Ruth M. Miller

My first “real job” was packing Popsicles in an ice cream factory. Later, I taught high school, night school and adult education, while living all over America as a military wife. The proof of my many moves - my children were born in Virginia, Idaho and Hawaii. On the move, while raising three children and a husband spending 70% of his time in or on a submarine, I started writing letters to myself looking for the “funny” in my daily travails. My writings became the humor column, “Treading Water,” and thus began my published life. I was known as the Erma Bombeck of military life when “Treading Water” appeared all over the world in Family Magazine.

Today I am settled in Charleston, SC. In 1979, I was a founder of Charleston Strolls, the first walking tour of historic Charleston. The company also offered guide service throughout Carolina LowCountry. This former social studies teacher who loved to travel, found herself in an historical heaven. For student tours I wrote and illustrated Charleston Charlie: A Family Activity Book for Kids of all Ages. When the Old Exchange Building, one of the most historic buildings in colonial America opened to the public, I went to buy the book. There was none. With fellow tour guide Ann Andrus, I wrote Charleston’s Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon: Witness to History.

A friend’s husband owned a tourist attraction. He wanted a history to sell in his gift shop. Writing The Angel Oak Story: John’s Island Reminiscences with Linda Lennon, introduced me to more people, more places and more natural history. All the while my background in teaching and traveling brought me more and connections to Charleston and the world. I loved tying the Carolina LowCountry into the American story and worldwide events.

I got into graveyards. Historic Charleston has more 18th century graveyards than any city in America. Why? That’s part of our story for you to find out. The fact is, with Pamela Gabriel, I co-authored Touring the Tombstones, highly illustrated individual guides to 18th century graveyards within the historic district.

Throughout the years, I became more and more aware that after the Civil War, Northern universities generated our standard version of American history. Thus, asked to name the great colonial cities, the average answer is Boston, New York and Philadelphia. Seldom is Charleston mentioned in the mix. Yet in 1776, this city’s population was within 2,000 of Boston and our per capita wealth was greater than New York City. Why? As the center of the English slave trade, the wealth of the Carolinas was built on enslaved labor. I am excited to see my latest book, co-authored with Alec Cooley, tell an untold story. Read of the importance and prominence of Africans and African-Americans to our city from the earliest times into the present day. Slavery to Civil Rights: A Walking Tour of African-American Charleston joins the sites, the people, and their history into one readable and highly illustrated guidebook.

I, Ruth M. Miller, am a storyteller, a speaker, an author, and certified tour guide. I invite you into my world and into my books.

Sincerely,

Ruth