Perkins School for the Blind
Encyclopedia
Perkins School for the Blind, located in Watertown, Massachusetts
, is the oldest schools for the blind in the United States. It has also been known as the Perkins Institution for the Blind.
first considered the idea of a school for blind children based upon his visits to Paris at the National Institute for the Blind
and was inspired to create such a school in Boston.
The school is named in honor of Thomas Handasyd Perkins
, a wealthy and visually impaired 19th century Boston shipping merchant, who was one of the organization's incorporators. In 1833, the school outgrew the Pleasant Street house of the father of its founder Samuel Gridley Howe
, and Perkins donated his Pearl Street mansion as the school's second home. In 1839, Perkins sold the mansion and donated the proceeds. This gift allowed the purchase of a more spacious building in South Boston. In 1885, 6 acres (24,281.2 m²) were purchased in the Hyde Square section of Jamaica Plain
, a residential district of Boston, to build a kindergarten. This property was home to both Laura Bridgman
and Helen Keller
. The school moved to its present campus, in Watertown, Massachusetts
, in the autumn of 1912.
Charles Dickens
visited Perkins in 1842 during a lecture tour of America and was amazed at the work Howe was doing with Laura Bridgman, a deafblind girl who had come to the school in 1837 from New Hampshire. He wrote about his visit in his book, American Notes
.
In 1887, Perkins director Michael Anagnos sent graduate Anne Sullivan
to teach Helen Keller in Alabama. After working with her pupil at the Keller home, Ms. Sullivan returned to Perkins with Helen Keller in 1888 and resided there intermittently until 1893.
In 1931, Perkins Braille and Talking Book Library (BTBL) was created.
In 1951, David Abraham successfully produced the first Perkins Brailler
. By 1977, about 100,000 Perkins Braillers were produced and distributed worldwide.
authored the legislation and cited Perkins School for the Blind's efforts in working to get his bill passed. Perkins President Steven Rothstein and BTBL Director Kim Charlson attended the signing.
(NLS) at its Watertown chapter.
Watertown, Massachusetts
The Town of Watertown is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 31,915 at the 2010 census.- History :Archeological evidence suggests that Watertown was inhabited for thousands of years before the arrival of settlers from England...
, is the oldest schools for the blind in the United States. It has also been known as the Perkins Institution for the Blind.
History
Founded in 1829, Perkins was the first school for the blind established in the United States. The school was originally named the New England Asylum for the Blind and was incorporated on March, 2 1829. The name was eventually changed to Perkins School For the Blind. John Dix FisherJohn Dix Fisher
John Dix Fisher, , physician and founder of Perkins Institution for the Blind in Boston, Massachusetts, was born in Needham, Massachusetts, the youngest of the six sons of Aaron and Lucy Fisher. The Fisher family was descended from Anthony Fisher, one of the signers of the Dedham Covenant in 1636...
first considered the idea of a school for blind children based upon his visits to Paris at the National Institute for the Blind
Institut National des Jeunes Aveugles
Institut National des Jeunes Aveugles, , in Paris, was the first special school for blind students in the world, and served as a model for many subsequent schools for blind students.-History:The INJA was created in 1784 by Valentin Haüy.It was not until the late 18th century that society began to...
and was inspired to create such a school in Boston.
The school is named in honor of Thomas Handasyd Perkins
Thomas Handasyd Perkins
Colonel Thomas Handasyd Perkins, or T. H. Perkins was a wealthy Boston merchant and an archetypical Boston Brahmin. Starting with bequests from his grandfather and father-in-law, he amassed a huge fortune...
, a wealthy and visually impaired 19th century Boston shipping merchant, who was one of the organization's incorporators. In 1833, the school outgrew the Pleasant Street house of the father of its founder Samuel Gridley Howe
Samuel Gridley Howe
Samuel Gridley Howe was a nineteenth century United States physician, abolitionist, and an advocate of education for the blind.-Early life and education:...
, and Perkins donated his Pearl Street mansion as the school's second home. In 1839, Perkins sold the mansion and donated the proceeds. This gift allowed the purchase of a more spacious building in South Boston. In 1885, 6 acres (24,281.2 m²) were purchased in the Hyde Square section of Jamaica Plain
Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts
Jamaica Plain is a historic neighborhood of in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded by Boston Puritans seeking farm land to the south, it was originally part of the city of Roxbury...
, a residential district of Boston, to build a kindergarten. This property was home to both Laura Bridgman
Laura Bridgman
Laura Dewey Lynn Bridgman is known as the first deaf-blind American child to gain a significant education in the English language, fifty years before the more famous Helen Keller...
and Helen Keller
Helen Keller
Helen Adams Keller was an American author, political activist, and lecturer. She was the first deafblind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree....
