Haven't Any News: Ruby's Letters from the Fifties

Barbara B. Aitken is a public services librarian in the Douglas Library
at Queen’s University, a board certified genealogical record specialist, and a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists.

Ruby’s letters to her sisters and to mother colorfully evoke
small-town life in Southwestern Ontario in the 1950s. Ruby writes about
her experiences as a housewife and mother—and later her work as a
part-time store clerk—in letters that are engaging, warm, and funny,
and sometimes poignant. The letters have been edited by Ruby’s sister,
the well-known writer Edna Staebler. An afterword by Marlene Kadar
emphasizes the importance of correspondence in illuminating women’s
lives and experiences. This excellent book is recommended for Canadiana
and women’s studies collections.