Ruth Mildred Barker (February 3, 1897 – January 25, 1990) was a musician, scholar, manager, and spiritual leader from the Alfred and Sabbathday Lake Shaker villages.

[1] She also was placed in charge of preserves and candy making – specializing in hand-dipped chocolates – at the village's store, where she also sewed and knitted.

[2] In 1950, she was made trustee of Sabbathday Lake and thus charged with running the businesses and finances for the entire village.

[9][10] Gertrude Soule, who had left and rejoined the community several times, had been appointed Eldress in 1950, and felt uncomfortable with this level of Barker's influence.

[10] In 1971, Soules, now living at the Canterbury Shaker Village, decided not to return to Sabbathday Lake, and Barker was appointed Eldress in her stead.

[7][9][12] Barker served as business manager for the publication from its founding until 1974, and frequently contributed articles as well as the regularly occurring newsletter column Home Notes.

[9][13] It was mostly through Barker's leadership that Sabbathday Lake decided to re-open their religious meetings to public attendance.

[9][14] For many years, Barker worked with historian and musicologist Daniel W. Patterson toward preserving Shaker music.