The Ruth M. Perkins Messenger papers date from 2000 and consist of a single volume: Memories, a compilation of Messenger's writings by her son, Dale E. Messenger. Following her husband's death in 1959, Ruth Messenger began writing down family stories, including stories about her life and that of her husband's. Messenger's writings reflect growing up and raising a family in rural Iowa, teaching in country schools, and living at a retirement home. She describes setting up housekeeping, learning to milk a cow, putting up ice every winter, churning butter and the arrival of each of her children, along with her reflections on World War I, the Spanish Flu Epidemic and reaching the age of ninety-nine. Also included in the volume are poems, and fictional works, written as a result of Messenger's involvement in a creative writing class as a senior citizen. A final section in Memories is comprised of recollections of Ruth and Frank Messenger written by their children and grandchildren. Also included with the papers is a section-by-section synopsis of Memories written by Margaret Richardson, Iowa Women's Archives volunteer.