Edward E. Allen collection

Creator:

Edward E. Allen

Date Range:

1848-1991, bulk 1890-1940

Call Number:

AG1

Abstract:

Edward E. Allen’s director files from Perkins School for the Blind. The collection contains Allen’s writings and correspondence, as well, personal books, journals, photographs, and other artifacts.

Extent:

15 linear feet

Language:

English

Processed by:

Perkins Archives Staff ; Scope/contents added by Susanna Coit, 2022

Biographical/Historical notes:

Edward E. Allen (1861-1950), a long-time educator, was born in Massachusetts. He was a Harvard graduate and in 1920 created the first ever professional course to prepare teachers of students who are visually impaired at Harvard. From 1885-1888, Allen taught at the Royal Normal College for the Blind in London. In 1888, he came to Perkins to serve as a teacher and headmaster. Two years later, he moved on to become principal and director of the Overbrook School for the Blind in Philadelphia. While there, he designed the layout of the school and oversaw its entire construction. His new design allowed for students to move about freely and independently, termed the “close system.”

Allen returned to Perkins School for the Blind in 1907, serving as Director of the school. Once again, he designed the school to better accommodate people with visual impairments. Allen served as Director of Perkins until his retirement in 1931. He was a champion of student-focused teaching methods and invested in playground equipment, swimming pools, speech therapists, psychologists, and social workers to better suit the needs of his students. Allen established the Department of Special Studies at Perkins in 1927 in conjunction with the American Foundation for the Blind. The department conducted research on innovations for the teaching of students who are blind or visually impaired.

Edward E. Allen was also an early champion of the braille writing system for the blind, beginning in the late 1800s. Despite the existence of several different formats of writing for the blind, Allen recognized braille’s superiority and helped to make it the standard for the blind. In 1898, he introduced the first interpoint and interlinear braille embossing equipment in the United States.

The University of Pennsylvania recognized Allen’s work as an educator in 1931 with an honorary Doctor of Science degree. Allen was also a recipient of the Leslie Dana Gold Medal from the National Society for the Prevention of Blindness, the Gold Medal from the Institute of Social Sciences, and the Shotwell Gold Medal from the American Association of Workers for the Blind.

Allen and his wife, Katharine, had two children and five grandchildren.

Sources of information:

Tuttle, Dean and Tuttle, Naomi. “Edward Ellis Allen: Inducted 2011.” Blindness Hall of Fame, American Printing House for the Blind.

Restrictions:

None

Copyright:

It is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish from the owner of the copyright (the institution, the creator of the record, the author or his/her transferees, heirs, legates, or literary executors). The user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Perkins School for the Blind, its officers, employees, and agents from and against all claims made by any person asserting that he or she is an owner of copyright.

Credit line/Citation:

AG1 Edward E. Allen Collection. Perkins School for the Blind Archives, Watertown, MA.

Scope/Contents:

The collection contains Edward E. Allen’s director files from Perkins School for the Blind. Materials include Allen’s writing, correspondence, personal books, journals, photographs, and other artifacts. Topics include the Harvard Course, World Conference on Work for the Blind, and more.

Arrangement:

12 Series, 32 Boxes

• Series 1: Writings
• Series 2: White House Conference on Child Health and Protection
• Series 3: Personal Papers
• Series 4: Correspondence
• Series 5: World Conference on Work for the Blind
• Series 6: Harvard Course Notes
• Series 7: Clippings
• Series 8: Biographical Materials
• Series 9: Research and Projects, 1960s-1991
• Series 10: Publications
• Series 11: Artifacts
• Series 12: Photographs

Related collections:

Edward E. Allen Collection, digital collection on Flickr

AG63 War Blind Collection. Perkins School for the Blind Archives, Watertown, MA. (Includes Allen correspondence.)

AG29 Helen Keller and Arthur Gilman Collection. Perkins School for the Blind Archives, Watertown, MA.

AG71 Halifax Disaster Collection. Perkins School for the Blind Archives, Watertown, MA.

