Ruth E. Gutfrucht design collection

Ruth E. Gutfrucht (1918-1993) was born on May 24, 1918 in Rochester, NY. After graduating from John Marshall High School, Gutfrucht studied design at the Rochester Athenaeum and Mechanics Institute (RAMI), now the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). She received her A.A.S. in 1939 and later earned her B.F.A. and M.F.A. Prior to joining the faculty at RIT, Gutfrucht worked as a wallpaper, wrapping paper, and fancy box designer. She also worked as a designer at the Todd Company of the Burroughs Corporation, creating checks, letterhead, and advertising materials.

Gutfrucht was a member of Nazareth College's faculty for a year before starting as a part-time faculty member at RAMI in 1941. She joined RIT's faculty full-time in 1947, where she taught perspective, lettering, layout, typography, and advertising in the design department. During her tenure, Gutfrucht was involved in the RIT community, serving as secretary of the Alumni Council, treasurer of the American Association of University Professors (RIT chapter), art advisor for Techmila (RIT's yearbook), and on the senior projects committee. She also designed various publications for RIT such as institutional catalogs and pamphlets for different on-campus organizations. In 1977, Gutfrucht was awarded the Eisenhart Award for Outstanding Teaching in recognition of her efforts in the classroom. She retired from the university in 1981.

During her lifetime, Gutfrucht studied with textile designer Ruth Reeves, Bauhaus designer Josef Albers, and artist Umberto Romano. She was a respected calligrapher and often accepted freelance jobs creating calligraphic works and illuminating manuscripts. Interested in other areas of art, such as painting and printmaking, Gutfrucht was also a member of the University of Rochester's Memorial Art Gallery, the Rochester Art Club, and the Print Club of Rochester. She died on November 28, 1993.