Martha L. Addis
A black-and-white photograph of a white woman with dark wavy hair and a dimpled chin; she is wearing a dress or blouse with an embroidered square neckline
Martha L. Addis, from a 1920 publication
Born
Martha Lillian Addis

(1878-02-24)February 24, 1878
Ellis, Kansas
DiedAugust 18, 1942(1942-08-18) (aged 64)
Topeka, Kansas
Occupation(s)Jeweler, businesswoman, clubwoman

Martha Lillian Addis (February 24, 1878 – August 18, 1942) was an American jeweler, businesswoman, and clubwoman, based in Topeka, Kansas.

Early life

Martha Lillian Addis was born in Ellis, Kansas, the daughter of Edward S. Addis and Alice L. Reynolds Addis (later Jeffrey). Her father was from Ohio, and was a wounded veteran of the American Civil War. Her mother was born in Wisconsin. "Miss Addis was self educated and has achieved unusual success in spite of the greatest handicaps," noted a 1925 newspaper report, without elaborating on the nature of the obstacles she faced.[1]

Career

In 1906,[2] M. L. Addis opened the Addis Jewelry and Gift Store in Topeka, and was described as "one of the few women jewelers in the United States" in 1920.[3] She was vice-president of the Kansas Retail Jewelers Association,[4][5] and active in the American National Retail Jewelers Association (ANRJA).[6][7][8][9] In 1922, she addressed the Nebraska Retail Jewelers' convention, the only woman on the program.[10] In addition to designing, selling, and repairing jewelry, she had a noted business in phonograph machines, painted china, cut glass, clocks, watches and silverware.[2][11]

As a well-known woman jeweler, she was the target of crimes: in 1915, her purse was snatched, but she chased the thief and cornered him under a porch.[12] In 1921, she suffered a loss when $2000 worth of rings were stolen in a store robbery.[13] Two men were suspected of robbing $600 worth of jewelry from Addis in 1927.[14]

Addis offered her store as a meeting place for various community groups. She was president of the Business and Professional Women's Club of Topeka.[15][16] She was president of the Shawnee County Old Settlers' Association.[17]

Personal life

Addis's home burned down in 1923.[18] In 1935, she was injured in a car accident.[19] She died in 1942, aged 64 years, in Topeka.

References

  1. ↑ "Third Annual B. P. W. C. Banquet". The Jewell County Monitor. 1925-04-10. p. 1. Retrieved 2021-06-07 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. 1 2 "Jewelry Store Window Attractive". The Topeka Daily Capital. 1907-09-08. p. 6. Retrieved 2021-06-07 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "Kansas Jewelers Coming to Topeka This Morning". The Topeka Daily Capital. 1920-05-10. p. 1. Retrieved 2021-06-07 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Kansas Jewelers Hold Two-Day Convention". The Jewelers' Circular. 82: 111. April 20, 1921.
  5. ↑ "Fearl is Elected By The Jewelers". The Hutchinson Gazette. 1921-04-13. p. 5. Retrieved 2021-06-07 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "Full Report of the ANRJA Convention" The Jewelers' Circular 81(September 1, 1920): 136-137.
  7. ↑ "Hopkins & Holland Building" Topeka Landmarks Registry (January 2014): 4.
  8. ↑ "Full Report of the A.N.R.J.A. Convention" The Jewelers' Circular 81(September 1920): 151.
  9. ↑ "Miss Addis Returns". The Topeka Daily Capital. 1919-09-11. p. 11. Retrieved 2021-06-07 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "Topeka Woman Addresses Convention". The Topeka Daily Capital. 1922-02-19. p. 37. Retrieved 2021-06-08 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "Has Her Own Methods of Selling" (PDF). The Talking Machine World. 11: 64. November 15, 1915.
  12. ↑ "Purse Snatcher Held". The Topeka State Journal. 1915-12-04. p. 5. Retrieved 2021-06-07 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "Loss of $2000 in Jewelry". The Topeka State Journal. 1921-01-19. p. 6. Retrieved 2021-06-07 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ "Combing Wichita for Capital City Jewelry Thieves". The Wichita Eagle. 1927-08-25. p. 5. Retrieved 2021-06-08 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ "B. P. W. C. Annual Banquet". The Jewell County Monitor. 1925-04-03. p. 1. Retrieved 2021-06-07 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ↑ "Topek B. P. W. to Give Vaudeville Review Here". The Morning Chronicle. 1925-04-26. p. 1. Retrieved 2021-06-07 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ↑ "Kansas Historical Notes: February 1936" Kansas Historical Society.
  18. ↑ "Bad Fire in Topeka". The Wichita Eagle. 1923-02-09. p. 1. Retrieved 2021-06-08 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ↑ "Localettes". The Emporia Gazette. 1935-10-18. p. 8. Retrieved 2021-06-08 – via Newspapers.com.
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