Knowledge (XXG)

Matilda Allison

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Allison was described as "the first blind person in America to pass a state civil service examination", or at least the first in California. She took the California civil service examination, and passed in 1919, allowing her to expect the same pay as sighted typists and stenographers. Her effort also
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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. In 1934, she was declared incompetent and placed under a legal guardianship. Her sister, Mabel Ida Bidwell, served as her guardian, until Edgar Williams
203:, and traveled to Hawaii in 1925 to lecture on blind education there. "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. She was also assistant editor of the 226:. She addressed radio audiences in 1930, 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. She was also president of the Napa 214:
Allison taught classes in braille transcription. She gave lectures and demonstrations of her office skills at business colleges, and spoke to community groups and girls' organizations as well. She lectured on guide dogs with her own
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took over in 1936. In 1937, she was ruled competent again. Edgar Williams, her guardian, became her second husband in 1938; he died in 1953. In 1967, she was known as Mrs. Gerald McLean.
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companion, Betty, 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.
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by an injury when she was seven years old. She was raised mainly by her Danish-born mother and grandmother. She graduated at the top of her class from the
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Council, vice-president of the California Association for the Blind, and a charter member of the East Bay Club of Blind Women.
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As Matilda Allison Williams after her second marriage, she was executive director of Voluntary Aid for the Blind.
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as despondent and "suddenly insane", but soon recovered. She was one of the early West Coast graduates of
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Appendix to the Journals of the Senate and Assembly ... of the Legislature of the State of California ...
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opened the California civil service examination to other blind applicants.
1281:"Former Civil Service Head Appointed Guardian of Matilda Allison Lavery" 136: 840:"Miss Matilda Allison, Blind Typist, Advises Campfire Group to Save" 665:
California State Library, Books for the Blind Department, News Notes
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She was California state chaplain of the Women's Auxiliary of the
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Allison posing with a braille book, from a 1922 publication
602:"Former Lincoln Girl Honored by Visit of Noted Englishman" 1339:"Rites Held for E. Williams, Publisher, Worker for Blind" 143:
woman working with blind students, including veterans of
