after 33 years. She had attained the position of assistant manager. Ruth was also a dedicated member of the 369th Veterans Association in New York (45 plus years). She was the recording secretary and treasurer and advanced to the national level as an officer, where she served as the national secretary and became a deputy marshal in 2006."
*Ruth B. Dunham's mother was Lula Washington Dunham. Lula was the daughter of Priscilla and George Washington. Priscilla Burton Washington was a sister to Matilda Burton Dunbar who was the mother of Paul L. Dunbar.
*Ruth B. Dunham's father was Henry Dunham who was the brother of Dr. Norman Earle Dunham.
"Ruth B. Dunham first enlisted in the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps in 1943. She elected to remain in the military when the WAAC was incorporated into the regular army as the Women’s Army Corps." Her enlistment took place in Cincinnati, OH, according to her record in the National Archives, Access to Archival Databases.
Ruth B. Dunham was born in Lexington, KY, the daughter of Lula Washington and Henry Dunham. The family is enumerated in the 1920 U.S. Census when they were living with Ann Scott. Ruth Dunham's mother was a widow when the family was enumerated in the 1930 U.S. Census. The family was also enumerated in the 1940 U.S. Census.
In 1935, she served as secretary of the newly formed community church school in Lexington. The school was nondenominational. The following year, in September of 1936, Ruth B. Dunham was one of the students to receive a diploma from a cooking school. The closing program was held at St. Paul Church in Lexington. Four years later, Ruth Dunham was listed in the 1940 Lexington city directory, she was employed as a maid. "Ruth B. Dunham was a graduate of Dunbar High School in Lexington and Packard Business College in New York City. She attended the University of Cincinnati and New York University."
She enlisted in the military in 1943, and the next year, she was listed among the 153 WACs from Kentucky serving in the Army. "She served in Fort Des Moines, IA; Fort Dix, NJ; and Halloran General Hospital on Staten Island in New York. Her job entailed making up the payroll (Personnel Department) and distributing Army pay to the returning wounded European servicemen. According to her military personnel records (St. Louis, Missouri), while in service she received several citations and decorations." [They are listed above.]
"Ruth B. Dunham received an Honorable Discharge and separated from the Army in 1946: S/SGT 9th WAC Hospital." After her military service, she lived in New York City, NY, and her post-military career was banking. "She was employed at Empire Savings Bank and retired after 33 years. She had attained the position of assistant manager. Ruth was also a dedicated member of the 369th Veterans Association in New York (45 plus years). She was the recording secretary and treasurer and advanced to the national level as an officer, where she served as the national secretary and became a deputy marshal in 2006."
"Ruth purchased her home in March of 1952 in South Ozone Park, NY and continued to live in it independently until deciding to move to Ohio in 2006." She lived in Cleveland, OH, where she died in 2008. Ruth B. Dunham is buried in Cleveland Memorial Gardens.
Sources: Kentucky Birth Index in Ancestry; U.S. Social Security Death Index in Ancestry; U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File in Ancestry; see Ruth B. Dunham in Find A Grave; "Colored Notes: Mrs. Lula Dunham," The Lexington Leader, 03/15/1955, p.19; Polk's Lexington (Fayette County, KY.) City Directory, 1940-41, p.193; "Colored Notes: A community church school," The Lexington Leader, 09/12/1935, p.15; "Colored Notes: Closing program," The Lexington Herald, 09/07/1936, p.9; "Wac anniversary finds 153 central Kentuckians serving," Sunday Herald-Leader, 05/14/1944, p.10; Email messages from Marcia L. Wilson, 01/31/2022 through 02/06/2022.*Ruth B. Dunham's mother was Lula Washington Dunham. Lula was the daughter of Priscilla and George Washington. Priscilla Burton Washington was a sister to Matilda Burton Dunbar who was the mother of Paul L. Dunbar.
*Ruth B. Dunham's father was Henry Dunham who was the brother of Dr. Norman Earle Dunham.
Kentucky County & Region
Read about Fayette County, Kentucky in Wikipedia.
Kentucky Place (Town or City)
Read about Lexington, Kentucky in Wikipedia.
References
Cited in this Entry
| NKAA Entry: | Paul L. Dunbar's Mother's Family |
| NKAA Entry: | Dunham, Norman Earle |
| NKAA Source: | National Archives, Access to Archival Databases (online) |
| NKAA Source: | Ancestry (online) |
| NKAA Source: | Lexington leader (newspaper) |
| NKAA Source: | Polk's Lexington (Fayette County, KY.) city directory (annual) |
| NKAA Source: | The Lexington herald (newspaper) |
| NKAA Source: | The Lexington herald and Lexington leader |
Cite This NKAA Entry:
“Dunham, Ruth B.,” Notable Kentucky African Americans Database, accessed March 25, 2023, https://nkaa.uky.edu/nkaa/items/show/300004478.
Last modified: 2022-09-30 17:39:13