Ethel Ellis was born Ethel Applebaum on January 4, 1903 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the daughter of Morris and Kate Applebaum. Morris was an immigrant from Russia, and Kate from Romania. Ethel had three brothers: Eugene born around 1901, Sydney around 1907, and Curtis in 1915.
In 1910 the family lived on Elliott Avenue in Minneapolis, along with Morris' sister Molly. Morris supported the family working as a grocer, with sister Molly working as a saleslady in drygoods.
By 1920 the family (now with four children) had moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where Morris worked for a soap company. Kate worked in magazine advertising, and brother Eugene, age 19, was an electrician for a street railway. They also had a servant to help care for the home.
At the age of 20 Ethel was living back in Minnesota, working as a checker at the Montgomery Ward Company. She lived at 336 N. Snelling Avenue in St. Paul. Soon after this Ethel met and married up and coming cartoonist Fred Ellis. By 1927 they were living in New York City, where son Robert was born.
In 1930 the small family was living on E. 19th Street in Manhattan, where Fred was a free lance artist for the Daily Worker. A member of the Communist Party since 1922, Fred was noted for his editorial cartoons. Later in 1930 Fred, Ethel and Robert left for Europe, where Fred continued his artistic work in Berlin, Moscow and London.
On August 6, 1936 the family boarded the ocean liner S.S. Ile De France in Southampton, England for the return journey to the United States. They arrived on August 11, to make their home at 30 E. 35th Street. Son Robert, then age nine, would have had few memories of America before their European sojourn.
Fred continued working as a cartoonist, in 1940 he claimed an income of approximately $3000 for the year. They lived at 316 W. 106th Street in Manhattan. Robert attended the sixth grade, and Ethel maintained the home.
In 1950 Fred and Ethel were still living on W. 106th Street, with Robert grown and gone. Fred still worked as a free-lance artist, and Ethel was working part-time as a practical nurse in a hospital. In 1955 Fred retired from his work as a public artist.
Fred Ellis died on June 10, 1965. His widow Ethel donated many of his papers to Syracuse University, and in 1976 she gave a collection to the Smithsonian Archives of American Art, including the document "Memories as told to his wife, Ethel."
Ethel Applebaum Ellis died on August 11, 1982 at the New Jewish Home. She was buried June 27, 1985 on Hart Island.
Source: Ancestry.com; US, Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014; US, Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007; US, City Directories, 1822-1995; 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940 and 1950 US Federal Censuses; Web: MN, US, Birth Index, 1900-1934; 1905 MN, US, Territory and State Censuses, 1849-1905; NY, US, Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists, 1820-1957; library.syracuse.edu; Smithsonian Archives of American Art.
In 1910 the family lived on Elliott Avenue in Minneapolis, along with Morris' sister Molly. Morris supported the family working as a grocer, with sister Molly working as a saleslady in drygoods.
By 1920 the family (now with four children) had moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where Morris worked for a soap company. Kate worked in magazine advertising, and brother Eugene, age 19, was an electrician for a street railway. They also had a servant to help care for the home.
At the age of 20 Ethel was living back in Minnesota, working as a checker at the Montgomery Ward Company. She lived at 336 N. Snelling Avenue in St. Paul. Soon after this Ethel met and married up and coming cartoonist Fred Ellis. By 1927 they were living in New York City, where son Robert was born.
In 1930 the small family was living on E. 19th Street in Manhattan, where Fred was a free lance artist for the Daily Worker. A member of the Communist Party since 1922, Fred was noted for his editorial cartoons. Later in 1930 Fred, Ethel and Robert left for Europe, where Fred continued his artistic work in Berlin, Moscow and London.
On August 6, 1936 the family boarded the ocean liner S.S. Ile De France in Southampton, England for the return journey to the United States. They arrived on August 11, to make their home at 30 E. 35th Street. Son Robert, then age nine, would have had few memories of America before their European sojourn.
Fred continued working as a cartoonist, in 1940 he claimed an income of approximately $3000 for the year. They lived at 316 W. 106th Street in Manhattan. Robert attended the sixth grade, and Ethel maintained the home.
In 1950 Fred and Ethel were still living on W. 106th Street, with Robert grown and gone. Fred still worked as a free-lance artist, and Ethel was working part-time as a practical nurse in a hospital. In 1955 Fred retired from his work as a public artist.
Fred Ellis died on June 10, 1965. His widow Ethel donated many of his papers to Syracuse University, and in 1976 she gave a collection to the Smithsonian Archives of American Art, including the document "Memories as told to his wife, Ethel."
Ethel Applebaum Ellis died on August 11, 1982 at the New Jewish Home. She was buried June 27, 1985 on Hart Island.
Source: Ancestry.com; US, Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014; US, Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007; US, City Directories, 1822-1995; 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940 and 1950 US Federal Censuses; Web: MN, US, Birth Index, 1900-1934; 1905 MN, US, Territory and State Censuses, 1849-1905; NY, US, Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists, 1820-1957; library.syracuse.edu; Smithsonian Archives of American Art.