Blanche L. McSmith

Blanche Louise Preston McSmith (May 5, 1920 – July 28, 2006) was an African-American civil rights activist, businesswoman and politician.

McSmith was born in Marshall, Texas and graduated from Wiley College in 1941. She received her master's degree in social work from University of Southern California in 1944. In 1949, McSmith and her husband William McSmith moved to Kodiak, Alaska Territory, and then to Anchorage, Alaska Territory, in 1950. McSmith and her husband owned an electronics business and were involved in real estate in Anchorage. McSmith was involved with the NAACP and helped set up its branch in Anchorage. McSmith served in the Alaska House of Representatives in 1960 after being appointed to fill a vacancy when John L. Rader resigned from the Alaska Legislature, when he was appointed Alaska Attorney General. McSmith was a Democrat. McSmith was the first African-American to serve in the Alaska Legislature. In 1972, McSmith was appointed director of the Office of the Alaska Governor for the Public Employment Program in Juneau, Alaska. McSmith died in Anchorage, Alaska, and was buried at Anchorage Memorial Park.