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Matilda Allison

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Matilda Allison
A smiling white woman with short dark hair and eyes tightly closed, wearing a gingham-check dress, hand resting on a braille book
Allison posing with a braille book, from a 1922 publication
Born
Matilda Eva Allison

(1888-02-18)February 18, 1888
Lincoln, California, US
DiedNovember 21, 1973(1973-11-21) (aged 85)
Los Angeles, California, US
Other names
  • Tillie Allison
  • Mathilda Allison
  • Matilda Lavery
  • Matilda Allison Williams
Occupations

Matilda Eva Allison (February 18, 1888 – November 21, 1973) was an American educator, a blind woman working with blind students, including veterans of World War I. She passed California's civil service examination in 1919, opening career opportunities for other blind office workers.

Early life and education

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Allison was from Lincoln, California,[1] the daughter of William Allison and Ingeborg Catherina Krogh (later Engellenner). She was blinded by an injury when she was seven years old.[2] She was raised mainly by her Danish-born mother[3] and grandmother.[4] She graduated at the top of her class from the California School for the Deaf and Blind in 1909.[5][6][7] In 1910, she was briefly institutionalized as despondent and "suddenly insane", but soon recovered.[8][9] She was one of the early West Coast graduates of The Seeing Eye training course, when it was held in Berkeley in 1930.[10]

Career

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In the 1920s Allison worked as a dictaphone operator, typist, and clinical stenographer,[11] and taught newly-blind veterans at Napa State Hospital.[12][13] "My routine day consists of taking clinical, pathological and bacteriological dictation from nine doctors," she told a 1922 interviewer.[1] She also volunteered as a braille teacher at the state soldiers' home in Yountville,[14] and traveled to Hawaii in 1925 to lecture on blind education there.[15] "She being blind herself, having, by supreme effort secured a wonderful education, devotes much of her time in instructing the blind throughout this country", a 1928 report explained.[12] She was also assistant editor of the Imola Times, an internal newspaper of the Napa State Hospital.[1][16]

Allison was described as "the first blind person in America to pass a state civil service examination",[2] or at least the first in California. She took the California civil service examination, and passed in 1919,[17] allowing her to expect the same pay as sighted typists and stenographers.[18] Her effort also opened the California civil service examination to other blind applicants.[11]

Allison taught classes in braille transcription.[19] She gave lectures and demonstrations of her office skills at business colleges,[16] and spoke to community groups and girls' organizations as well.[20] She lectured on guide dogs with her own German shepherd companion, Betty,[21][22] and her success with a guide dog was considered by the California legislature, in support of a 1931 resolution to furnish guide dogs to blind veterans.[23]

She was California state chaplain of the Women's Auxiliary of the American Legion.[12] She addressed radio audiences in 1930,[24] and was elected to serve as delegate to the American Legion Auxiliary's national convention in Boston that year, where she was a candidate for national chaplain of the organization.[25] She was also president of the Napa YWCA Council, vice-president of the California Association for the Blind,[26] and a charter member of the East Bay Club of Blind Women.[27][28]

As Matilda Allison Williams after her second marriage, she was executive director of Voluntary Aid for the Blind.[29][30]

