Most of Perkins Archives’ digitized text is available on the Internet Archive, which utilizes optical character recognition (OCR) and downloadable file formats, including Daisy, to provide access to users who are blind and visually impaired. We acknowledge that OCR is prone to errors, and cannot recognize graphics or handwritten text, thus creating barriers to some of these materials. It is our intention that by providing the materials as is, the resource is findable online to all. If any of Perkins Archives resources accessed online aren’t accessible in part or in whole, to a user because of a disability, we will create an accessible version upon request.
These collections include Perkins’ digitized annual reports from 1833 to the most current, as well as selected annual reports from other schools and organizations serving blind and deafblind populations. Perkins’ newsletters, student literary magazine, and other publications are also included.
The yearly publication provides an account of the institution including detailed reports of the various departments, student lists, and fiscal information. This collection spans 1833 to the most current issue.
This was a monthly magazine devoted to the interests of people who are blind and those working in the field of blindness. It served as an exchange of ideas and approaches that spans the globe. It was published by the Perkins Alumni Association from 1891-1894.
This monthly literary magazine was created for the students and community at the Perkins Institution and Massachusetts School for the Blind. It was published from 1903-1905.
A Perkins publication, the Lantern was a newsletter that put into writing the latest news and events going on at the school and in the greater Perkins community. The collection spans 1931-1999.
A selection of digitized annual reports and newsletters for schools and organizations serving people who are deaf and blind in the United States and Canada. Links to digitized collections are available on the collection finding aid.
This publication was originally a “quarterly record of the progress and welfare of the blind,” first published by the Massachusetts Association for Promoting the Interests of the Blind. This collection of issues spans 1907-1926
Digitized incoming correspondence and facsimiles of outgoing correspondence of the Perkins School for the Blind and the Kindergarten. Other correspondence collections include materials related to Helen Keller, Anne Sullivan, and the Halifax Disaster.
Digitized correspondence to and from Perkins from 1828-1920. The guide provides links to transcribed indices of correspondents and digitized volumes available on the Internet Archive. Links to selected materials on Flickr with full transcriptions are also provided.
Incoming and outgoing bound correspondence from 1884-1921. The guide provides links to transcribed indices of correspondents and digitized volumes available on the Internet Archive.
Correspondence that spans Keller’s childhood through her entrance to Radcliffe ,1887-1904. The guide provides links to the digitized collection on the Internet Archive and selected materials on Flickr with full transcriptions.
Correspondence related to Helen Keller’s adult life. The collection spans 1903-1976. The digitized collection is available on the Internet Archive in full and selected correspondence is available on Flicker with full transcriptions.
Correspondence that documents the response to the 1917 Halifax Explosion (1917-1919). The digitized collection is available on the Internet Archive. Newspaper clippings with full transcriptions are available on Flickr.
Primarily digitized journals and manuscripts, the bulk of which are handwritten. The journals document deafblind education in the 19th century at Perkins, along with personal experiences from some of the students themselves. Craft work is included in the Thomas Stringer collection. The collection also includes an anonymous manuscript written in response to the Frost King Incident, in which Helen Keller was accused of plaigerism.
18 journals with detailed accounts by teachers at the Perkins Institution (now Perkins School for the Blind) of daily activities, lessons, travel, interactions between the students, conversations, thoughts, and temperament of students who were deafblind, including Laura Bridgman and Helen Keller. The collection spans 1841-1899.
Handwritten work created by Perkins student Laura Bridgman (1829-1889). Bridgman is considered to be the first person who was deafblind to be formally educated. The work includes journals, dictated stories, and more. The collection spans 1841-1856.
Bound volume of letters, writings, and crafts (origami and sewing) completed by Thomas “Tommy” Stringer, a Perkins student who was deafblind and a contemporary of Helen Keller, who helped to raise money for his education. The collection spans 1896-1897.
An unpublished manuscript that compares Helen Keller’s story “The Frost King” paragraph by paragraph with Margaret Canby’s story “Frost Fairies,” showing how similar the texts are. Written 10 years or more after the scandal, this volume argues that Anne Sullivan was lying about her methods, and is a response to writings in support of Sullivan by her husband John Macy. Read more about the Frost King incident on the Archives blog.
Digitized works that include books, pamphlets, catalogs, and more. The bulk of the collection is published by Perkins and topics include instruction of geography curriculum for students who are blind, Howe Press catalogs, and information about Perkins students with deafblindness. Titles are arranged by publication year from earliest to most current.
This collection of digitized scrapbooks span 1829-1958 and contain clippings on many topics including Perkins, other schools for students who are blind or deafblind, related organizations, and notable figures such as Laura Bridgman and Helen Keller. They also contain ephemera such as theater programs. The books were collected and bound at what is now known as the Perkins School for the Blind. A list of topics with descriptions is provided or browse the full list of scrapbooks.
