Ruth Johnson Colvin, the founder of Literacy Volunteers of America and a recipient of prestigious awards such as the Presidential Medal of Freedom, has passed away at the age of 107. Colvin, who was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame, died in Syracuse, New York, where she resided. She continued to serve on the board of directors of ProLiteracy, the organization formed by the merger of Literacy Volunteers and Laubach Literacy in 2002, until her passing.
Colvin initiated Literacy Volunteers in 1962 after being moved to address illiteracy upon learning that there were 11,000 illiterate individuals in her local Syracuse area based on 1960 census data. Despite the prevailing belief in the 1950s that illiteracy was not a significant issue in the United States, Colvin was a pioneer in recognizing and combating this problem.
Starting from her basement, Colvin’s organization grew to reach beyond the borders of the United States, training volunteers in effective reading instruction techniques. She and her husband, Bob Colvin, traveled extensively as part of her literacy advocacy efforts. Bob Colvin, her partner of 73 years, passed away in 2014.
In recognition of her significant contributions, Colvin was honored with induction into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 1993 and was presented with the President’s National Volunteer Action Award by President Ronald Reagan in 1987. She authored multiple books, including her memoir “My Travels Through Life, Love and Literacy,” which was published in 2020 when she was 103 years old.
Throughout her lifetime, Colvin amassed a collection of letters from tutors, students, and supporters, which came to represent the essence of her life’s work and underscored the profound impact one individual can have on the lives of others. Her legacy as a champion of literacy and advocate for adult education continues to inspire efforts to improve literacy rates worldwide.