1165:"Blind Teacher of Blind Weds Official of Veterans' Home" 1100: 1098: 135:(February 18, 1888 – November 21, 1973) was an American 870:"New Story of Dogs by Blind Speaker to be in Belvedere" 900:"Miss Matilda Allison Will Speak to St. Helena Rotary" 788:. John C. Winston, Women's News Service. p. 167. 1062:– via California Digital Newspaper Collection. 888:– via California Digital Newspaper Collection. 858:– via California Digital Newspaper Collection. 742:– via California Digital Newspaper Collection. 709:– via California Digital Newspaper Collection. 649:– via California Digital Newspaper Collection. 585:– via California Digital Newspaper Collection. 523:– via California Digital Newspaper Collection. 493:– via California Digital Newspaper Collection. 376:– via California Digital Newspaper Collection. 283:– via California Digital Newspaper Collection. 207:, an internal newspaper of the Napa State Hospital. 108: 85: 66: 40: 21: 567:"California Girl is a Big Success as Stenographer" 1074:"Matilda Allison to Wed Captain Lavery Tomorrow" 811:"Napa Teacher of Blind is Given Praise for Work" 631:"Blind Girl is Stenographer in Western Hospital" 1194:"Blind Teacher Weds Official at Veteran's Home" 329:"Local Citizen Dies Suddenly at the Age of 78" 986:"Hayward Legion Woman Elected National Envoy" 8: 928:California; Legislature, California (1931). 1106:"Matilda E. Allison Marries Palo Alto Man" 29: 18: 299:"Blind--But She Can Read Human Character" 297:Henderson, George C. (October 14, 1922). 387:Clarke, Mrs Ida Clyde Gallagher (1923). 165:California School for the Deaf and Blind 251: 1454:California School for the Blind alumni 475:"Talented Blind Woman Suddenly Insane" 1439:20th-century American women educators 1054:from the original on January 18, 2022 880:from the original on January 18, 2022 850:from the original on January 18, 2022 734:from the original on January 18, 2022 718: 716: 701:from the original on January 18, 2022 671:from the original on January 26, 2022 641:from the original on January 18, 2022 596: 594: 592: 577:from the original on January 18, 2022 561: 559: 515:from the original on January 18, 2022 485:from the original on January 18, 2022 446:"Blind Students to Appear in Concert" 426:from the original on January 18, 2022 393:. Women of Today Press. p. 167. 368:from the original on January 18, 2022 309:from the original on January 21, 2022 275:from the original on January 18, 2022 195:, and taught newly-blind veterans at 175:training course, when it was held in 7: 691:"Blind Stenographer Returns to Napa" 292: 290: 259: 257: 255: 934:Sup't State Printing. p. 81. 724:"Matilda Allison Goes on Vacation" 416:"Blind and Deaf Students Graduate" 167:in 1909. In 1910, she was briefly 14: 1434:American people of Danish descent 846:. December 26, 1921. p. 10. 187:In the 1920s Allison worked as a 1343:Los Angeles Evening Citizen News 957:"Miss Allison to Speak Over KLX" 730:. December 13, 1921. p. 1. 1444:20th-century American educators 1419:People from Lincoln, California 1379:from the original on 2022-01-19 1349:from the original on 2022-01-19 1320:from the original on 2022-01-18 1291:from the original on 2022-01-18 1262:from the original on 2022-01-18 1233:from the original on 2022-01-18 1204:from the original on 2022-01-18 1175:from the original on 2022-01-18 1146:from the original on 2022-01-19 1116:from the original on 2022-01-19 1084:from the original on 2022-01-18 1050:. October 21, 1932. p. 8. 1025:from the original on 2022-01-19 996:from the original on 2022-01-18 967:from the original on 2022-01-18 938:from the original on 2022-01-21 910:from the original on 2022-01-18 821:from the original on 2022-01-18 792:from the original on 2022-01-21 764:from the original on 2022-01-19 697:. October 10, 1925. p. 5. 612:from the original on 2022-01-18 545:from the original on 2022-01-18 456:from the original on 2022-01-19 397:from the original on 2022-01-21 339:from the original on 2022-01-19 271:. January 27, 1922. p. 7. 191:operator, typist, and clinical 637:. April 12, 1924. p. 13. 1: 1367:Ezettie, Louis (1967-03-08). 364:. April 20, 1922. p. 9. 265:"The Life Work of Blind Girl" 16:American educator (1888–1973) 1134:Hansen, Annie (1949-08-18). 573:. July 11, 1922. p. 2. 511:. June 30, 1910. p. 9. 481:. June 30, 1910. p. 4. 