Mildred Tolbert

MILDRED TOLBERT, photographer
Born January 8, 1919, Amarillo, Texas. Died at home in Ranchos de Taos Jan 22, 2008. Mildred grew up on a remote Panhandle ranch, and after two years of college, aged 19, came to Taos. Rooming with Blanch Grant served as a great introduction to Taos while Mildred assisted Martin Shaeffer, a painter who had opened a photo studio. In 1943 she trained as a civilian photo instructor at Lowry Field, Denver, and then worked in labs, including LECO, in New York for two years. Returning to Taos she did freelance work and in 1947 married the poet, Judson Crews.

Mildred served the community as a volunteer Red Cross representative, published several guidebooks, was author and photographer in publications such as the New Mexico Magazine and El Crepusculo, won state wide awards for her color nature photographs and collaborated with Judson Crews and Wendell Anderson on the original Barela Book. Upon leaving Taos in 1966, Mildred studied literature at UT El Paso, completing her BA at the University of Houston in 1970. As recipient of a Wurlitzer fellowship in 1973, Mildred returned to Taos to write and has resided in Ranchos ever since. Recently Mildred has contributed to the forthcoming publication of the Taos Historical Society, Voices of Taos. Photographic exhibitions at the Shipley Gallery, 2005, the Harwood Museum, 2006, and as an Honored Artist in the Originals 2007 show allowed Mildred to enjoy artistic recognition late in life, commemorated in her book, Among the Taos Moderns. Many paintings from her art collection now belong to the Harwood Museum along with her donation of seven thousand of her negatives and additional archives at UNM. Memories of her independent spirit and illuminating smile will inspire us always.

Survived by daughters Anna Bush Crews and Carole Crews, ex-husband Judson Crews, grandchildren Sohrab Crews, London; Ariana McLoughlin Koers (Alex), great-grandson Nikolas, Albuquerque; Edwina and Iris McLoughlin, Ranchos; sisters, Burton Bearden and Frances McMurray, cousins and nieces.

Memorial: Harwood Museum, February 2, at 2PM.