Container List:

Series 1: Writings   

Box 1: Writings 1890-1899   

• B1:F1: Writings in New England Magazine, bound drafts, 1890 
• B1:F2: “A Few Notes of a Little Girl Two and a Half Years Old”, bound draft, 1896 
• B1:F3: “Should the Use of Tobacco in all its Forms be Interdicted in Schools for the Blind”, bound and published drafts, 1896 
• B1:F4: “A Message to Mothers of Blind Children”, bound draft, [1898]
• B1:F5: Writings, five bound and one typed draft, 1890-1899

Box 2: Writings 1900-1905   

• B2:F1: “Education of Defectives”, three bound drafts, 1900 
• B2:F2: “About a School for Children and Youth Who Have Poor Eyesight or Who are Blind” and Allen’s address to Pennsylvania Institution for the Instruction of the Blind, two bound drafts of each, 1901 
• B2:F3: Writings, bound drafts, 1903-1905   

Box 3: Writings 1906-1909   

• B3:F1: “The Physical Education of the Blind”, bound draft, 1906 
• B3:F2: “The Physical Education of the Blind”, five bound drafts, 1906 
• B3:F3: “Library Work for the Blind”, bound drafts, 1906 
• B3:F4: “The Feeble-Minded Blind”, three published and one bound draft, 1906 
• B3:F5: “The Reconstruction of the Perkins Institution a Pressing Need”, four drafts, circa 1907 
• B3:F6: “To The Parents of Blind Children”, four drafts & six expanded drafts, 1907 
• B3:F7: “Can the Puritanical Distrust of Art be Justified?”, one typed draft, 1907 
• B3:F8: “A Valuable Addition to Books on the Blind”, bound draft, 1909 
• B3:F9: “The Perkins Institution and Massachusetts School for the Blind”, three typed drafts, 1909 
• B3:F10: “A Brief Resume of the History of the Perkins Institution and Massachusetts School for the Blind”, two typed & one bound draft, February 1909   

Box 4: Writings 1910-1914   

• B4:F1: “Eindrücke von den Blinden-Anstalten in Deutschland und Oesterreich” (“Impressions of the blind-centers in Germany and Austria”), four published and one bound draft, 1910 
• B4:F2: “Impressions of Institutes for the Blind in Germany and Austria”, two published, two bound, and one typed draft, 1910 
• B4:F3: “The Nature and Value of Contributory Effort from Pupils at Free Residential Schools for the Blind”, five bound drafts, 1910  
• B4:F4: “Present Day Ideals in the Education of the Blind”, two typed drafts, 1911 
• B4:F5: “Progress of the Education of the Blind”, bound and published drafts, 1913 
• B4:F6: “Frank H. Hall”, “A Report to the Trustees After Two Years in Watertown”, and Allen’s address to the Conference of the Blinds Exhibition, one typed draft each, January, 1911, 1914, and April 191   

Box 5: Writings 1915-1919   

• B5:F1: “Progress in Education of the Blind”, two typed & six published drafts, 1915 
• B5:F2: “Some Present Day Aims and Methods in the Education of the Blind”, Address of President E.E. Allen at the 22nd Convention of the American Association of Instructors of the Blind, and Allen’s book review of A Beacon for the Blind, one published draft of each, 1915 
• B5:F3: “Dennis A. Reardon”, two published drafts, 1916 
• B5:F4: “The Problem of the Feeble-Minded Blind”, three published & one typed draft, 1917 
• B5:F5: “Remarks on the Education of the Blind”, two typed drafts, 1917 
• B5:F6: “Present Day Factors in the Schools for the Blind”, four published & one typed draft, 1918 
• B5:F7: Allen’s Address to the Library Extension Conference, typed draft, includes two handwritten correspondence on the conference, 1918 
• B5:F8: “A New Covenant with the Handicapped”, four typed drafts, 2 published drafts in The Christian Register, one published draft in The Rocky Mountain Leader, April, 1919, May, 1919, and January, 1920 
• B5:F9: “The Opportunities of the Residential School” and a writing by Allen on State Aid, one published draft and two typed drafts respectively, 1919 and 1916   

