This series contains two sections: Ruth D. Tuttle and Melsom S. Tuttle. The first consists primarily of letters that Ruth wrote home to her parents between 1920 and 1923. These are substantive letters describing her life in Peking, her teaching experiences, and Chinese customs. they reflect the social live of foreign missionaries living in a homogenous community overseas. There are also letters to her from Melsom, 1913-22, and from many of the Chinese students she taught, 1922-27, and a few miscellaneous letters. The second section contains a smaller amount of correspondence from Melsom to his family consisting mostly of postcards, 1920-22, and several miscellaneous letters to him, 1923.

This series consists of clippings and other printed material; and notes and lists that belonged to Ruth Tuttle. There are also compositions written by Chinese students and miscellaneous China memorabilia.

This series consists entirely of Ruth's diaries, 1906-1909 and 1918. The four volumes from 1906-1909 are a fairly complete record of her Smith years. She faithfully made daily entries, at minimum recording the day's activities, and often reflecting on the days events and relationships with friends and classmates. The one volume five-year diary appears to encompass the years from 1918 to 1922. Melsom Tuttle's name is written in the volume, and a few of the entries appear to be his, but most are in Ruth's hand.

This series consists of twenty-one personal and family photographs, 1889, 1920-23; two of the prisoner-of-war camp in Vernon, British Columbia, 1919, where Melsom Tuttle directed YMCA activities; thirty miscellaneous snapshots of China, 1920-23; a photo album, 1907-1915 (including Smith College photos); and an undated oversized photograph of Ruth Tuttle and a class of Chinese students.