Gellhorn, Edna (1878–1970)

American suffragist and community leader. Name variations: Edna Fischel; Edna Fischel Gellhorn. Born Edna Fischel on Dec 18, 1878, in St. Louis, Missouri; died Sept 24, 1970, in St. Louis, Missouri; dau. of Washington Emil Fischel and Martha (Ellis) Fischel; m. George Gellhorn, Oct 21, 1903; children: 3 sons (b. 1904, 1906, 1913), 1 daughter (b. 1908).

Organized charity drives and worked in campaigns to purify city water supply and to inspect milk; joined suffrage movement (1910), serving in Missouri and St. Louis Suffrage Leagues and helping organize "Walkless-Talkless Parade" at Democratic National Convention in St. Louis (1916); worked as regional administrator of President's food program (WWI); was arrangements chair at suffrage convention where League of Women Voters (LWV) was established (1919), and served as 1st LWV vice president and 1st state wing president; led successful lobby by LWV to introduce merit hiring by MO government (1930s) and to pass new state constitution (1945); helped found Citizens Community on Nuclear Information, and established local units of American Association for the United Nations; was appointed to Missouri Commission on the Status of Women (1964). Received numerous honors, including honorary LLD from Washington University (1964), which established Edna Fischel Gellhorn Professorship of Public Affairs (1968); Edna Gellhorn Award Dinner was sponsored by Women's Political Caucus and National Organization of Women (1973).