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Ruth MacLeod

1903 – 1990

American writer

Crime fiction writerChildren's writer Writer
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About Ruth MacLeod

Lived 1903 – 1990 (aged 86). Ruth MacLeod was an American crime fiction writer, children's writer and writer.

Ruth Isabel MacLeod (; December 29, 1903 – February 22, 1990) was an American writer in the romance genre, especially in the subcategories of gothic and nurse romances.

Early life Ruth Pickerill was born in Hanford, California, the daughter of William Oscar Pickerill and Myrtle Sutton Pickerill. She attended Eugene Bible College in Oregon,

Career Ruth MacLeod wrote short stories to supplement her family's income during the Great Depression. She sold her first story in 1931. During World War II, she stopped writing and worked for the Civil Aeronautics Administration in Seattle. After the war, she returned to selling "true confession" stories to pulp magazines, and started writing novels in the medical romance and gothic subgenres. "The world is full of ideas," she explained in a 1966 interview, "and the more research you do, the more subjects you find." She also played piano and organ, and was active in church work. Her papers are archived at the University of Oregon.

Selected bibliography

Murder on Vacation (1962) A Nurse for Dr. Sterling (1962) Dr. Grayson's Crisis (1962) Waikiki Nurse (1963) Cheryl Downing: School Nurse (1964) Nurse Ann in Surgery (1965) Bitter Legacy (1966) Arlene Perry, Orthopedic Nurse (1966) Mistress of the Shadows (1967) Born to Be a Nurse (1969) A Love to Cherish (1969) Buenos Dias Teacher (1970) Mendocino Menace (1973) Make Way for Love (1973) Hawks of Glenaerie (1974)

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Crime fiction writer, children's writer, writer
Nationality
Education
University of California
Also known as
Ruth Isabel MacLeod

People in Ruth MacLeod's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Ruth MacLeod's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Ruth MacLeod?

American writer (1903-1990)

When was Ruth MacLeod born?

Ruth MacLeod was born on 29 December 1903 in Hanford.

When did Ruth MacLeod die?

Ruth MacLeod died on 22 February 1990 in Fresno.

What was Ruth MacLeod's occupation?

Ruth MacLeod was a crime fiction writer, children's writer and writer.

What nationality was Ruth MacLeod?

Ruth MacLeod was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Ruth MacLeod

· Wikidata: Q16028180

· DBpedia: Ruth MacLeod

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Ruth MacLeod. https://biography.guide/ruth-macleod/

MLA: "Ruth MacLeod." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/ruth-macleod/.

Chicago: "Ruth MacLeod." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/ruth-macleod/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-22 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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