1386:– via Newspapers.com. 1356:– via Newspapers.com. 1298:– via Newspapers.com. 1269:– via Newspapers.com. 1240:– via Newspapers.com. 1211:– via Newspapers.com. 1182:– via Newspapers.com. 1153:– via Newspapers.com. 1123:– via Newspapers.com. 1091:– via Newspapers.com. 1032:– via Newspapers.com. 1003:– via Newspapers.com. 974:– via Newspapers.com. 917:– via Newspapers.com. 828:– via Newspapers.com. 785:Women of 1923 International 771:– via Newspapers.com. 619:– via Newspapers.com. 552:– via Newspapers.com. 463:– via Newspapers.com. 434:– via Newspapers.com. 422:. June 9, 1909. p. 8. 346:– via Newspapers.com. 1475: 782:Clarke, Ida Clyde (1923). 358:"Death of Mrs. Cedarquist" 1449:Educators from California 1369:"Napa's Past and Present" 1345:. 1953-06-09. p. 2. 1316:. 1937-11-09. p. 8. 1287:. 1936-10-08. p. 2. 1258:. 1934-04-24. p. 5. 1229:. 1934-04-17. p. 6. 1200:. 1932-10-19. p. 8. 1171:. 1932-10-17. p. 2. 1112:. 1938-07-06. p. 8. 1080:. 1932-10-15. p. 3. 1021:. 1932-10-17. p. 8. 992:. 1930-08-21. p. 1. 963:. 1930-05-28. p. 3. 906:. 1930-06-21. p. 8. 817:. 1926-06-13. p. 2. 760:. 1919-08-21. p. 8. 608:. 1928-01-13. p. 8. 541:. 1930-03-28. p. 1. 452:. 1908-06-05. p. 4. 335:. 1945-03-01. p. 1. 28: 1373:The Napa Valley Register 1227:The Napa Valley Register 1078:The Napa Valley Register 539:The Napa Valley Register 505:"Blind Girl Goes Insane" 151:Early life and education 101:Matilda Allison Williams 78:Los Angeles, California 1459:Educators of the blind 1198:Petaluma Argus-Courier 1140:Lincoln News Messenger 844:Sacramento Daily Union 758:Lincoln News Messenger 606:Lincoln News Messenger 509:Sacramento Daily Union 333:Lincoln News Messenger 1404:American blind people 1252:"Superior Court News" 1223:"Superior Court News" 1110:Santa Rosa Republican 635:San Pedro Daily Pilot 876:. October 10, 1930. 728:Napa Valley Register 667:. 1922. p. 17. 362:Napa Valley Register 303:Dearborn Independent 269:Napa Valley Register 197:Napa State Hospital 157:Lincoln, California 133:Matilda Eva Allison 59:Lincoln, California 45:Matilda Eva Allison 1048:Mill Valley Record 1019:The Sacramento Bee 874:Mill Valley Record 815:The Press Democrat 695:Blue Lake Advocate 420:San Francisco Call 1310:"Ruled Competent" 169:institutionalized 155:Allison was from 130: 129: 70:November 21, 1973 55:February 18, 1888 1466: 1388: 1387: 1385: 1384: 1364: 1358: 1357: 1355: 1354: 1335: 1329: 1328: 1326: 1325: 1306: 1300: 1299: 1297: 1296: 1277: 1271: 1270: 1268: 1267: 1248: 1242: 1241: 1239: 1238: 1219: 1213: 1212: 1210: 1209: 1190: 1184: 1183: 1181: 1180: 1161: 1155: 1154: 1152: 1151: 1131: 1125: 1124: 1122: 1121: 1102: 1093: 1092: 1090: 1089: 1070: 1064: 1063: 1061: 1059: 1040: 1034: 1033: 1031: 1030: 1011: 1005: 1004: 1002: 1001: 982: 976: 975: 973: 972: 953: 947: 946: 944: 943: 925: 919: 918: 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1406: 1396: 1395: 1390: 1389: 1375:. p. 40. 1359: 1330: 1301: 1272: 1243: 1214: 1185: 1156: 1126: 1094: 1065: 1035: 1015:"Weds In Napa" 1006: 977: 948: 920: 891: 861: 831: 802: 774: 745: 712: 682: 652: 622: 588: 555: 526: 496: 479:Auburn Journal 466: 437: 407: 390:Women of Today 379: 349: 320: 286: 250: 249: 247: 244: 238: 235: 184: 181: 173:The Seeing Eye 152: 149: 128: 127: 125: 124: 121: 118: 112: 110: 106: 105: 103: 102: 99: 98:Matilda Lavery 96: 93: 92:Tillie Allison 89: 87: 83: 82: 76: 74:(aged 85) 68: 64: 63: 57: 44: 42: 38: 37: 34: 26: 25: 22: 15: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1471: 1460: 1457: 1455: 1452: 1450: 1447: 1445: 1442: 1440: 1437: 1435: 1432: 1430: 1427: 1425: 1422: 1420: 1417: 1415: 1412: 1410: 1409:Stenographers 1407: 1405: 1402: 1401: 1399: 1378: 1374: 1370: 1363: 1360: 1348: 1344: 1340: 1334: 1331: 1319: 1315: 1311: 1305: 1302: 1290: 1286: 1282: 1276: 1273: 1261: 1257: 1253: 1247: 1244: 1232: 1228: 1224: 1218: 1215: 1203: 1199: 1195: 1189: 1186: 1174: 1170: 1166: 1160: 1157: 1145: 1142:. p. 3. 