Long before Mary Blair became one of Disney’s most celebrated visual artists, designers and storytellers, she was a young girl growing up in Morgan Hill.
Blair, born Mary Browne Robinson on Oct. 21, 1911, in McAlester, Oklahoma, moved with her family several times during her early childhood. In 1918, the family settled in Morgan Hill, where Blair spent most of her formative years.
She attended elementary school locally and graduated from Live Oak Union High School in 1929. She then attended San Jose State College, now San Jose State University, from 1929-1931.
After leaving San Jose State, Blair received a scholarship to the Chouinard Art Institute in Los Angeles, now CalArts, where she graduated in 1933. There she met fellow artist Lee Everett Blair, whom she married in 1934.
Blair began her animation career at MGM before joining the Walt Disney Studios in 1940.
A turning point in her career came in 1941, when she joined a Disney expedition to Mexico and South America. During the three-month journey, Blair produced a series of watercolors that caught Walt Disney’s attention.
Her work on the trip led Disney to name Blair art supervisor for Saludos Amigos (1943) and The Three Caballeros (1945). According to the Walt Disney Family Museum, she later created concept art that helped establish the visual styles of such classic films as Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan and Song of the South.
Blair is perhaps best known for her work on “It’s a Small World,” the beloved Disneyland attraction. She designed the characters and sets, creating the colorful, whimsical style that became synonymous with the attraction. She also designed a large mosaic mural at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.
Blair left Disney in 1953 to pursue a freelance career and illustrated several children’s books. She died in 1978 in Soquel and was named a Disney Legend in 1991.
Blair is widely recognized as one of the first women to have a major creative influence at Disney during an era when the animation industry was dominated by men. Her distinctive use of color and imaginative designs helped shape the studio’s visual identity during the mid-20th century.
Now, the community where Blair spent her formative years is celebrating her legacy.
As part of Morgan Hill’s 120th anniversary celebration, a pop-up exhibit featuring Blair’s work is on display in the children’s section of the Morgan Hill Library through the end of September.
The Morgan Hill Historical Society recognizes Morgan Hill Museum Curator Kathy Devine, Morgan Hill Librarian Heather Geddes and the staff of the Walt Disney Family Museum for helping make the exhibit possible.
For Morgan Hill, the exhibit is an opportunity to celebrate a remarkable local connection to Disney history—and the legacy of a young girl who grew up in the community before becoming one of the studio’s most influential artists.
