Ella May Dunning Smith facts for kids

Ella May Dunning Smith (born March 12, 1860, died September 28, 1934) was a talented American woman who did many things. She was a writer, a composer (someone who writes music), a pianist (someone who plays the piano), and an activist. She made history by becoming the very first female president of the Ohio State Music Teachers’ Association.

Early Life and Family

Ella May Dunning Smith was born in Ulrichsville, Ohio. Her parents were Sarah Ann Price and Rufus Libbie Dunning. She was the sixth of eight children in her family. In 1878, she married Dan Laws Smith, who worked for the railroad. They had four children together: three sons and one daughter.

Her Musical Journey

Ella May Dunning Smith loved music and studied with many great teachers. Some of her music teachers included Caleb Croswell, Edgar Stillman Kelley, Paula de Branco de Olivera, and M. Segund du Sape. Her talent was noticed early on. A famous show organizer named Al G. Field even planned to use some of her songs in his shows back in 1895.

Leading Music Clubs

From 1903 to 1916, Ella May Dunning Smith was the president of the Women’s Music Club in Columbus, Ohio. Under her leadership, this club grew to be the largest women’s music club in the world! She helped bring big symphony orchestras from cities like Cincinnati, Minneapolis, and New York to perform in Columbus.

Music for Everyone

Smith believed that everyone should enjoy music. She helped organize concerts in many different places. These included prisons, homes for older people, and schools for the blind.

In 1914, she started volunteer music programs in eight "settlement houses." These houses were places that helped poor families in their communities. These music programs became very popular. By 1928, 35 volunteer teachers were giving 1,353 music lessons! They also raised money to help students pay for their lessons.

Ella May Dunning Smith also taught music at the Phelps Collegiate School. She later became the dean (a leader) at the Wallace Collegiate School in Columbus.

A Pioneer in Music Leadership

Ella May Dunning Smith achieved a big milestone in her career. She became the first woman ever to be president of the Ohio State Music Teachers’ Association. This was a very important role in the music world of Ohio.

Music Critic and Educator

For more than 20 years, she worked as a music critic for the Ohio State Journal Newspaper. This meant she wrote reviews and opinions about music performances. She also wrote for other newspapers like the Columbus Dispatch and the New York Musical Courier.

In 1916, she opened her own music school called the Ella May Smith Studios in Columbus. Here, she taught music to others. She also gave many talks about American music, sharing her knowledge and passion.

Her Compositions

Ella May Dunning Smith also wrote her own music. Some of her songs included:

• “Lilacs”
• “Many a Beauteous Flower” (with words by Eugene Field)
• “Philip’s Mother”

See also

In Spanish: Ella May Dunning Smith para niños