Continue The Legacy

Who Is Ruby Diamond?

Ruby Diamond was born September 1, 1886 in Tallahassee, Florida, where her grandfather had come many years earlier to raise cattle. She was the daughter of a prominent Tallahassee merchant, Julius Diamond, who served 10 years as chairman of the City Commission. She was one of 13 members of the 1905 graduating class of the Florida State College (now Florida State University) and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry.

Political Activist

Ms. Diamond was also a political activist and fought for lower taxes and racial equality. She and her brother Sydney, along with other members of the Jewish community, founded Temple Israel in 1937.

Political Activist

Ruby Diamond was born September 1, 1886 in Tallahassee, Florida, where her grandfather had come many years earlier to raise cattle. She was the daughter of a prominent Tallahassee merchant, Julius Diamond, who served 10 years as chairman of the City Commission. She was one of 13 members of the 1905 graduating class of the Florida State College (now Florida State University) and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry.

Charitable Giving

Miss Ruby, as she was known to friends, never married. Her life was her community and her charitable work. She was one of the founders of Tallahassee’s Temple Israel, to which she and her Foundation have been its largest contributor. She also gave generously to many other causes she believed in, including hospitals, nursing homes, universities, research institutions and Black charities.

Before she died in 1982, at age 95, she created The Ruby Diamond Foundation for the charitable support of 24 of her favorite local, Florida, national and international philanthropies. Through 2022, the Foundation had distributed over $6,000,000 in their support.

Miss Ruby was a generous benefactor of Florida State University, establishing scholarships, endowing a chair in the College of Education and donating land for the construction of the Fine Arts Building. In recognition of her lasting support of the University, Ruby Diamond Auditorium (now Ruby Diamond Concert Hall) in the Westcott Building was named in her honor.

Charitable Giving

Miss Ruby, as she was known to friends, never married. Her life was her community and her charitable work. She was one of the founders of Tallahassee’s Temple Israel, to which she and her Foundation have been its largest contributor. She also gave generously to many other causes she believed in, including hospitals, nursing homes, universities, research institutions and Black charities.

Before she died in 1982, at age 95, she created The Ruby Diamond Foundation for the charitable support of 24 of her favorite local, Florida, national and international philanthropies. Through 2022, the Foundation had distributed over $6,000,000 in their support.

Miss Ruby was a generous benefactor of Florida State University, establishing scholarships, endowing a chair in the College of Education and donating land for the construction of the Fine Arts Building. In recognition of her lasting support of the University, Ruby Diamond Auditorium (now Ruby Diamond Concert Hall) in the Westcott Building was named in her honor.

^$6,496,750

Distributed
Through 2021

24

Designated
Charities

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