Ruth Barrett Phelps
Ruth Barrett Phelps was an American organist whose career included both theatre organ and church performance.
Ruth was born on October 21, 1899 in Albany, New York. She was a pupil of Lynnwood Farnam.
In 1926 she was a resident organist at the Colony Theatre in New York City. She moved to the Cameo Theatre in 1928. While in New York she performed concerts of classical music at Aeolian Hall.
She married Laurence I. Phelps, an organ builder, and from this point on performed as Ruth Barrett Phelps. She became the principal organist at The First Church of Christ, Scientist by 1950, the Aeolian-Skinner organ installed during her tenure was designed by her husband. As a result, she became one of Boston's prominent musicians, and made recordings and national radio broadcasts from the church. She was dean of the Massachusetts chapter of the American Guild of Organists. In addition to the church work she gave concerts of classical music.
Ruth Barrett Phelps died on August 30, 1980 in San Mateo, California.
