Ella Lillian Wall Van Leer

Ella Lillian Wall Van Leer (née Ella Lillian Wall; November 11, 1892 – August 8, 1986) was an American artist and architect, women's rights activist, and the first woman to serve in an office of the American Legion in California. She was known as the "First Lady of Georgia Tech" and remained an advocate for women in engineering throughout her entire life.

In 1915, after defending her thesis entitled, "The Functions of Rhythm Motives in Decorative Design," Wall received an M.A. in Art and Architecture, subjects she later taught at several high schools in California. One of her first jobs was working for Rand McNally as an artist; two of her maps featuring women authors are currently in the Smithsonian Institution. In July 1918, a year after the United States entered the First World War, Wall enlisted in the Army Nursing Corps at the Letterman Army Hospital on the Presidio of San Francisco.

During her marriage, Wall pursued her career as an artist, working as an illustrator for Rand McNally,

After her husband became president of Georgia Institute of Technology in 1944, Wall became the "backbone of women" at the school and their "unofficial dean," campaigning for women's rights and successfully petitioning for an overturn of the statute barring female students from enrolling at Georgia Tech.

After Blake Van Leer died in 1956, Ella bought a house in the vicinity of Georgia Tech and turned it into "an unofficial women's dormitory".

Personal life Wall and Blake Ragsdale Van Leer had three children. Blake Wayne was born in 1926 in Berkeley, Maryly was born four years later in Washington, D.C., and Samuel Wall was born in 1934 in Gainesville, Florida.

Maryly Van Leer Peck would go on to become an engineer and the first female president of Polk Community College.