City of Elkhart honoring Emma Molloy with a new historical marker  

ELKHART, Ind. -- History comes alive in Elkhart this Wednesday as the community gathers to honor a trailblazing woman who made her mark in both local and national history.

The Elkhart County Historical Society, in partnership with the Indiana Historical Bureau, will dedicate a new historical marker at the downtown Elkhart Public Library, honoring the life and legacy of Emma Barrett Molloy.

Molloy became the first female newspaper editor locally when she started the Elkhart Observer in 1872. But her contributions went far beyond journalism. 

She became a prolific political reformer and public speaker, advocating for temperance and women’s liberation. Molloy championed women’s suffrage, delivering speeches that gained international attention. She lectured in England and spoke at National Woman Suffrage Association conventions.

The office of the Elkhart Observer was located near the downtown Elkhart Public Library. The city says they felt it was fitting to place the marker here, in a location that connects her contributions to both journalism and the fight for women’s rights.

"It's important that figures like this are remembered especially females. Someone who did the work she did," Elkhart Public Library Communications Manager Sam Householder said. 

This will be the second historical marker in the area, adding to the city's history. The event is free and open to the public, offering a chance for the community to learn more about Molloy's legacy.

"I think it's important to highlight them to show young people and people who have been here a long time something that they didn't know, someone they didn't know and just show the great work that has been going on in this area for generations," Householder said.