Personal life

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Matilda Allison married at least three times. She married her first husband, James Barr Lavery, an executive at the blind soldiers' home, in 1932.[31][32] In 1934, she was declared incompetent and placed under a legal guardianship. Her sister, Mabel Ida Bidwell, served as her guardian, until Edgar Williams took over in 1936.[33][34][35] In 1937, she was ruled competent again.[36] Edgar Williams, her guardian, became her second husband in 1938;[29] he died in 1953.[37] In 1967, she was known as Mrs. Gerald McLean.[38]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "The Life Work of Blind Girl". Napa Valley Register. January 27, 1922. p. 7. Archived from the original on January 18, 2022. Retrieved January 18, 2022 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  2. ^ a b Henderson, George C. (October 14, 1922). "Blind--But She Can Read Human Character". Dearborn Independent: 9. Archived from the original on January 21, 2022. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  3. ^ "Local Citizen Dies Suddenly at the Age of 78". Lincoln News Messenger. 1945-03-01. p. 1. Archived from the original on 2022-01-19. Retrieved 2022-01-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Death of Mrs. Cedarquist". Napa Valley Register. April 20, 1922. p. 9. Archived from the original on January 18, 2022. Retrieved January 18, 2022 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  5. ^ Clarke, Mrs Ida Clyde Gallagher (1923). Women of Today. Women of Today Press. p. 167. Archived from the original on 2022-01-21. Retrieved 2022-01-19.
  6. ^ "Blind and Deaf Students Graduate". San Francisco Call. June 9, 1909. p. 8. Archived from the original on January 18, 2022. Retrieved January 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Blind Students to Appear in Concert". Oakland Tribune. 1908-06-05. p. 4. Archived from the original on 2022-01-19. Retrieved 2022-01-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Talented Blind Woman Suddenly Insane". Auburn Journal. June 30, 1910. p. 4. Archived from the original on January 18, 2022. Retrieved January 18, 2022 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  9. ^ "Blind Girl Goes Insane". Sacramento Daily Union. June 30, 1910. p. 9. Archived from the original on January 18, 2022. Retrieved January 18, 2022 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  10. ^ "Miss Allison and Reginald White of Napa Take Training; to Receive Police Dogs". The Napa Valley Register. 1930-03-28. p. 1. Archived from the original on 2022-01-18. Retrieved 2022-01-18 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ a b "California Girl is a Big Success as Stenographer". Merced Sun-Star. July 11, 1922. p. 2. Archived from the original on January 18, 2022. Retrieved January 18, 2022 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  12. ^ a b c "Former Lincoln Girl Honored by Visit of Noted Englishman". Lincoln News Messenger. 1928-01-13. p. 8. Archived from the original on 2022-01-18. Retrieved 2022-01-18 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Blind Girl is Stenographer in Western Hospital". San Pedro Daily Pilot. April 12, 1924. p. 13. Archived from the original on January 18, 2022. Retrieved January 18, 2022 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  14. ^ "Report of Catharine J. Morrison, Home Teacher of the Blind, July 1, 1921 to June 30, 1922". California State Library, Books for the Blind Department, News Notes. 1922. p. 17. Archived from the original on January 26, 2022. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  15. ^ "Blind Stenographer Returns to Napa". Blue Lake Advocate. October 10, 1925. p. 5. Archived from the original on January 18, 2022. Retrieved January 18, 2022 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  16. ^ a b "Matilda Allison Goes on Vacation". Napa Valley Register. December 13, 1921. p. 1. Archived from the original on January 18, 2022. Retrieved January 18, 2022 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  17. ^ "Fruitvale". Lincoln News Messenger. 1919-08-21. p. 8. Archived from the original on 2022-01-19. Retrieved 2022-01-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ Clarke, Ida Clyde (1923). Women of 1923 International. John C. Winston, Women's News Service. p. 167. Archived from the original on 2022-01-21. Retrieved 2022-01-19.
  19. ^ "Napa Teacher of Blind is Given Praise for Work". The Press Democrat. 1926-06-13. p. 2. Archived from the original on 2022-01-18. Retrieved 2022-01-18 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Miss Matilda Allison, Blind Typist, Advises Campfire Group to Save". Sacramento Daily Union. December 26, 1921. p. 10. Archived from the original on January 18, 2022. Retrieved January 18, 2022 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  21. ^ "New Story of Dogs by Blind Speaker to be in Belvedere". Mill Valley Record. October 10, 1930. Archived from the original on January 18, 2022. Retrieved January 18, 2022 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  22. ^ "Miss Matilda Allison Will Speak to St. Helena Rotary". Napa Journal. 1930-06-21. p. 8. Archived from the original on 2022-01-18. Retrieved 2022-01-18 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ California; Legislature, California (1931). Appendix to the Journals of the Senate and Assembly ... of the Legislature of the State of California ... Sup't State Printing. p. 81. Archived from the original on 2022-01-21. Retrieved 2022-01-19.
  24. ^ "Miss Allison to Speak Over KLX". Napa Journal. 1930-05-28. p. 3. Archived from the original on 2022-01-18. Retrieved 2022-01-18 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "Hayward Legion Woman Elected National Envoy". Daily Review. 1930-08-21. p. 1. Archived from the original on 2022-01-18. Retrieved 2022-01-18 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ "Weds In Napa". The Sacramento Bee. 1932-10-17. p. 8. Archived from the original on 2022-01-19. Retrieved 2022-01-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ "Blind Woman Active In Organizations; Miss Allison Works For Welfare Of The Blind". Mill Valley Record. October 21, 1932. p. 8. Archived from the original on January 18, 2022. Retrieved January 18, 2022 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  28. ^ "Matilda Allison to Wed Captain Lavery Tomorrow". The Napa Valley Register. 1932-10-15. p. 3. Archived from the original on 2022-01-18. Retrieved 2022-01-18 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ^ a b "Matilda E. Allison Marries Palo Alto Man". Santa Rosa Republican. 1938-07-06. p. 8. Archived from the original on 2022-01-19. Retrieved 2022-01-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ^ Hansen, Annie (1949-08-18). "Out Our Way". Lincoln News Messenger. p. 3. Archived from the original on 2022-01-19. Retrieved 2022-01-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ^ "Blind Teacher of Blind Weds Official of Veterans' Home". Oakland Tribune. 1932-10-17. p. 2. Archived from the original on 2022-01-18. Retrieved 2022-01-18 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ^ "Blind Teacher Weds Official at Veteran's Home". Petaluma Argus-Courier. 1932-10-19. p. 8. Archived from the original on 2022-01-18. Retrieved 2022-01-18 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ^ "Superior Court News". The Napa Valley Register. 1934-04-17. p. 6. Archived from the original on 2022-01-18. Retrieved 2022-01-18 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. ^ "Superior Court News". Napa Journal. 1934-04-24. p. 5. Archived from the original on 2022-01-18. Retrieved 2022-01-18 – via Newspapers.com.
  35. ^ "Former Civil Service Head Appointed Guardian of Matilda Allison Lavery". Napa Journal. 1936-10-08. p. 2. Archived from the original on 2022-01-18. Retrieved 2022-01-18 – via Newspapers.com.
  36. ^ "Ruled Competent". Napa Journal. 1937-11-09. p. 8. Archived from the original on 2022-01-18. Retrieved 2022-01-18.
  37. ^ "Rites Held for E. Williams, Publisher, Worker for Blind". Los Angeles Evening Citizen News. 1953-06-09. p. 2. Archived from the original on 2022-01-19. Retrieved 2022-01-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  38. ^ Ezettie, Louis (1967-03-08). "Napa's Past and Present". The Napa Valley Register. p. 40. Archived from the original on 2022-01-19. Retrieved 2022-01-19 – via Newspapers.com.
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