Ruth Boerike White Bowie (1888-1977)
Interview date: January 28, 1976
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Ruth Bowie was born in San Francisco in 1888, the daughter of a homeopathic physician. Ruth describes her early private schooling, trips abroad, and her first marriage to Ralston Lovell White in 1910, and their subsequent 400-mile honeymoon on horseback from Paso Robles to San Francisco. She also describes the building of “Garden of Allah,” their Willis Polk-designed mansion in Mill Valley, and later disposing of the property as a memorial to Mr. White. Also recounted is her raising of $100,000 in World War I for French widows, and her charity work with Sunnyhills and the San Francisco Junior League. Ruth tells of living abroad from 1930-1939 and in 1955 marrying Dr. Robert C. Bowie.
Audio Clip #1 from the Interview (one minute) Audio Clip #2 from the Interview (thirty seconds) Full Transcript of the Interview (Click here for a printable version) |
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