Ella Maynard Kelley

Summary

Ella Maynard Kelley (born December 13, 1859, Fremont, Ohio) began telegraphy at fourteen, running a railroad night office alone at Oak Harbor, Ohio. A Woman of the Century (1893) called her “the foremost woman in active telegraphy in the United States,” recorded that she ran the Associated Press first wire at Columbus for three years at pay equal to the top male operators, and described her as “the first woman who used the typewriter in the telegraphic service.” Her death date is not documented.

Focus areas: Telegraphy · Women in technology · Ohio

At a glance

Field

Telegraphy · Women in technology

Location

Columbus, Ohio

References · in priority order

1. A Woman of the Century (1893), Internet Archivearchive.org/details/cu31924032324752

Sources

• Telegraph operator; b. Dec 13, 1859, Fremont, Ohio; began at 14 running a railroad night office alone at Oak Harbor, OhioInternet Archive
• Per A Woman of the Century (1893): 'the foremost woman in active telegraphy in the United States'; ran the Associated Press first wire at Columbus for three years at pay equal to the top male operators; 'the first woman who used the typewriter in the telegraphic service'Internet Archive