Anita Lee Blair & guide dog Fawn, El Paso, TX
Anita Blair con su Perro Guía Fawn

Anita Lee Blair & guide dog Fawn, El Paso, TX

Anita Blair was a state representative and community activist, who died in 2010 with 93 years of age. Blair became the first El Paso woman elected as a state representative, in 1952. She was also the first blind woman to serve in an elected position in the state of Texas. During her term in office, Blair found money to remodel the State School for the Deaf. She also fought for teacher pay raises and supported a bill that allowed women to serve on juries. In her later years, Blair became a pioneer for the disabled and was active in the community. Due to an accident Blair lost her sight with 19, but with her guide dog Fawn, she adjusted quickly to the darkness. Blair attended the University of Texas at El Paso, then known as the Texas College of Mines and Metallurgy. She graduated in 1944 with a master's degree in social sciences. The portrait was taken by Samuel Fant, it probably dates from the 1940s. Anita Blair is buried in Texas State Cemetery.

Area: Central / Downtown

Collection: Samuel Fant Collection

Source: University of Texas at El Paso Library - Special Collections Department

Reference ID: PH058-Blair, Anita 02

Uploaded by: El Paso Museum of History

Comments

Add a comment
Thank you for your comment

Report this entry

Choose the most important reason for this report

Your name

Your email address

Optional detail

Thank you for your report

More from the same community-collection

Vikki Carr in 2009, El Paso, Texas

Vikki Carr is holding a speech in 2009 after she was give the ...

Vikki Carr in 2009, El Paso, Texas

The picture shows the actress and singer Vikki Carr after the ...

Fourth of July Fireworks 1

The picture was taken during the Fourth of July celebrations in ...

Fourth of July Fireworks 2

The picture was taken during the Fourth of July celebrations in ...

Fourth of July Fireworks 3

The picture was taken during the Fourth of July celebrations in ...

Fourth of July Fireworks 4

The picture was taken during the Fourth of July celebrations in ...

Humphrey Entourage during Presidential Campaign in 1968

This picture shows parts of the entourage of Hubert Humphrey, ...

Downtown during Sunrise in 2009

The picture captures the downtown area during sunrise. It was ...

Toltec Club Building

Built in 1910 for the eight-year-old men's club, the Toltec Club ...

Union Bank & Trust Building - El Paso, Texas

The Union Bank & Trust Building was situated on 104 San Antonio ...

Scottish Rite Temple Interior - El Paso, Texas

The image shows the interior of the Scottish Rite Temple during ...

Dancers during Scottish Rite Temple's Celebration

The picture captures folk dancers during the Scottish Rite ...

Downtown with Rainbow in 1990

The picture shows the downtown area with a rainbow in 1990. The ...

Downtown with Rainbow in 2010

The picture shows the downtown area in 2010 enclosed by a ...

Plaza Hotel from Mesa Street

The picture captures the Plaza Hotel from Mesa Street. With its ...

Plaza Hotel, El Paso, TX 1976

The picture from 1976 shows some of the historic buildings in ...

Popular Dry Goods Co. Store

In 1903 the Popular Dry Goods Co. store was founded by Adolph ...

Downtown Post Office

The classical building of the downtown post office was built in ...

County Detention Facility

The Downtown Detention Facility is located at 601. E. Overland, ...

Cortez Building - 2014

The Cortez Building is located on the northeast corner of North ...

El Paso County Courthouse

El Paso, Texas -- El Paso County Courthouse.

County Courthouse, El Paso, TX, circa 2014

El Paso Court House in El Paso, Texas.

The present El Paso County Courthouse

El Paso Municipal Court is located in 810 E Overland, El Paso, ...

home.search_collection