Ruth Buxton earned a B.A. (1917) in languages from Simpson College. She married Raymond Sayre in 1918 and became active in the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF). In 1921 she was elected IFBF Director of Women’s Activities in her township and became State Chair of the Women’s Committee in 1937. Sayre was chosen Midwest Regional Director of the Associated Women in the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) in 1938 and became president of the Associated Women in 1948.

Sayre was a member of the Master Farm Homemaker Guild and served as its president (1935-1937). She served as president of the American Country Life Association in 1940 and was elected president Associated Country Women of the World in 1947.

Her writings appeared in Farm Journal, Successful Farming, Women’s Press, and National Home Economics Journal.

Collection (1936-1980, undated) includes published and unpublished biographical information about Sayre; correspondence with Louise Rosenfeld, ISU Professor of Home Economics; materials documenting Sayre's service to the National Guild of Master Farm Homemakers; and her published articles.

The collection is organized into four series:

• Series 1, Biographical information
• Series 2, Correspondence
• Series 3, National Guild of Master Farm Homemakers
• Series 4, Writings