Box 6: Writings 1920-1924   

• B6:F1: “Some Facts and Fancies About the Blind, and the Deaf, Which Teachers Should Know”, four drafts, 1920 
• B6:F2: “An Exceptional Blind Boy” and a pamphlet on the Committee of Efficiency, one typed draft taken from Bulletin of the National Association for the Study and Education of Exceptional Children and one published draft respectively, January, 1920 
• B6:F3: “Early History of the Teaching of the Blind in European Countries”, typed draft, 1921 
• B6:F4: The original folder the typed draft of “Early History of the Teaching of the Blind in European Countries” was housed in 
• B6:F5: “Early History of the Teaching of the Blind in European Countries”, handwritten draft, 1921 
• B6:F6: “Samuel Gridley Howe”, published draft, 1921 
• B6:F7: “He was the Cadmus of the Blind”, two published drafts in The Christian Register, March 31, 1921 
• B6:F8: “Report of Efficiency Committee”, one published reprint draft from Biennial Report of American Association of Instructors of the Blind, circa 1921 
• B6:F9: “Special Features in the Education of the Blind During the Biennium 1918-1920”, five published drafts from the Department of the Interior Bureau of Education, 1921 
• B6:F10: “The Pioneer Classes for Children with Defective Eyesight”, typed draft, circa 1921 
• B6:F11: “Progress of the Education of the Blind in the United States 1913, 1915, & 1921”, bound draft, 1921  
• B6:F12: “The Preparation of Teachers of the Blind”, one pamphlet draft and two published drafts from The Beacon, September, 1922 
• B6:F13: “Dr. William Moon and Home Teaching for the Blind”, two typed drafts, [1922] 
• B6:F14: “Notes on the Preparation of Teachers of the Blind”, two typed drafts, 1922 
• B6:F15: “Notes on College Students and the Education of the Blind”, typed draft, 1922
• B6:F16: “Grading in the Boy’s Department As a Result of Psychological Research”, typed draft, September, 1922 
• B6:F17: Notes by Allen on the preparation of teachers of the blind and partially seeing, typed draft, December 6, 1922  
• B6:F18: “The Diversion of Two-Score Blind People”, one typed draft and three published drafts in The Beacon, September, 1923 and November, 1923 
• B6:F19: Book review for “The Light Which Cannot Fail” by Winifred Holt entitled “A Torch in the Dark”, typed draft and three reprinted published drafts Nation, July, 1923 and August 22, 1923 
• B6:F20: “Dr. William Moon Missionary to the Blind”, typed draft and three duplicate drafts (one with a note with return address handwritten notations), 1923 
• B6:F21: “Movement for the Separate Teaching of the Semi-Sighted”, one typed draft, 1923 
• B6:F22: “Statement from Mr. E.E. Allen, Director of Perkins Institution and Massachusetts School for the Blind”, two published drafts, 1923  
• B6:F23: “Words of Welcome and an Explanation”, one typed draft, 1924 
• B6:F24: “Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Kiwanis Club of New Bedford”, four typed drafts, 1924 
• B6:F25: “The Education of the Blind in the United States of America”, three typed drafts, 1924 
• B6:F26: “Dr. William Moon” a three part series published by The Beacon, two published drafts of part one and one published draft of both parts two and three, May to July, 1924 
• B6:F27: “Erziehung der Blinden in den Vereinigten Staaten van Nordamerika” (The Education of the Blind in the United States of America), one published draft in the Journal of Austrian Blind, November, 1924 
• B6:F28: “The Perkins Institution and Massachusetts School for the Blind”, one typed draft, 1924 
• B6:F29: “The So-Called Harvard Course on the Education of the Blind”, one typed draft, 1924 
• B6:F30: “Harvard Course of Lectures”, two published drafts, 1924   

