Ida Reid Blair

Ida Reid Blair
Born	Ida Chester Reid Putnam County, New York
Died	November 5, 1930 320 East 57th Street, New York City
Occupation(s)	social and political advocacy, business woman
Years active	1912-1930
Known for	work for women's suffrage and other issues
Spouse	John G. Blair
Parents	Aaron Bertram Reid (father) Emma Gardiner Reid (mother)

Ida Reid Blair was a suffragist, businesswoman, and political activist who was particularly notable for her work in publicity for the New York state suffragist movement. She also founded the Women's Democratic Union in New York, which supported candidates and policies of the New York Democratic Party. ^{[1] [2]}

Women's Suffrage

In 1912 Mrs. Blair joined the Equal Franchise League, working for the vote for women, and in 1917 became chair of the press publicity committee for the New York State Woman Suffrage Party, which had been founded in 1909 by her friend Carrie Chapman Catt. Her most controversial publicity stunt was dropping pro-suffrage flyers from a biplane onto President Woodrow Wilson's yacht in December 1916. ^[3] After the victory in November 1917 for women's suffrage in New York State, ^[4] she became chair of the First Voter's School to educate women in how to vote. After its founding in 1920 to succeed the National American Woman Suffrage Association, she continued as a member of the League of Women Voters.

Social Advocacy

In 1918, Mrs. Blair became field secretary of the Women's City Club. In 1921, the club examined New York's sanitary code and found so many violations that Health Commissioner Copeland formed a Women's City Club Sanitary Reserve Corps. As field secretary of the club, she also addressed fire prevention, legislation to protect working women, and the creation of a national Department of Education.^{[ citation needed ]}

Business

In 1921, Mrs. Blair joined Mrs. Norman de R. Whitehouse as vice president in a firm manufacturing leather goods. After a year, she quit to become financia secretary for the Neurological Institute of New York, where she worked to raise funds until 1927.^{[ citation needed ]}

Politics

In 1924 Mrs. Blair founded the Women's Democratic Union, which worked for the Democratic ticket in state and local races.^{[ citation needed ]}

References

1. "Mrs. John Blair Dies of Pneumonia". The New York Times. New York City: The New York Times. 6 November 1930. Retrieved 9 Feb 2025.
2. Benhuri, Ariana (December 2024). Dublin, Thomas; Kish Sklar, Kathryn (eds.). "Online Biographical Dictionary of the Woman Suffrage Movement in the United States". Alexander Street. Alexander Street. Retrieved 9 Feb 2025.
3. O'Gan, Patri (19 March 2014). "Traveling for Suffrage Part 3: Flying by the seat of their skirts". National Museum of American History. Washington DC: Smithsonian. Retrieved 9 Feb 2025.
4. Melvin, Tess (1 Nov 1987). "1917: When Women Won the Right to Vote". New York, New York: The New York Times. Retrieved 11 Feb 2025.