Biographical Text
Associate Professor Emerita of History Ruth Douglas Currie (August 4, 1937-), was reared in Carthage (Moore County), North Carolina. She was the daughter of Elizabeth Woltz (daughter of A. E. Woltz, who attended Appalachian State) and Wilbur Hoke Currie (Representative in North Carolina House of Representatives and North Carolina State Senator). She is married to Dr. Kenneth B. Orr, President Emeritus of Presbyterian College, in Clinton, South Carolina. They live in Montreat, North Carolina. Currie attended Carthage High School and graduated in 1955. She then attended Agnes Scott College and received her B.A. degree in 1959. In 1965, she received her M.Div. degree from Union Theological Seminary in Virginia. She attended Duke University and received the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in American History in 1971 and 1974 respectively. Dr. Currie began her professional career in college and university instruction in the states of North Carolina, Texas and California. From 1984 to1988 she served as command historian, United States Army Strategic Defense Command, Washington, District of Columbia and Huntsville, Alabama. Currie then served (1988-1993) as visiting professor in history and political science at Whitworth College and Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. From 1993 to 2001, Currie served as University Archivist and Adjunct Associate Professor of History at Appalachian State University. She is currently serving as professor of history/political science at Warren Wilson College. In the history department at Appalachian State University, Currie served on the graduate faculty and covered courses in United States History, United States Women's History, United States Policy in the Pacific, and United States Foreign Policy, in addition to the Archives course for the public history curriculum. She served on the department's Public History Committee. As Appalachian State University Archivist, Currie reported directly to Dr. Clinton Parker, Senior Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs. When she retired from the University in 2000, as Dr. Parker accepted her resignation, he wrote, 'Your work at Appalachian has been outstanding. You have taken a rather loosely organized department and developed it into a highly organized and efficient operation. Your contributions to Appalachian are numerous and are appreciated by all. I am especially proud of all the work you did in conjunction with our centennial year....Thanks for all your many contributions and especially your attitude and spirit in your work and relationships." During the University's centennial celebration in 1999, Dr. Currie chaired the Centennial Editorial Committee. With the assistance of the staff of the University Archives office, this committee produced the Appalachian State University centennial history, Appalachian State University: The First Hundred Years. Currie wrote the text for and edited this volume. Currie's other publications include: • Emma Spaulding Bryant: Civil War Bride, Carpetbagger's Wife, Ardent Feminist: Letters and Diaries, 1860-1900, Edited with Narrative. (Fordham University Press, 2004; paper 2006). • Carpetbagger of Conscience: A Political Biography of John Emory Bryant (University of Georgia Press, 1987; With new Introduction, Fordham University Press, 1999). Dr. Currie was awarded Emerita status by the Appalachian State University Board of Trustees in June of 2000. Sources: Appalachian State University files. -Patti Levine-Brown
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