Anderson, Ruth Neal (fem) 11.sep.1919-22.sep.2007 USA Pennsylvania, Indiana - Indiana
classical soprano, folksinger, guitarist, born and residing at 936 Church Street in Indiana at the age of 15 she was already an accomplished church singer, 27.dec.1935 she sang 'Go tell it on the mountain' in the Twilight Christmas Carol Service at the Methodist Episcopal auditorium in Indiana, she appeared in theatrical productions at Junior College and the Little Theatre in Bryn Mawr and at Plays and Players in Philadelphia, 1943 studied at the Juilliard School of Music in New York, studied voice with Evan Evans and Sergius Kagen and also took piano and violin lessons, she sang the lead role in the American premiere of Arthur Benjamin's opera 'The devil take her', encouraged by Sergius Kagen and Burl Ives she became interested in folksongs, she collected folksongs in the USA and the British Isles, 1945-1962 residing in Gainesville Florida, 18.feb.1946 she performed at the American Music Festival in New York City broadcasted by WNYC, 29.apr.1946 she performed at Hudson Valley Music Club in Hastings NY, 1956 head resident counsellor for off-campus girls at the University of Florida, 1961 and 1962 she performed at the Florida Folk Festival in White Springs ; daughter of physician Dr. Harry Beecher Neal (Pennsylvania, Indiana 17.may.1882-28.feb.1957 Indiana) and Roxie Widdowson (Pennsylvania, Rochester Mills 7.aug.1888-sep.1982 Indiana)

[Ray Lawless 1965 gives erroneously born 1925]