Mary Ellen and Laurence Blair

Dr. Blair and his wife, Mary Ellen, have lived in Colorado for the past fifteen years.  Prior to this, they were both residents of the metropolitan, New York area and received degrees from Rutgers University. 

Mary Ellen Blair studied Art History, is a member of Kappa Pi Honorary Art Fraternity, and has an avid interest in the art and culture of the American Indian.  Today, she is an author, researcher and participant in the judging of various southwest Indian art shows. She has been a student and collector of American Indian art for over thirty years and the vast knowledge and exhaustive research of both Dr. and Mrs. Blair are evident in their work. 

Dr. Laurence R. Blair received his doctorate in Ceramics from Rutgers University and later went to Harvard Business School.  Currently, he is a retired Vice President of the Manville Corporation, and has taught Ceramic Color Technology at Rutgers for three years.  In addition to the many organizations Dr. and Mrs. Blair participate in jointly, Dr. Blair is also a member of Keramos, The National Honorary Ceramic Society and Sigma Xi, the National Honorary Engineering Society, as well as, being listed in the American Men of Science, 1965.  He has had several publications in the Journal of the American Ceramic Society [sic] and the Bulletin of the American Ceramic Society, among others.

The Blairs have taken a very detailed and in-depth look at American Indian life and pottery as exemplified by Margaret Tafoya and her family.  They have studied their subject from many viewpoints and have and have created a fascinating book laden [sic] with information and photographs paying tribute to this outstanding potter and American Indian.

Source: Authors’ Biography from the Jacket: MARGARET TAFOYA—A Tewa Potter’s Heritage and Legacy by Mary Ellen and Laurence Blair