Emma Helen Blair (September 12, 1851, Menasha, Wisconsin—September 25, 1911, Madison, Wisconsin) was a United States historian, journalist and editor, whose most notable work was a monumental documentary history of the Philippines. September 12 is the 255th day of the year (256th in leap years). ... 1851 (MDCCCLI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Location of Menasha, Wisconsin The intersection of WIS-47 and WIS-114 Menasha is a city located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. ... September 25 is the 268th day of the year (269th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1911 (MCMXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar). ... Nickname: Mad Town or Mad City Location of Madison in Dane County, Wisconsin Municipality City Incorporated 1848  - Mayor Dave Cieslewicz Area    - City 136. ...

Although born in Wisconsin, she attended high school in Westfield, Massachusetts. In 1871 she returned to Wisconsin and enrolled in Ripon College, where she graduated in 1874. After graduation she taught in public school for two years and then moved to Milwaukee, where she worked as a journalist. In 1892 she began postgraduate work in history, economics and sociology at Wisconsin State University. She later became a librarian at the Wisconsin Historical Society. Nickname: The Whip City Founded Incorporated May 19, 1669   County Hampden County Mayor Richard K. Sullivan Jr. ... Ripon College is also the name of a college in Yorkshire, England. ... This article is about Milwaukee in Wisconsin. ... The Wisconsin Historical Society is a private membership, state funded organization whose purpose is to maintain, promote and spread knowledge relating to the history of North America, specifically the U.S. state of Wisconsin. ...

In 1894 Blair resigned from the library staff and became assistant to Dr. Reuben Gold Thwaites. Thwaites was the translator of the 73-volume work Jesuit Relations (1896-1901). This massive work consisted of English translations of the annual reports issued by the superior of the Jesuit missions in New France to the Jesuit overseer in France between the years 1632 and 1673. Blair participated in the editing and annotations. After her work on the Jesuit Relations, she assisted in the editing of the journal of Father Louis Hennepin and of the journals of the Lewis and Clark expedition, still working with Thwaites. Reuben Gold Thwaites (1853-1913) was an American historical writer, born in Dorchester, Mass. ... The Society of Jesus (Latin: Societas Iesu), commonly known as the Jesuits, is a Roman Catholic religious order. ... Flag Capital Quebec Language(s) French Religion Roman Catholicism Government Monarchy King See List of French monarchs Governor See list of Governors Legislature Sovereign Council of New France Historical era Ancien Régime in France  - Royal Control 1655  - Articles of Capitulation of Quebec 1759  - Articles of Capitulation of Montreal 1760... Louis Hennepin, baptized Antoine, (12 May 1626 Ath, province of Hainaut, Belgium - 1705?) was a Catholic priest and missionary of the Franciscan Recollect order (French: Récollet) and a French explorer of the interior of North America. ... Lewis and Clark The Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804−1806) was the first United States overland expedition to the Pacific coast and back, led by Captain Meriwether Lewis and Second Lieutenant William Clark of the United States Army. ...

In 1903 she began work on the project she is most remembered for, the translation and editing of Philippine historical documents that were published in the 55-volume series The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 (1903-09). Her collaborator was Dr. James A. Robertson, later librarian at the Philippines Library in Manila. Most of the documents in this enormous collection had not previously been translated into English. Volumes 15 and 16 consist of Antonio de Morga's History of the Philippine Islands From Their Discovery by Magellan in 1521 to the Beginning of the XVII Century, an extremely valuable source on the early history of the islands. Doctor Antonio de Morga Sánchez Garay (1559, Seville, Spain—July 21, 1636) was a lawyer and a high-ranking colonial official in the Philippines, New Spain and Peru. ...

Her last work was the translation and editing of documents for The Indian Tribes of the Upper Mississippi Valley and Region of the Great Lakes (2 vols., 1911-12). This work included Nicolas Perrot's Memoir: The Habits and Customs of the American Indians. Blair died in 1911, just days after receiving an advance copy of volume 1 from the bindery.^[1]

According to her obituary in the Madison Democrat,

Miss Blair became by dint of native ability and years of preparatory toil one of the most expert historical editors in the county. She had acquired a complete mastery of the French and Spanish languages. Her literary style was incisive, her historical judgment clear and accurate, and her knowledge of the details of typography quite unusual. In recognition of these qualities Ripon College and the State University honored her with degrees.^[2]

References

1. ^ Sam Weller's Bookstore, #76
2. ^ Madison Democrat, September 26, 1911

September 26 is the 269th day of the year (270th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1911 (MCMXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar). ...

External links

• Her entry at the Dictionary of Wisconsin History
• Obituary, Madison Democrat, September 26, 1911
• Her works at Project Gutenberg (The Philippine Islands)