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  Edna Gellhorn

http://library.wustl.edu/artwork/

Edna Fischel Gellhorn was born in St. Louis on December 18, 1878. She was a civic leader and active in the woman's suffrage movement. She worked with various organizations, including: the National League of Women Voters, a group she helped found and for which she served as its first vice-president; the St. Louis League of Women Voters, president and active member; the Missouri League of Women Voters, president and active member; Missouri Equal Suffrage League; National Association of University Women; St. Louis Board of Children's Guardians; Social Hygiene Association; Interracial Committee; Social Security Commission; Slum Clearance Commission; People's Art Center; American Association for the United Nations; Citizens Committee on Nuclear Information; John Burroughs School, one of the founders; National Municipal League; and St. Louis Urban League.

She received an honorary degree of Doctor of Humanities from Lindenwood College in 1956 and honorary degrees of Doctor of Laws from Bryn Mawr College in 1960 and Washington University in 1964. She died September 24, 1970.

(The above historical information about Mrs. Gellhorn is from this page
http://www.umsl.edu/~whmc/guides/whm0642.htm
at the web site of the University of Missouri, St. Louis)

On December 18, 1964, Mrs. Gellhorn delivered an address in which she provided a brief history of the woman's suffrage movement, and the founding of the LWV of the United States. Her 11 minute talk was recorded, and a 33 1/3 RPM vinyl disc of it was passed down to Karen Nelson, one of our members, from her mother, Genevieve Nelson. Karen provided it so that it could be converted into the MP3 format that you may hear by clicking here. After you do so, a standalone window will open, the sound file will load and begin playing. Once it has finished, close that window to return here.

In 1969, Mrs. Gellhorn was interviewed on television. You may listen to six minutes of that interview, in which she speaks about the 1919-20 suffrage campaign, by clicking here. This segment was converted to MP3 from an audio cassette recording passed down to Karen Nelson from her mother, Genevieve Nelson.