Ruth Swan Clark was a member of the class of 1909 at Smith College. In 1913, a few years after her graduation, she worked at Smith as an instructor in the Philosophy Department. She held this position until 1916, and in 1917 was promoted to Assistant Professor. In 1918, Clark found employment at the School for Social Work at Smith. She traveled away from Northampton in 1919 to earn her PhD in psychology from Columbia University. While in New York City, she worked as the psychologist for the Vocational Service for Juniors, a program that encouraged career counseling in public schools. She returned to Smith in 1922 when she accepted a position of Associate Professor in the Psychology Department. In 1929, she agreed to edit and publish the theories of her colleague in the Philosophy Department, Professor Harry Gardiner. She worked until 1934, compiling and recording his thoughts on human nature and other psychological phenomena. In 1943, Clark took on a job at the Howard Relief Society, a privately endowed charity, as their Executive Secretary. Here she worked raising money on behalf of school children who were under-privileged. Later, in 1949, Ruth became the Chairman of the Social Service Committee in the American Association for University Women. She also served on the Housing Committee of the League of Women Voters. Also in 1949, Clark was asked to write a complete history of the Psychology Department at Smith College. It was teaching in this department when she met her husband, J.T. Metcalf, also a Psychology professor. They had two daughters and one son together.