. The school moved to its present campus, in Watertown, Massachusetts
Watertown, Massachusetts
The Town of Watertown is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 31,915 at the 2010 census.- History :Archeological evidence suggests that Watertown was inhabited for thousands of years before the arrival of settlers from England...
, in the autumn of 1912.
Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
visited Perkins in 1842 during a lecture tour of America and was amazed at the work Howe was doing with Laura Bridgman, a deafblind girl who had come to the school in 1837 from New Hampshire. He wrote about his visit in his book, American Notes
American Notes
American Notes for General Circulation is a travelogue by Charles Dickens detailing his trip to North America from January to June, 1842. While there he acted as a critical observer of these societies almost as if returning a status report on their progress...
.
In 1887, Perkins director Michael Anagnos sent graduate Anne Sullivan
Anne Sullivan
Johanna "Anne" Mansfield Sullivan Macy , also known as Annie Sullivan, was an American teacher best known as the instructor and companion of Helen Keller.-Early life:Sullivan was born on April 14, 1866 in Feeding Hills, Massachusetts...
to teach Helen Keller in Alabama. After working with her pupil at the Keller home, Ms. Sullivan returned to Perkins with Helen Keller in 1888 and resided there intermittently until 1893.
In 1931, Perkins Braille and Talking Book Library (BTBL) was created.
In 1951, David Abraham successfully produced the first Perkins Brailler
Perkins Brailler
The Perkins Brailler is a "braille typewriter" with a key corresponding to each of the six dots of the braille code, a space key, a backspace key, and a line space key. Like a manual typewriter, it has two side knobs to advance paper through the machine and a carriage return lever above the keys...
. By 1977, about 100,000 Perkins Braillers were produced and distributed worldwide.
Communications and Video Accessibility Act
On October 8, 2010, President Obama signed the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010, which ensures that people with disabilities are not left behind as technology changes and the United States migrates to the next generation of Internet-based and digital communication technologies. Representative Ed MarkeyEd Markey
Edward John "Ed" Markey is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1976. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes most of Boston's northern and western suburbs, such as Medford and Framingham. Markey is the Dean of both the Massachusetts and New England House delegations...
authored the legislation and cited Perkins School for the Blind's efforts in working to get his bill passed. Perkins President Steven Rothstein and BTBL Director Kim Charlson attended the signing.
Affiliations
Perkins Braille and Talking Book Library works in conjunction with the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically HandicappedNational Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped is a free library program of braille and audio materials circulated to eligible borrowers in the United States by postage-free mail. The program is a service sponsored by the Library of Congress. People may be eligible for the...
(NLS) at its Watertown chapter.
See also
- Helen KellerHelen KellerHelen Adams Keller was an American author, political activist, and lecturer. She was the first deafblind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree....
- Anne SullivanAnne SullivanJohanna "Anne" Mansfield Sullivan Macy , also known as Annie Sullivan, was an American teacher best known as the instructor and companion of Helen Keller.-Early life:Sullivan was born on April 14, 1866 in Feeding Hills, Massachusetts...
- Laura BridgmanLaura BridgmanLaura Dewey Lynn Bridgman is known as the first deaf-blind American child to gain a significant education in the English language, fifty years before the more famous Helen Keller...
- Perkins BraillerPerkins BraillerThe Perkins Brailler is a "braille typewriter" with a key corresponding to each of the six dots of the braille code, a space key, a backspace key, and a line space key. Like a manual typewriter, it has two side knobs to advance paper through the machine and a carriage return lever above the keys...
- Thomas Handasyd PerkinsThomas Handasyd PerkinsColonel Thomas Handasyd Perkins, or T. H. Perkins was a wealthy Boston merchant and an archetypical Boston Brahmin. Starting with bequests from his grandfather and father-in-law, he amassed a huge fortune...
- Samuel Gridley HoweSamuel Gridley HoweSamuel Gridley Howe was a nineteenth century United States physician, abolitionist, and an advocate of education for the blind.-Early life and education:...
- National Institute for the BlindInstitut National des Jeunes AveuglesInstitut National des Jeunes Aveugles, , in Paris, was the first special school for blind students in the world, and served as a model for many subsequent schools for blind students.-History:The INJA was created in 1784 by Valentin Haüy.It was not until the late 18th century that society began to...
- John Dix FisherJohn Dix FisherJohn Dix Fisher, , physician and founder of Perkins Institution for the Blind in Boston, Massachusetts, was born in Needham, Massachusetts, the youngest of the six sons of Aaron and Lucy Fisher. The Fisher family was descended from Anthony Fisher, one of the signers of the Dedham Covenant in 1636...
Further reading
- Perkins School for the Blind: The Campus History Series
- The Education of Laura Bridgman: First Deaf and Blind Person to Learn Language
- The Imprisoned Guest: Samuel Howe and Laura Bridgman, The Original Deaf-Blind Girl
- Mirror, Mirror on the Wall. The Diary of Bess Brennan