Box 7: Writings 1925-1929  

• B7:F1: “Social Service to Blind People”, one typed draft, 1925 
• B7:F2: “Fellow Teachers and Friends” a piece on John Vars, one typed draft, 1925 
• B7:F3: “Coddling a Blind Child is no Help but a Hindrance”, one typed draft, 1925 
• B7:F4: “Winifred Holt Mather: The Florence Nightingale of the Blind”, one typed draft, 1925 
• B7:F5: “Louis Braille”, one typed draft and three published drafts in Outlook for the Blind, 1925 
• B7:F6: “Olin Howard Burritt”, one typed draft, 1925 
• B7:F7: “How Lions May Serve Blind People”, one typed draft and two published drafts in Lions Club Magazine, 1925 
• B7:F8: “The Function of Vocational Training for Work Among Blind People”, one typed draft with handwritten notations, 1925
• B7:F9: “The Harvard Course on the Education of the Blind”, two typed drafts, 1925 
• B7:F10: “Harvard and the Education of the Blind”, two typed drafts, 1925 
• B7:F11: “Dickens and Dr. Howe”, one typed draft, 1925 
• B7:F12: “Progress in the Movement for the Special Preparation of Teachers of the Blind”, one typed draft and three published drafts, 1926 
• B7:F13: “A Survey on the Work for the Blind in the United States from its Beginning Until Now”, two typed drafts, two published drafts in Perkins Annual Report, three published drafts of an unknown source, 1926 
• B7:F14: “Convention Notes in Nashville”, one typed draft, June, 1926 
• B7:F15: “At Their Finger’s End”, one published draft in The Dickensian, 1926 
• B7:F16: “Questions Submitted by Mr. Allen of Perkins Institute for the Blind”, one typed draft of questions and one typed draft with answers, 1926 
• B7:F17: “A Local Institution Which all Teachers Should Know About”, three typed drafts, two published drafts in Common Ground, and two published drafts in Official Organ of the Massachusetts Teacher’s Federation, December, 1926, January, 1927, and January, 1927 
• B7:F18: “The Beginnings of Work for the Blind in America”, one typed draft, circa 1927 
• B7:F19: “William Henry Churchman”, two typed drafts, one published draft in Outlook for the Blind, and one typed draft written for the Dictionary of American Biography, 1927 
• B7:F20: “Francis Joseph Campbell”, two typed drafts prepared for the Dictionary of American Biography, 1927  
• B7:F21: “A Succinct Account of Progress Made in Massachusetts in the Care of its Blind and in the Movement for the Prevention of Blindness Since Helen Keller Spoke on These Subjects at a Legislative Hearing in Boston in the Early 1900s”, two typed drafts, 1927  
• B7:F22: “Michael Anagnos”, one typed draft, 1927 
• B7:F23: “A Statement Touching Upon Helen Keller and the Cause of the Blind and of the Prevention of Blindness Since 1900; Also Recent Outstanding Events in the Education of Blind Children”, four typed drafts, 1927 
• B7:F24: “The Residential School for the Blind – Its Origin and Progress; and its Changing Status”, “From an Interview with Dr. Gustaf Emanual Ek, Rektor or Executive Head of the Royal Institution and Elementary School for the Blind at Tomteboda, Near Stockholm, Sweden”, “The United States of America”, and “Public Day Schools for the Blind”, one typed draft of each, 1927 
• B7:F25: “An Extension Department of Perkins Institute”, two typed drafts, 1927 
• B7:F26: “Self Help in Boarding Schools”, two typed drafts, 1927 
• B7:F27: “Environment at School”, two typed drafts, 1927 
• B7:F28: “In the Annual Report of 1911-1912 of the Perkins Institution for the Blind Appeared the Following:”, two typed drafts, 1927 
• B7:F29: “The American Movement for the Separate Teaching of the Semi-Sighted”, two typed drafts, 1927  
• B7:F30: “Finger Reading”, four typed drafts and six published drafts in The Congregationalist, 1928 
• B7:F31: “Alice M. Lane” and “Schools for the Blind in the West Indies”, one published draft of both appearing in Outlook for the Blind, June, 1928 
• B7:F32: “Personalities in the World of the Blind”, one published draft in The Beacon, November, 1928 
• B7:F33: “Fisher, John Dix”, “Education of the Blind in the U.S.A” and “Miss Kiefer and Progressive Education at Perkins”, one typed draft of each, 1928 
• B7:F34: “Finger Reading with Particular Reference to New England”, two typed drafts and one published draft, 1929 
• B7:F35: “Radio Talk by the Director, Broadcast over WEEI”, five typed drafts (this was originally titled “Perkins Institution and Massachusetts School for the Blind”), December 30, 1929
• B7:F36: “A Broken Link with the Past” and “Adult Education Says”, one published draft of each from Outlook for the Blind, December, 1929 
• B7:F37: “Howe, Samuel Gridley”, one typed draft for Dictionary of American Biography, March, 1929 
• B7:F38: “New Vocational Studies at Perkins”, “Qualifications of an Executive for the Adult Blind”, and “The Experimental School, Sometimes Called the Department of Special Studies”, one typed draft of each, June, 1929    

