Thelma Ruffin Thomas is a native New Yorker born in Harlem Hospital. She is a retired librarian who worked for The New York Public Library for 33 years and began telling stories professionally over a decade ago.

Ms. Thomas is the Artistic Director of the Pearls of Wisdom, co-founder of Story Sandwiched In, member of the National Association of Black Storytellers,The Storytelling Center, Inc.,The Network of Biblical Storytellers, Inc., Black Librarians Caucus, Harlem Arts Alliance and one of the founding members of African Folk Heritage Circle.

Thelma has traveled all over the world telling stories in Tanzania, Brazil, Ghana, Costa Rica, South Africa, Russia and Australia.

As a child, Thelma was an avid reader and when her mother would turn off the lights at bedtime, Thelma would turn on the flashlight she brought to bed with her and continue reading her books under the covers. It's hard to say when she actually began the art of storytelling because Thelma was always a good liar. If her parents were here, they would say, " 'tis true". 

Thelma has passed down this wonderful tradition... four of her eight grandchildren are storytellers. 
A great grand daughter born on her birthday now begins the third generation of masterful storytellers.

Thelma's performances focus on the youth. "You cannot tell what a teenager is thinking by looking at their face or posture.  But if you tell stories with meat you will give teens portals into literature."  Her specialties are Biblical stories and storytelling in Spanish.