Blair family papers

Lewis Harvie Blair was born Richmond, Virginia on June 21, 1834 to John Geddes Blair and Sara Ann Eyre Heron Blair. He served in the Confederate army from 1862-1865. After the war, Blair was a businessman and author. After years of contributing letters to Richmond newspapers about politics and economics, in 1886 he published his first book, "Unwise Laws: A Consideration of the Operations of a Protective Tariff upon Industry, Commerce, and Society." In 1889 Blair published, "The Prosperity of the South Dependent upon the Elevation of the Negro." His work argued that it was in the economic interest of the South to educate African Americans. In 1867 he married Alice Wayles Harrison; the union produced seven children -- six sons and one daughter. Alice died on February 5, 1894 and on October 27, 1898 he married Martha Ruffin Feild. Lewis Blair and Martha R. Feild had 4 daughters: Jean Feild Blair Helion, Jospehine Mayo Blair Miller, Louise Heron Blair Daura, and Mary Skipwith Blair. Lewis Harvie Blair died of a heart attack on November 26, 1916.

Source: encyclopediavirginia.org from the Dictionary of Virginia Biography

Martha Ruffin Feild Blair was born on January 27, 1867 in Boydton, Virginia to Jane Bland Ruffin and John Shaw Feild. Martha Ruffin Feild married Lewis Harvie Blair on October 17, 1898. Their union produced four daughters: Jean Feild Blair Helion, Josephine Mayo Blair Miller, Louise Heron Blair Daura, and Mary Skipwith Blair. Martha R. Feild Blair died on April 27, 1962 in Rockbridge Baths, Virginia. More information of Martha R.F. Blair can be found in the “personal correspondence” series of the Blair Family Papers.

Jean Feild Blair Helion was born on May 21, 1900 to Martha Ruffin Feild Blair and Lewis Harvie Blair. While in Paris, Jean met French artist Jean Helion. They married in Richmond, Virginia in 1932. They had one son, Louis Helion Blair, born February 9, 1939. She died on October 23, 1944. More information on Jean Feild Blair Helion can be found in the personal correspondence series of the Blair Family Papers.