Box 8: Writings 1930-1939  

• B8:F1: “The Training of Teachers as Conducted at Perkins”, five published drafts, 1930 
• B8:F2: “The Social and Economic Status of the Blind”, four typed drafts, 1930 
• B8:F3: “Concerning the Blind” and “Nature Study at Perkins Institution”, one typed draft for each, 1930 
• B8:F4: “Winifred Holt Mather and Rufus Graves Mather”, one typed draft, 1930
• B8:F5: “Harvard Crimson Article”, one typed draft, 1930 
• B8:F6: “Perkins Institution and Massachusetts School for the Blind”, one typed draft, 1930 
• B8:F7: “The Deaf Blind”, one typed draft and one published draft, 1930 
• B8:F8: “Attitudes Towards the Blind”, one typed draft, 1930 
• B8:F9: “Mr. and Mrs. Rufus Mather’s Torch Bearing Tour”, two typed drafts and one published draft from The National Institute for the Blind, 1930 
• B8:F10: “Opening Windows on Nature for Blind Boys and Girls”, one published draft in School Life, October, 1931 
• B8:F11: “Domestic Science Training for the Blind”, two published drafts in The New Beacon, December, 1931  
• B8:F12: “Employment of the Blind”, two typed drafts, 1931 
• B8:F13: “Museums for the Blind”, seven published drafts and four typed drafts, 1931 
• B8:F14: “Cora L. Gleason”, one typed draft, 1931  
• B8:F15: “Report of the Trustees”, one typed draft, 1931 
• B8:F16: “Dr. Allen Says: The Unconscious Tuition of the Teacher”, two published drafts in The Teachers Forum, one published draft in The Pelican, and one typed draft, 1932 
• B8:F17: “Sight Saving Classes in the Public Schools”, two typed drafts and two published drafts in The Massachusetts Teacher, 1932 
• B8:F18: “Acceptance Speech of Medal”, one published draft of Allen’s acceptance speech, 1932 
• B8:F19: “One Hundred Years of Schooling of the Blind”, one published copy, 1932 
• B8:F20: “Pioneering of the Holt Sisters in Prevention of Blindness”, four published drafts from The National Society for the Prevention of Blindness, Inc., 1934 
• B8:F21: “Allen’s Talk in Sweden”, one handwritten draft and the envelope it was stored in, two typed drafts, and newspaper clippings about the event, 1934 
• B8:F22: “Education of Blind Children of School Age” and “Modern Tendencies in the Education of the Blind”, one published draft of each and one typed draft of “Education of Blind Children of School Age”, 1934 
• B8:F23: “Lecture on P.I.” delivered twice to Dr. Frampton’s course at Columbia, one typed draft (60 pages), 1935 
• B8:F24: “Teacher of the Blind”, two printed drafts, 1935 
• B8:F25: “Edward Marlay Van Cleve”, two published drafts in Outlook for the Blind, 1935 
• B8:F26: “The Blind of the United States of America”, one typed draft, 1936 
• B8:F27: “Mr. Wood as a Teacher of the Blind” and “Present Day Education of the Blind”, one typed draft each, 1938 and 1933  
• B8:F28: “My friends of Virginia, especially you who lack normal eyesight”, one typed draft, 1939   

