Gellhorn, Edna Fischel, 1878-1970

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Mrs. Edna Fischel Gellhorn, a St. Louis civic leader and widow of Dr. George Gellhorn, internationally known gynecologist of the medical faculty of Washington University, was born in St. Louis December 18, 1878, and in her community betterment activities followed in the steps of her parents, Dr. and Mrs. Washington E. Fischel. She attended Mary Institute. She was graduated from Bryn Mawr College in 1900, served as lifetime president of her class, and was an elected trustee of the college. She was active in the women's suffrage movement and in 1920 became a founder and first vice-president of the National League of Women Voters. She also served on the national League's board and as president of the St. Louis and Missouri Leagues. Mrs. Gellhorn helped form and worked actively in the United Nations Association, the National Municipal League, and the American Association of University Women.

During World War I, she served as regional director of the food rationing programs. She was also a civil service commissioner, and worked vigorously to achieve the merit system and other moves to improve public services. She had served on the St. Louis Board of Children's Guardians and on the Board of the St. Louis Urban League. Reforms which she actively worked to achieve were the Missouri minimum wage law, improved educational facilities, elimination of child labor and improved election laws. She was one of the founders of John Burroughs School and was the first president of the College Club. In 1968, Washington University created the Edna Fischel Gellhorn Professorship of Public Affairs, a chair endowed by admirers. At age 79, she was selected as Woman of Achievement by the St. Louis Globe-Democrat. Edna Gellhorn died September 24, 1970 at the age of 92.

From the description of Papers, 1850-1970. (Washington University in St. Louis). WorldCat record id: 244302591

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Papers, 1942-1971 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Strauss, Anna Lord, 1899-1979. Papers, 1918-1977 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Gellhorn, Edna Fischel, 1878-1970. Papers, 1850-1970. Washington University in St. Louis, .
referencedIn Lee, Percy Maxim, 1906-. The reminiscences of Percy M. Lee. Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Committee for Environmental Information, 1972-1973 Indiana University, Bloomington. Center for the Study of History and Memory
referencedIn Papers, 1918-1977 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Hudson, Manley Ottmer, 1886-1960. Papers, 1894-1960 Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138
referencedIn Hemingway, Ernest, 1899-1961. Letter, 1945 November 1, Finca Vigia, San Francisco de Paula, to Mother [Edna Gellhorn]. University of South Carolina, System Library Service, University Libraries
creatorOf Gellhorn, Edna Fischel, 1878-1970. Papers, 1919-1960 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Papers of Ethel Sturges Dummer, 1689-1962 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Gellhorn, Edna Fischel, 1878-1970. Reminiscences of Edna Gellhorn : lecture, 1964. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
creatorOf Gellhorn, Edna Fischel, 1878-1970. Papers, 1919-1960 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Dunaway, Margaret Fowler. Papers, 1922-1964 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Salley, Eulalie, 1883-1975. Eulalie Salley papers, 1916-1922. University of South Carolina, System Library Service, University Libraries
creatorOf Gellhorn, Edna Fischel, 1878-1970. Reminiscences of Edna Gellhorn : lecture, 1954. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Papers, 1922-1964 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Allen, Florence Ellinwood, 1884-1966. person
associatedWith Anthony, Lucy Elmina person
associatedWith Blackwell, Alice Stone, 1857-1950. person
associatedWith Brown, Gertrude Foster, 1867-1956 person
associatedWith Catt, Carrie Chapman, 1859-1947. person
associatedWith Committee of Ten (active 1934) corporateBody
associatedWith Douglas, Emily Taft. person
associatedWith Dummer, Ethel Sturges, 1866-1954 person
associatedWith Dunaway, Margaret Fowler person
childOf Fischel, Martha Ellis, 1850-1939 person
parentOf Gellhorn, Martha, 1908-1998 person
associatedWith Goldmark, Josephine Clara, 1877-1950. person
associatedWith Hansl, Eva Elise vom Baur, 1889-1978 person
associatedWith Harrison, Gladys A. (Gladys Amelia), 1892- person
associatedWith Hay, Mary Garrett, 1857-1928. person
correspondedWith Hemingway, Ernest, 1899-1961. person
associatedWith Hudson, Manley Ottmer, 1886- person
associatedWith Indiana University Center for the Study of History and Memory corporateBody
associatedWith Kenyon, Dorothy, 1888-1972. person
associatedWith League of Women Voters of Missouri corporateBody
associatedWith League of Women Voters of St. Louis (Mo.) corporateBody
associatedWith League of Women Voters (U.S.) corporateBody
associatedWith Lee, Percy Maxim, 1906- person
associatedWith Leslie Woman Suffrage Commission. corporateBody
associatedWith McCormick, Katharine Dexter, 1875-1967. person
associatedWith McCulloch, Catherine Waugh, 1862-1945 person
associatedWith McDowell, Mary Eliza, 1854-1936. person
associatedWith National American Woman Suffrage Association. corporateBody
associatedWith National Committee on the Cause and Cure of War (U.S.) corporateBody
associatedWith Park, Maud Wood, 1871-1955. person
associatedWith Robins, Margaret Dreier, 1868-1945 person
associatedWith Roosevelt, Eleanor (Roosevelt), 1884-1962 person
associatedWith Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945. person
correspondedWith Salley, Eulalie, 1883-1975 person
associatedWith Sherwin, Belle, 1868-1955. person
associatedWith Strauss, Anna Lord, 1899-1979 person
associatedWith Symington, Stuart, 1901-1988. person
associatedWith Upton, Harriet Taylor, 1853-1945 person
associatedWith Wells, Marguerite M. (Marguerite Milton), 1872-1959 person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Saint Louis (Mo.) MO US
Subject
Peace
Woman
Women
Women
Women
Women in community development
Women social reformers
Women's rights
Occupation
Social reformers
Suffragists
Activity

Person

Birth 1878-12-18

Death 1970-09-24

Female

Americans

English

Information

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SNAC ID: 85546130