Garrett, Elizabeth, 1885?-1947

Elizabeth Garrett was born in 1885 in Little Creek Canyon, north of Alto, New Mexico. Garrett was daughter of sheriff Pat Garrett of Lincoln County who killed Billy the Kid. Blind from birth, Garrett was able to be raised with minimal handicaps from her disability and finished her high school education and basic training at the Texas School for the Blind in Austin where she was qualified to teach both voice and piano. Known as "The Songbird of the Southwest," Garrett sang her song "O Fair New Mexico" before the State Legislature where it was unanimously made the official state song. She was friend of Helen Keller and also worked for the Red Cross. She returned to New Mexico to continue her singing career, to teach and to compose. Elizabeth Garrett died in 1947.

From the description of Elizabeth Garrett sheet music, 1916-1921. (New Mexico State University). WorldCat record id: 68908630

Elizabeth Garrett was born in 1885 in Little Creek Canyon, north of Alto, New Mexico. Garrett was the daughter of Lincoln County sheriff Pat Garrett . Blind from birth, Garrett was raised with minimal handicaps from her disability and finished her high school education and basic training at the Texas School for the Blind in Austin where she was qualified to teach both voice and piano.

Known as "The Songbird of the Southwest," Garrett sang her song O Fair New Mexico before the State Legislature where it was unanimously made the official state song. She was a friend of Helen Keller and also worked for the Red Cross. She returned to New Mexico to continue her singing career, to teach and to compose. She died in 1947.

Sources: http://www.ocedc.com/trivia.html http://www.nmoca.org/momentsofenchantment4.html

From the guide to the Elizabeth Garrett sheet music, 1916-1921, 1916-1921, (Archives and Special Collections. New Mexico State University Library.)