Edna Fischel Gellhorn

Edna Fischel Gellhorn (December 18, 1878 – September 24, 1970) was an American suffragist and reformer who helped found the League of Women Voters.

Early life Edna Fischel Gellhorn was born on December 18, 1878, in St. Louis, Missouri. Her father taught clinical medicine as a professor at Washington University School of Medicine and helped co-found the Barnard Free Skin and Cancer Hospital. Her mother was Martha Ellis Fischel. Both parents were involved in the Ethical Culture Society of St. Louis. Influenced by her parents, Fischel was involved in the community and dedicated her time to civic work. She attended the Mary Institute and Bryn Mawr College. She served as student president at each school. Upon graduating from Bryn Mawr in 1900, Fischel was elected lifetime president of her class. In the front row were two little girls, Mary Taussig and Martha Gellhorn (Gellhorn's daughter), representing future voters. A black-cloth-draped tableau of "states with no votes for women" was placed in front of the St. Louis Art Museum.

In 1920, Gellhorn became one of the founders of the National League of Women Voters.

Gellhorn supported racial equality. In 1919, she cast the deciding vote in a vote held by the St. Louis League of Women Voters that would allow African-American women to serve on the board. Just two years later, Gellhorn, along with the rest of the League, left the Advisory Board, a collective of St. Louis women's organizations, because the organization would not allow African-American women.

Death and legacy In 1968, Washington University in St. Louis created the Edna Fischel Gellhorn Professorship of Public Affairs. At age 79, Gellhorn was selected as Woman of Achievement by the St. Louis Globe-Democrat.

She died in St. Louis in 1970.

Her papers are held in the collection of Washington University in St. Louis.

Edna Fischel Gellhorn's daughter, Martha Gellhorn, was a war reporter.