Fifty volumes of digitized scrapbooks with newspaper clippings featuring articles about the Perkins Institution and Massachusetts School for the Blind, now Perkins School for the Blind. The collection spans 1833-1957.
Six volumes of digitized scrapbooks with newspaper clippings featuring articles about Perkins Kindergarten, the first kindergarten for students who are blind. The collection spans 1887-1908.
This twenty-volume collection of bound scrapbooks from 1887-1947 contains newspaper clippings, articles, and pamphlets about Helen Keller, detailing information about her early education to her later life.
Thirty-two volumes of scrapbooks with newspaper clippings featuring articles related to blindness or deafblindness, originally labeled as “miscellaneous.” The collection spans 1888-1958.
A digitized scrapbook documenting music and theater performances in Boston. It includes articles on John S. Dwight, a notable musician, and critic in 19th century Boston. Dwight was also a Perkins Trustee. The collection spans 1890-1905.
A digitized scrapbook of newspaper clippings from 1932, documenting the centennial of the year the New England Institution for the Education of the Blind, now known as Perkins School for the Blind, first opened its doors to students in 1832.
Four volumes of scrapbooks containing clippings related to Laura Bridgman (1829–1889). Bridgman was a pupil at Perkins and considered to be the first deafblind person to be formally educated. The collection spans 1838-1903
Six volumes of scrapbooks of clippings related to the topic of guide dogs, originally titled “dogs for the blind.” The collection spans 1924-1941. Topics include training programs and stories about their use and popularity.
Eight volumes of scrapbooks containing clippings related to servicemen blinded or visually impaired in World War I and World War II. There is a focus on rehabilitation and occupational training. The collection spans 1915–1946.
60 volumes of scrapbooks containing clippings related to adult blindness. Topics include occupations, associations, events, group homes, and other news items organized by state, topic, and region. The collection spans 1860-1942.
Nine volumes of scrapbooks of clippings related to associations serving people who are blind. Associations included are, the Buffalo Association & Western New York Adult Blind, the Lions Club, the New York Association for the Blind, Pennsylvania (Eastern), the American Association of Workers for the Blind, and the American Foundation for the Blind. The collection spans 1907-1939.
Clippings collections that cover braille transcribing, 1921-1922, radio clippings 1922-1931, and reading devices for people who are blind, 1935-1936.
A scrapbook of clippings with articles from Canada about people who are blind and blindness advocacy. Topics include rehabilitation, blinded war veterans, and employment. Articles include mentions of people blinded by the Halifax Explosion in 1917. The collection spans,1907-1934.
Seven volumes of scrapbooks containing clippings on topics related to charitable organizations caring for babies born blind, particularly the Blind Babies’ Aid Society. The collection includes in Boston 1908-1925 in 1 volume, Brooklyn, 1905-1926 in four volumes, and New Jersey 1907-1934 in two volumes.
9 volumes of scrapbooks of clippings with articles on the medical aspects of blindness, including volume dedicated specifically to the prevention of blindness, and sight restored articles.
Four volumes of scrapbooks containing clippings of poetry verse, often about blindness or individuals who are blind. Volumes include typewritten indices. The collection spans 1734-1951.
Scrapbook of clippings with articles about Sir Francis Campbell (1832 –1914). Campbell was blinded as a young boy in Tennessee. As a teacher, Cambell’s anti-slavery views nearly cost him his life and he ended up in Boston where he taught at Perkins. He would go on to co-found the Academy of Music for the Blind, and the Royal Normal College in 1872, in England. In 1909, King Edward VII conferred knighthood on him in Buckingham Palace. The collection spans 1907-1910.
A scrapbook of clippings with articles about Frances J. Crosby (1820-1915). Commonly known as Fanny, Crosby was a well-known public figure. She also happened to be blind. In 1843 Crosby became the first woman to speak in the United States Senate. She argued for the support of education for people who are blind and in 1846 she joined a delegation from Perkins and the School for the blind in Philadelphia in support of schools for students who are blind. The scrapbook spans 1843-1911.
Scrapbook of clippings with articles related to blindness from eastern Pennsylvania newspapers. The bulk of the topics included is advocacy and fundraising. The collection spans 1935-1939.
A scrapbook of clippings with articles about Frederick Douglas Morrison (1837-1904). Morrison was the superintendent of the Maryland School for the Blind for forty years. The collection spans 1837-1904.
Two volumes of scrapbooks documenting Thomas P. Gore (1870–1949). Gore, who lost his sight as a young boy, went on to become a lawyer and one of the first two United States senators for Oklahoma when it became a state. He would serve in the Senate twice and practice law in Washington D.C. Volume 1 spans 1907-1908. Volume 2 spans 1907-1917.
Two volumes of clippings, program pamphlets, and papers from or about the Royal Normal College for the Blind in Hereford England. Now known as the Royal National College for the Blind, the college was founded in 1872. Volume 1 contains program pamphlets and papers spanning 1870-1930. Volume 2 contains clippings from 1868-1910.
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