Ella May Thornton (April 28, 1885 – October 11, 1971) was an American librarian who served as the State Librarian of Georgia;[1] president of the Atlanta Library Club; and in 1936, became the president of the National Association of State Libraries.
She was the daughter of Eugene Hascal Thornton (born May 31, 1848, in Clay County, Georgia;corporal, Pruden's Battery, Confederate States Army; board member, superintendent and secretary, Confederate Soldiers' Home; died December 14, 1921) and Emma (Neal) Thornton (born April 25, 1844, in Zebulon, Georgia ; died March 29, 1918).
Granddaughter of Richard and Elizabeth (Eley) Thornton of Clay County, Georgia, and of John Neal (born September 19, 1796, in Warren County, Georgia; member, Pike County, Internal Improvement Convention, 1831; member, Pike County, Convention, 1833; member, Pike County, House of Representatives, 1838, 1839; died January 4, 1886, in Atlanta, Georgia) and Mary Jane (Campbell) Neal (born April 15, 1817).
Great-granddaughter of David Neal (captain in the Revolution; married Apr.
[2] The Ella May Thornton letters are held in a collection by the University of Georgia.