She told the stories of the women who made a difference in Miami-Dade County history

Fifty years ago, there was not one book written about the contributions of women in Miami-Dade County. In 1974, that changed because of the vision and actions of Ruth Braddock, then a Miami-Dade social studies teacher.

Ruth Fenner Braddock died on Aug. 24 at age 100. Born Dec. 2, 1923 in Binghamton, New York, she was a World War II veteran, educator and women’s activist. After the war she and her then husband, G. Holmes Braddock, relocated to Miami in 1946 to attend the University of Miami.

Ruth Braddock acted on her idea to write a local history book about women in Miami-Dade County. To facilitate her intention, she chaired the Book Committee for the Miami branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) and encouraged others to volunteer.

Ruth recruited women who were retired University of Miami English and library faculty members to help with the historical research. She also recruited educators Edna DeVeaux Alexander, Marian Shannon and historic preservationist Marty Pancoast Grafton.

One of the youngest in the group, I was the Black history researcher then employed by Miami-Dade County Public Schools as an educational specialist.

We began meeting at the University of Miami’s faculty club and the Historical Museum of Southern Florida (now HistoryMiami Museum). Then Audrey Finkelstein invited us to her home in Coral Gables, which became our base for over five years.

Ruth Braddock recruited Marie Anderson, former award-winning women’s page editor at the Miami Herald, to write the narrative. As the manuscript was being completed, questions arose about getting it published and distributed. Ruth and Marty Pancoast organized our group and we became Herstory of Florida, Inc.

No grants were available, so through our personal donations we were able to publish the first book. It was because of Ruth’s vision, passion and tenacity that Miami-Dade County’s first book highlighting local women, “Julia’s Daughters: Women In Dade’s History,” was published in 1980.

The narrative begins with the Tequesta Indian women in 1513 and weaves in the lives of women as Miami-Dade and the City of Miami developed. This book highlights the lives of 272 women, including Florence Gaskins, washerwomen and community organizer; Claire Weintraub, founder of the Museum of Science; Helen Muir, author and newspaper columnist; Marjory Stoneman Douglas, environmentalist; and Thelma Peters and Arva Moore Parks, local historians, to name a few.

The impact of Ruth Braddock’s work, capturing the untold stories about local women, is immeasurable. Decades before some books were banned in Florida schools, copies of “Julia’s Daughters” were placed in public and private school libraries.

After “Julia’s Daughters” was published and distributed, Herstory closed. On HistoryMiami’s website, under Special Collections, the organizational records for Herstory and other local women’s groups are listed.

In 1983, the Women’s History Coalition of Miami Dade County incorporated as a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the history of women in Miami-Dade County. They embraced Ruth Braddock and published two sequels to Ruth’s book: ”Beyond Julia’s Daughters, Women In Miami-Dade History 1975-2000;” and “Julia’s Daughters, Granddaughters, Great Granddaughters & Beyond.”

Francena Koch was president of the Women’s History Coalition when the second book was published, and remembers how Braddock was involved with both projects. The Women’s History Coalition of Miami-Dade County recognized Ruth at its annual luncheon in 2016.

The coalition’s current president, Rose Martin, acknowledged Braddock’s passing: “The Women’s History Coalition is deeply saddened by the passing of Ruth Braddock. Ruth played an instrumental and pivotal role in developing our organization and advocating for women’s history and contributions.

“As a key player in the founding of ‘Herstory’ in 1974, her visionary efforts have had a lasting impact on our community. She was a powerhouse within our organization, and without her leadership, our efforts would not have achieved the significant impact they have today.”

Ruth Braddock’s son George noted two of her most passionate causes: Ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which was not ratified by the required number of states, and supporting Marge Pearlson, who expanded adult education within community schools.

Ruth was also instrumental in promoting integration in the American Association of University Women and elsewhere. As Miami branch president, she spearheaded a book drive for Florida Memorial College, now Florida Memorial University in Miami Gardens, adding 13,000 books to its library.

She was a devout Christian who was a longtime member of Old Cutler Presbyterian Church. Ruth exuded warmth, generosity, selflessness and unwavering kindness.

Said her daughter Becca: “As the matriarch and heart of the family, her home was a sanctuary where everyone felt welcomed and valued. Her nurturing spirit created a strong loving family bond.”

Ruth is survived by her three children, George, Jim and Becca and was predeceased by her son Bob. Survivors also include her seven grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

The family would like to thank the caregivers and staff at East Ridge Retirement Village in Cutler Bay, where she lived the last six years. A celebration of life will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, at Old Cutler Presbyterian Church, 14401 Old Cutler Rd, Palmetto Bay.

Dorothy Jenkins Fields, Ph.D., is a historian, certified archivist and founder of The Black Archives, History and Research Foundation of South Florida, Inc.