Ruth Edna Kelley, born in Lynn, Massachusetts, in 1893, dedicated much of her life to librarianship and writing. After graduating from Lynn High School, she pursued higher education at Radcliffe College, earning a master's degree in literature with high honors. She began her career as a librarian at the Lynn Public Library in 1917, serving there until her retirement in 1955. Kelley's literary output included two notable books. Her first, "The Book of Hallowe'en," published in 1919, is recognized as the inaugural book-length exploration of the holiday's history. Later, in 1947, she released "A Life of Their Own," a work that delved into themes of immortality and spirituality. Kelley spent most of her life in Lynn, eventually relocating to Marblehead, Massachusetts, around 1977. She passed away in Marblehead in 1982 at the age of 88.

Born Ruth Edna Kelley on April 8, 1893, in Lynn, Massachusetts, she was the only child of Charles F. Kelley and Mary. Growing up in Lynn, she completed her secondary education at Lynn High School. Her academic pursuits led her to Radcliffe College, where she obtained a master of arts degree in literature, graduating magna cum laude. Kelley embarked on her professional career in library science, taking a position at the Lynn Public Library in 1917. She remained a librarian there for nearly four decades, retiring in 1955.

Kelley is primarily recognized for her significant contributions to the study of Halloween. Her first book, "The Book of Hallowe'en," published in 1919, holds the distinction of being the first comprehensive, book-length historical account of the holiday. This foundational work explored the origins and evolution of Halloween traditions. Later in her writing career, she published "A Life of Their Own" in 1947. This second book explored profound themes, specifically focusing on immortality and spirituality, offering a different facet of her intellectual interests beyond historical inquiry.