Mother Damnable

Mary Ann Conklin, also known as Mother Damnable and Madame Damnable^[1] (c. 1821–1873) was an American madam who ran Seattle's first brothel, the Felker House, a major means of funneling money from sailors and lumbermen into local businesses.^[2] The name by which she is most widely known derives not from the nature of her business, but from her legendarily unrestrained language, learned at sea and from her customers. It was said that she swore expertly in Chinese, English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish.^[3]

^ T. S. Phelps: Reminiscences of Seattle: Washington Territory and the U. S. Sloop-of-War Decatur During the Indian War of 1855-56. Originally published by The Alice Harriman Company, Seattle, 1908. Accessed online November 2, 2006 on the site of the U.S. Department of the Navy.
^ Sons of the profits; or, There's no business like grow business: the Seattle story, 1851-1901, by William C. Speidel, 1967
^ "Conklin, Mary Ann (1821-1873) aka Mother Damnable", at historylink.org. Accessed August 20, 2006.

[Phelps-1] T. S. Phelps: Reminiscences of Seattle: Washington Territory and the U. S. Sloop-of-War Decatur During the Indian War of 1855-56. Originally published by The Alice Harriman Company, Seattle, 1908. Accessed online November 2, 2006 on the site of the U.S. Department of the Navy.

[2] Sons of the profits; or, There's no business like grow business: the Seattle story, 1851-1901, by William C. Speidel, 1967

[historylink-3] "Conklin, Mary Ann (1821-1873) aka Mother Damnable", at historylink.org. Accessed August 20, 2006.

[1]

[2]

[3]