History major Ashley Coats didn’t know who Ruth Warrick was when a St. Joseph Museums staff member suggested she create an exhibit about Warrick last spring. But Coats, an intern at the museum, dove in and researched Warrick, and she created an exhibit that opened in June at the Wyeth Tootle Mansion – Fame and Politics: The Life of Ruth Warrick.
And who is Ruth Warrick, you may ask? Most people know the St. Joseph native as Phoebe Tyler on the daytime soap opera “All My Children.” She held that role for 35 years until she passed away in 2005 at the age of 88.
But Coats said Warrick was a fascinating personality who was not only a well-known actress in her day, but also very involved in politics. Warrick, who lived in St. Joseph until she was a senior in high school, made her film debut in “Citizen Kane” in 1941, and went on to have roles in several other movies. In the 1950s and 1960s, she had roles in the soap operas “The Guiding Light” and “As the World Turns,” and the television series “Father of the Bride” and “Peyton Place.”
Coats said Warrick’s family donated several boxes of memorabilia to the museum when she passed away, including jewelry, photos, and letters from Presidents Clinton and Carter.
She noted that Warrick was also involved in many social causes, such as women’s mental health, childhood leukemia and others.
“She used her fame to publicize issues,” Coats said. “The more I read, the more I realized it was obvious she cared about people.”
The Missouri Western junior said her internship experience included being involved in everything it takes to set up an exhibit, from writing grants to fund it (she received $1,500 from the Missouri Humanities Council) to research, figuring out what to include and what not to include, drawing a floor plan, designing invitations and buying supplies for the opening reception, and giving presentations about the exhibit.
“I had so much fun working on it and planning it,” Coats said. “The people at the St. Joseph Museums were amazing. They taught me so much.”
The exhibit, on the second floor of the Wyeth Tootle Mansion at 11th and Charles in St. Joseph, opened on June 29, which would have been Warrick’s 100th birthday.
Coats credits her advisor, Dr. Orion Teal, assistant professor of history, with helping her secure the internship.
“He gave me excellent advice and was very encouraging. I don’t really like public speaking, but Dr. Teal made me do it twice,” she added with a laugh.
Since she wants to work in a museum or at a historical site after she graduates in December 2017, Coats said she was glad for the internship experience. But the best part was, the St. Joseph Museums director hired her to work part-time when her internship was completed.