Ruth Ann Baldwin

Ruth Ann Baldwin Most of Baldwin's films were destroyed in the 1924 fire at Universal Studios.

Baldwin is best known for her film, '49-'17; This film is notable for being one of the first Westerns directed by a woman, marking a significant milestone in early cinema.

Early life Ruth Ann Baldwin was born in September 1886 in West Suffield, Connecticut, to Charles Baldwin and Abby Taylor. Ruth Ann attended school in National City, where her musical talents were evident, before forging a career as a journalist.

After working as a society columnist at The San Diego Sun, she appears to have moved to Los Angeles around 1913. She was engaged to be married to Walter Bullard Ridgeway, a landscape architect, that same year, although that marriage does not seem to have taken place.

Baldwin later married actor Leo Pierson, who appeared in many of the films she directed, including her two feature films, A Wife on Trial and '49–'17.

Career Ruth Ann Baldwin began her film career with the Bison Film Company, a subsidiary of Universal Film Manufacturing Company that specialized in Westerns.

Post-directing 49–'17 is considered Baldwin's final directorial effort. Following 49–'17, Baldwin left Universal and returned to screenwriting. From 1919 until around 1921, Baldwin wrote scenarios and screenplays for many more films.

In June 1921, Baldwin joined the Clubhouse of the Screen Writers Guild, and was elected to the board of directors. 1916 A Recoiling Vengeance Screenwriter Lost filmShort 1916 The Mother Call Screenwriter Lost filmShort 1916 The End of the Rainbow Assistant Director 1917 The Rented Man DirectorScreenwriter Lost filmShort 1917 It Makes a Difference DirectorScreenwriter Lost filmShort 1917 Is Money All? DirectorScreenwriter Lost filmShort 1917 'Twixt Love and Desires DirectorScreenwriter Lost filmShort 1917 The Black Mantilla DirectorScreenwriter Lost filmShort 1917 A Soldier of the Legion DirectorScreenwriter Lost filmShort 1917 The Woman Who Would Not Pay DirectorScreenwriter Lost filmShort 1917 The Storm Woman DirectorScreenwriter Lost filmShort 1917 When Liz Lets Loose DirectorScreenwriter Lost filmShort 1917 Three Women of France Director Lost filmShort 1917 A Wife on Trial Director 1917 '49-'17 DirectorScreenwriter 1919 The Sneak Screenwriter Lost film 1919 Cheating Herself Screenwriter Lost film 1919 Chasing Rainbows Screenwriter Lost film 1919 The Broken Commandments Screenwriter Lost film 1920 The Devil’s Riddle Screenwriter Lost film 1921 The Marriage of William Ashe Screenwriter Lost film 1921 Puppets of Fate Screenwriter Lost film