Ella Mahammitt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ella Mahammitt
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Photo from the Enterprise, April 4, 1896
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| Born |
Ella Lillian Davis
22 November 1863 Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
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| Died | 9 September 1932 (aged 68) |
| Occupation | Journalist, trained nurse, civil rights activist |
| Spouse(s) |
Dr. John M. Browne
(m. 1884; div. 1890)Alonzo R. Cassells
(m. 1904; |
Ella Lillian Davis Browne Mahammitt (born November 22, 1863 – died September 9, 1932) was an important American journalist and activist. She worked for civil rights and women's rights. She was from Omaha, Nebraska. She helped run a newspaper called The Enterprise. She also led the Colored Women's Club in Omaha. On a national level, she was a leader in groups like the National Federation of Afro-American Women and the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs.
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Early Life and Marriages
Ella Lillian Davis was born on November 22, 1863. Her birthplace was Kansas City, Missouri. She was the only child of William F. Davis and Annie (Atchus) Davis. Her father was a policeman in Kansas City.
Ella became a schoolteacher in Kansas City. In 1884, she married Dr. John M. Browne. This marriage did not last long.
Later, on June 9, 1891, Ella married Thomas P. Mahammitt. He was from Omaha. After their wedding, Ella and Thomas moved to Omaha.
Leading Women's Groups
In 1895, Ella Mahammitt traveled to Boston, Massachusetts. She attended the First National Conference of the Colored Women of America. This meeting was held from July 29 to 31, 1895. The main goal of the conference was to improve education for Black children.
The group decided to call themselves the National Federation of Afro-American Women. Ella Mahammitt was chosen as the vice-president. She represented the western states at this meeting.
Reporting for The Enterprise
When Ella Mahammitt returned to Omaha, she wrote about the conference. She shared her experiences in the "Woman's Column." This column was in The Enterprise, a weekly newspaper for Black people in Omaha. Her husband owned the paper, but Ella played a big role in running and editing it.
In Omaha, Ella Mahammitt was the president of a local group called the Colored Women's Club. Their motto was "Lifting as we Climb." This meant they wanted to help others as they improved themselves.
In December 1895, Mahammitt went to another important meeting. It was the Congress of Colored Women in Atlanta. She was the Nebraska State Commissioner for this congress. She spoke about "A Mother's Duty in her Home."
Working with the Afro-American League
Ella Mahammitt was also active in the Nebraska branch of the Afro-American League. This group worked for civil rights. In June 1896, she led a committee on women's right to vote.
In her weekly "Woman's Column," she wrote about many topics. She discussed issues important to African Americans. She also gave advice on managing a household. She wrote about the activities of the Omaha Colored Women's Club.
National Association of Colored Women
Ella Mahammitt supported the idea of two large women's groups joining together. These were the National Federation of Afro-American Women and the National League of Colored Women. They officially united in July 1896.
The new group was called the National Association of Colored Women. Mary Church Terrell became its president. Ella Mahammitt served on the Ways and Means Committee for this new national organization.
Later Life and Career
Ella and Thomas Mahammitt divorced in 1903. Thomas stayed in Omaha. Ella moved to Douglas, Arizona. On May 21, 1904, she married Alonzo R. Cassells. He owned a restaurant there.
Later, the Cassells moved to Los Angeles, California. Alonzo opened a barber shop. Ella started working as a trained nurse. This became her main job for many years. Around 1910, Ella and Alonzo separated. Ella moved to Huntington Beach, California.
Ella Mahammitt passed away in Los Angeles on September 9, 1932. She was 68 years old. She is buried in Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles.
