February 17, 1951

An article in the Saturday Evening Post bore the headline, “The Terrible-Tempered Angel of Arkansas,” referring to Ruth Beall. Beall was superintendent of Arkansas Children’s Hospital and Home from 1934 to 1961. She disliked staying in her office and usually wandered the halls of the hospital, checking on her patients and staff. Her temper was famous; she was easily angered when things were not done the way she wanted. However, the Arkansas Democrat named her 1951’s “Arkansas Woman of the Year.” She was largely responsible for the hospital’s survival during the financial difficulties of the Great Depression and for its expansion and improvement in the following years.