https://americangirl.wiki/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Ruthie_SmithensRuthie Smithens - Revision history2026-11-11T17:57:03ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.46.2https://americangirl.wiki/w/index.php?title=Ruthie_Smithens&diff=158&oldid=prevMigrationBot: Imported latest exported content; source attribution retained.2023-11-29T09:01:34Z<p>Imported latest exported content; source attribution retained.</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Infobox character<br />
|image = Image:Ruthielogo.jpg<br />
|imagewidth = 250px<br />
|fullname = Ruth Ann Smithens<br />
|nickname = Ruthie, Goofy Ruthie<br />
|born = August 22, 1923<ref>American Girl, [[Talk:Emily Bennett#Emily's (and other Best Friends) birthday|see Emily's discussion page on Best Friend birthdays]].</ref><br />
|firstappearance = ''[[Meet Kit]]''<br />
|father = [[Minor Characters in Kit's Series (S-Z)#Stan Smithens|Stan Smithens]]<br />
|mother = [[Minor Characters in Kit's Series (S-Z)#Lily Smithens|Lily Smithens]]<br />
|aunt = [[Minor Characters in Kit's Series (S-Z)#Nancy Smithens|Nancy Smithens]]<br />
|bestfriend = [[Kit Kittredge]]<br />
|friends = [[Stirling Howard]]<br />
}}<br />
<small>''"Ruthie" redirects here. For the doll, see [[Ruthie Smithens (doll)]].''</small><br />
<br />
'''Ruthie Smithens''' is the fifth [[Best Friend]] released and the "Best Friend" of [[Kit Kittredge]].<br />
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In May 2014 [[American Girl]] announced that they would [[Retirement|archive]] Ruthie's [[Ruthie's Collection|entire collection]] in preparation for the [[BeForever]] revamp; she and her collection were later archived in June 2014. [[Really Truly Ruthie|Ruthie's book]] remained available for purchase.<br />
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Like all other Best Friend characters, it is unlikely that the Ruthie doll or collection will ever be available again.<br />
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==Personality and Facts==<br />
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Ruthie is Kit's best friend; it is unknown when the two girls met but it was prior to the events in ''Meet Kit'' as the Kittredges have been a client in the bank that Ruthie's father works in. She has long, curly brown hair and brown eyes (the doll was given gray eyes).<br />
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Ruthie is an only child. She loves princesses and movie stars; she is depicted as an avid reader of fairy tales (including the ''Color Fairy Books'' and ''Grimm's Fairy Tales''), and often references them when talking as examples of things getting better. She also helps write pieces for Kit's homemade newspaper, the Hard Times News; she mostly talks as Kit types.<br />
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Unlike Kit, Ruthie's family is not financially affected by the Depression (her father works at a bank and keeps his job); this allows Ruthie to continue her paid hobbies such as dance, tennis, and horseback riding lessons. Her family can still take vacations and she can still go to the movies without financial hardship. The Smithens have many times offered help to the Kittredges but mostly in ways that don't hurt their personal pride. Ruthie has an idealized worldview; due to this, she sometimes hurts and offends Kit by trying to help or cheer her up in not-so-tactful ways. Ruthie is fascinated with Kit's house, and how exciting it is with the variety of boarders in contrast to the quiet of her own house. She is even at one point jealous of Kit's new life as being busy, interesting, and more exciting than her own. Ruthie notices how people rely on Kit more and this made her seem more grown-up, which was conclusive in ''Kit's Surprise''. Despite their major differences, Ruthie is a loyal and courageous friend who will go to great lengths to help Kit.<br />
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American Girl characterizes her as "compassionate" and "romantic."<br />
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==Family and Friends==<br />
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===Family===<br />
* [[Minor Characters in Kit's Series (S-Z)#Lily Smithens|Lily Smithens]]: Ruthie's mother<br />
* [[Minor Characters in Kit's Series (S-Z)#Stan Smithens|Stan Smithens]]: Ruthie's father, a banker.<br />
* [[Minor Characters in Kit's Series (S-Z)#Nancy Smithens|Nancy Smithens]]: Ruthie's maternal aunt.<br />
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===Friends===<br />
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Ruthie's two closest friends are [[Kit Kittredge]] and [[Stirling Howard]]. <br />
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::See also [[Kit Kittredge#Family and Friends|Kit's Family and Friends]]<br />
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==Book==<br />
''[[Really Truly Ruthie]]''<br />
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==In [[List of Kit's Books|Kit's Series]]==<br />
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Ruthie plays a prominent role in all of Kit's stories and the short stories ''[[Kit's Tree House]]'', ''[[Kit's Winning Ways]]'', and ''[[Kit Uses Her Head]]''.<br />
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She also has a prominent role in ''[[Missing Grace]]'' and ''[[Intruders at Rivermead Manor]]''.<br />
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==In [[Kit Kittredge: An American Girl]]==<br />
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She is played by '''Madison Davenport'''.<br />
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==Doll==<br />
{{Main|Ruthie Smithens (doll)}}<br />
[[File:Ruthiedollface.jpg|thumb|200px|The Ruthie doll.]]<br />
* [[Face Mold]]: [[Classic Mold]]<br />
* Skin: Light<br />
* Hair: Dark brown<br />
* Eyes: Gray<br />
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{{clr}}<br />
==Collection==<br />
: ''See: [[Ruthie's Collection]]''<br />
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==References==<br />
{{refs}}<br />
<br />
{{BestFriendList}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Smithens, Ruthie}}<br />
[[Category:Ruthie Smithens]]<br />
[[Category:Kit Kittredge]]<br />
[[Category:Historical Characters]]<br />
[[Category:Best Friends]]<br />
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''This page incorporates text from [https://americangirl.fandom.com/wiki/Ruthie_Smithens the source wiki] ([https://americangirl.fandom.com/index.php?oldid=119372 exported version], [https://americangirl.fandom.com/index.php?title=Ruthie+Smithens&action=history contributor history]), under [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ the original text license].''<br />
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