Blaine, Anita McCormick (1866–1954)

American philanthropist. Name variations: Anita McCormick or Anita Eugénie McCormick; Anita Eugénie McCormick Blaine. Born Anita Eugénie McCormick, July 4, 1866, in Manchester, Vermont; died Feb 12, 1954, in Chicago, Illinois; dau. of Cyrus Hall McCormick (inventor & industrialist) and Nettie Fowler McCormick (1835–1923, philanthropist); sister of Cyrus Hall McCormick II, Mary Virginia McCormick, Harold Fowler McCormick (who m. Edith Rockefeller McCormick), and Stanley Robert McCormick (who m. Katharine McCormick); m. Emmons Blaine (lawyer and businessman and son of James G. Blaine, presidential candidate), Sept 26, 1889 (died 1892); children: Emmons Jr. (1890–1918).

Benefactor who believed strongly in world cooperation and ardently backed the United Nations, founded the Chicago Institute (1899), which was then joined with the University of Chicago School of Education (1901); also founded the Francis W. Parker School (1901); co-founded City Homes Association (1900) and served as chair of tenement committee; was a member of the Chicago Board of Education (1905–07) and the Juvenile Court and Truancy committees; was a board member of Bureau of Charities and served on National Child Labor Committee; after WWI, argued for US to join League of Nations and gave financial support to League of Nations Association until late 1930s; gave $1 million to help form Foundation for World Government (1948); served as vice chair of World Citizens Association; after undergoing surgery, did not regain health (1949).