1141: 1137: 1136:"Out Our Way" 1130: 1127: 1115: 1111: 1107: 1101: 1099: 1095: 1083: 1079: 1075: 1069: 1066: 1053: 1049: 1045: 1039: 1036: 1024: 1020: 1016: 1010: 1007: 995: 991: 987: 981: 978: 966: 962: 958: 952: 949: 937: 933: 932: 924: 921: 909: 905: 901: 895: 892: 879: 875: 871: 865: 862: 849: 845: 841: 835: 832: 820: 816: 812: 806: 803: 791: 787: 786: 778: 775: 763: 759: 755: 749: 746: 733: 729: 725: 719: 717: 713: 700: 696: 692: 686: 683: 670: 666: 662: 656: 653: 640: 636: 632: 626: 623: 611: 607: 603: 597: 595: 593: 589: 576: 572: 568: 562: 560: 556: 544: 540: 536: 530: 527: 514: 510: 506: 500: 497: 484: 480: 476: 470: 467: 455: 451: 447: 441: 438: 425: 421: 417: 411: 408: 396: 392: 391: 383: 380: 367: 363: 359: 353: 350: 338: 334: 330: 324: 321: 308: 304: 300: 293: 291: 287: 274: 270: 266: 260: 258: 256: 252: 245: 243: 237:Personal life 236: 234: 231: 229: 225: 220: 218: 212: 208: 206: 202: 198: 194: 190: 182: 180: 178: 174: 170: 166: 162: 158: 150: 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Retrieved 268: 240: 232: 221: 213: 209: 204: 193:stenographer 186: 154: 132: 131: 116:Stenographer 72:(1973-11-21) 1429:1973 deaths 1424:1888 births 1058:January 18, 884:January 18, 854:January 18, 754:"Fruitvale" 738:January 18, 705:January 18, 675:January 19, 645:January 18, 581:January 18, 519:January 18, 489:January 18, 430:January 18, 372:January 18, 313:January 19, 279:January 18, 205:Imola Times 145:World War I 109:Occupations 1398:Categories 1383:2022-01-19 1353:2022-01-19 1324:2022-01-18 1295:2022-01-18 1266:2022-01-18 1237:2022-01-18 1208:2022-01-18 1179:2022-01-18 1150:2022-01-19 1120:2022-01-19 1088:2022-01-18 1029:2022-01-19 1000:2022-01-18 971:2022-01-18 942:2022-01-19 914:2022-01-18 825:2022-01-18 796:2022-01-19 768:2022-01-19 616:2022-01-18 549:2022-01-18 460:2022-01-19 401:2022-01-19 343:2022-01-19 246:References 201:Yountville 189:dictaphone 51:1888-02-18 179:in 1930. 1377:Archived 1347:Archived 1318:Archived 1289:Archived 1260:Archived 1231:Archived 1202:Archived 1173:Archived 1144:Archived 1114:Archived 1082:Archived 1052:Archived 1023:Archived 994:Archived 965:Archived 936:Archived 908:Archived 878:Archived 848:Archived 819:Archived 790:Archived 762:Archived 732:Archived 699:Archived 669:Archived 639:Archived 610:Archived 575:Archived 543:Archived 513:Archived 483:Archived 454:Archived 424:Archived 395:Archived 366:Archived 337:Archived 307:Archived 273:Archived 177:Berkeley 137:educator 123:educator 161:blinded 183:Career 120:typist 305:: 9. 141:blind 1060:2022 886:2022 856:2022 740:2022 707:2022 677:2022 647:2022 583:2022 521:2022 491:2022 432:2022 374:2022 315:2022 281:2022 228:YWCA 139:, a 80:, US 67:Died 61:, US 41:Born 1400:: 1371:. 1341:. 1312:. 1283:. 1254:. 1225:. 1196:. 1167:. 1138:. 1108:. 1097:^ 1076:. 1046:. 1017:. 988:. 959:. 902:. 872:. 842:. 813:. 756:. 726:. 715:^ 693:. 663:. 633:. 604:. 591:^ 569:. 558:^ 537:. 507:. 477:. 448:. 418:. 360:. 331:. 301:. 289:^ 267:. 254:^ 1327:. 945:. 799:. 679:. 404:. 317:. 53:) 49:(

Index

A smiling white woman with short dark hair and eyes tightly closed, wearing a gingham-check dress, hand resting on a braille book
Lincoln, California
Los Angeles, California
Stenographer
educator
blind
World War I
Lincoln, California
blinded
California School for the Deaf and Blind
institutionalized
The Seeing Eye
Berkeley
dictaphone
stenographer
Napa State Hospital
Yountville
German shepherd
American Legion
YWCA



"The Life Work of Blind Girl"
Archived


"Blind--But She Can Read Human Character"
Archived
"Local Citizen Dies Suddenly at the Age of 78"

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