Ruth Charlotte Ellis (1899 - 2000)

Born 23 Jul 1899 in Springfield, Sangamon, Illinois, United States

Died 5 Oct 2000 at age 101 in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: US Black Heritage Project WikiTree [send private message]

Ruth Ellis is a part of US Black history. Join: US Black Heritage Project Discuss: black_heritage

Biography

Ruth Ellis is Notable.

Ruth Ellis was the oldest known black lesbian activist. She created a haven for the Black LGBT community in her home in Detroit, Michigan.^[1]

Ruth Charlotte Ellis was born on July 23rd, 1899 in Springfield, Illinois.^[2][3] She was the daughter of Charles and Carrie Ellis. She had three older brothers and they grew up in Springfield. Her mother died between 1910 and 1920.^[4] She was one of the few Black women in her community to graduate from high school and as a young adult she worked as an apprentice at a printing press in Springfield.^[2][5]

In 1937, Ruth's brother encouraged her to move to Detroit, Michigan for better pay. She moved there with Ceceline (Babe) Franklin, her partner. They bought a house in Detroit and lived there together for 34 years, at which point Ceceline moved to the suburbs.^[2][6][7] Ruth ran a printing shop out of their home.^[2][7]

In 1950, Ceceline is listed as Ruth's partner on the census^[8].

Ruth's home was seen as a haven for Detroit's Black LGBT community. Her stories inspired others to live without fear. She also helped many people in need in her community and neighborhood.^[2]

Ruth died at her home in Detroit on October 5th, 2000.^[2][3]

Legacy

A 1999 documentary, Living with Pride: Ruth C. Ellis @ 100 told the story of her life.^[2]

She is the namesake of the Ruth Ellis Center in Detroit, which provides services for LGBTQ+ youth and young adults. In 2022 the center opened the Ruth Ellis Clairmount Center, a large facility which provides affordable housing and various other services.^[2][9]

Sources

1. ↑ Wikipedia: Ruth Ellis
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7} Alexa Capeloto, "Ruth Ellis: Set example for the gay community," Detroit Free Press [Michigan], 6 Oct 2000, page 5B, column 1-2; image copy, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53019954/ : accessed 25 Feb 2023).
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V33X-P25 : 9 January 2021), Ruth C Ellis, 5 Oct 2000; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
4. ↑ See 1900-1930 census records.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," ED 43, Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois, USA; sheet 17B, family 424, Ruth Ellis in Wellington Ellis household; FamilySearch, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X3MX-Q8C.
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," ED 84-427, Detroit ward 9, Wayne County, Michigan, USA; sheet 1B, family 20, Ruth C Ellis household; FamilySearch, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KH9S-TSM.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} "United States Census, 1950," ED 85-231, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, USA; sheet 7, dwelling 41, Ruth C Ellis household; FamilySearch, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6FSX-FTTB.
8. ↑ 1950 Census: "1950 United States Federal Census"
   National Archives at Washington, DC; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Year: 1950; Census Place: Detroit, Wayne, Michigan; Roll: 2599; Page: 7; Enumeration District: 85-231
   Ancestry Record 62308 #177637183 (accessed 28 January 2024)
   Ruth C Ellis (50), single, Printer, head of household in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, USA. Born in Illinois.
9. ↑ Hannah Mackay, "New affordable housing, health care center opens for LGBTQ+ youth in Detroit," The Detroit News [Michigan], 7 Oct 2022, https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2022/10/07/ruth-ellis-clairmont-center-provides-housing-for-lgbtq-youth/69547185007/ : accessed 25 Feb 2023.

• "United States Census, 1900," ED 99, Springfield Ward 6, Capitol Township, Sangamon County, Illinois, USA; sheet 19B, family 400, Ruth G Ellis in Charlie Ellis household; FamilySearch, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSHN-Z4G.
• "United States Census, 1910," ED 153, Springfield Ward 6, Sangamon County, Illinois, USA; sheet 8B, family 153, Ruth Charolette Ellis in Charles Ellis household; FamilySearch, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MKXG-ND5.
• "United States Census, 1920," ED 167, Springfield precinct 49, Sangamon County, Illinois, USA; sheet 10B, family 238, Ruth Ellis in Charles Ellis household; FamilySearch, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJC2-5W2.

See also:

• Wikidata: Item Q5845576
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/14238933/ruth-charlotte-ellis: accessed 25 February 2023), memorial page for Ruth Charlotte Ellis (23 Jul 1899–5 Oct 2000), Find A Grave: Memorial #14238933; Cremated, Ashes given to family or friend, Placed on land and on sea.; Maintained by AlongSide (contributor 46839029).
• "Ruth Ellis," Hall of Fame Timeline, Michigan Women Forward, https://miwf.org/timeline/ruth-ellis/ : accessed 25 Feb 2023.