Box 9: Writings 1940-1945 & Publications by Others 1893-1905   

• B9:F1: “Radio Talk on Sir Francis Campbell and on the Royal College in the 1880s”, “A Brief Survey of the Genesis and Results to Date of Our Special Preparation of Teachers of the Blind”, “To the Editor of the Sight Saving Review”, “A Few Thoughts on the Education of the Blind Based on a Half Century of Experience”, “Dennis Reardon”, “Emerson Training for the Blind”, two typed drafts of both “A Brief Survey” and “A Few Thoughts”, one typed draft of every other article except “Emerson Training” which is a published draft, 1940-1945 
• B9:F2: Royal Normal College Pamphlets and Reports, eight different published drafts, 1893- 1905 
• B9:F3: “A Plea for the Practical Training of Blind Children” by F.J. Campbell, “Dr. F.J. Campbell A Character Sketch”, The Pennsylvania Institute for the Instruction of the Blind: Overbrook Annual Report 1905, one published draft of each, undated , 1898, and 1905   

Series 2: White House Conference on Child Health and Protection   

Box 10: White House Conference on Child Health and Protection 1929-1931   

• B10:F1: Correspondence to Allen pertaining to the Conference, nine typed drafts, 1929-1930 
• B10:F2: Correspondence to Allen pertaining to the Conference, seven typed drafts, 1930 
• B10:F3: Correspondence pertaining to the Conference, seventeen typed drafts, 1930 
• B10:F4: Correspondence to Allen pertaining to the Conference, thirteen drafts, 1930-1931 
• B10:F5: “A Contribution to the White House Conference on Child Health and Protection”, “White House Conference on Child Health and Protection” Organization Information, “The Handicapped”, “Committee on the Physically And Mentally Handicapped Sub-Committee on the Visually Handicapped”, Tentative Schedule, “The Visually Handicapped”, two bound drafts, one typed draft, two typed drafts, and one typed draft for the last three respectively, 1929-1930 
• B10:F6: “White House Conference on Child Health and Protection Current Information” Volumes 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, and Special Issue, “Report on Committee Activities of the Sub-Committee on the Visually Handicapped”, “Brief Report of the Committee on Special Classes”, “The Vocational Adjustment of Physically and of Mentally Handicapped Children”, one typed draft of each, 1930 
• B10:F7: “Special Schools Report”, “White House Conference on Child Health and Protection” Program, Address of President Hoover, “The School of Tomorrow”, “The Social and Vocational Adjustment of the Blind”, one typed draft of each except “White House Conference” program and the Address of President Hoover which are both bound drafts, 1930 
• B10:F8: Reprint of “A Contribution to the White House Conference on Child Health and Protection” from Perkins Annual Report for 1930, Letter from Allen to Mr. Emil Frankel about White House Conference, “Special Report on The Vocational Adjustment of Physically and of Mentally Handicapped Children”, “The Children’s Charter”, “Extract from the Report of the Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the World Conference on Work for the Blind”, “White House Conference on Child Health and Protection” Program, one bound draft of “A Contribution”, “The Children’s Charter” and the Conference program, one typed draft of each other document, 1930-1931   

Series 3: Personal Papers   

Box 11: Personal Papers 1903-1915   

• B11:F1: Personal publications and material including material related to his European trip, 1903-1909 
• B11:F2: Personal papers from 1910 which includes newspaper clippings, bound drafts, and the envelope they were kept in, 1910 
• B11:F3: Personal papers from 1911 which includes newspaper clippings, bound drafts, a place card at a dinner given by Miss Winifred Holt to President Taft and the menu for the dinner and the envelope they were all held in, 1911 
• B11:F4: Personal papers from 1912 which includes an invitation to a luncheon at Harvard, bound draft of an “Appeal to Annual Subscribers” for Perkins, bound draft of “Handy Book of the St. John’s Men’s Club”, and a bound draft of “The Twentieth Century Club” Lecture Service List, 1912 
• B11:F5: Personal papers from 1913 which includes newspapers clippings and published drafts of “The Committee on Social Service” and “The Southern Workman”, and the envelope they were kept in, 1913 
• B11:F6: Personal papers from 1914-1915 which includes newspaper clippings, published drafts of “Rhode Island Normal School Saturday Lectures 1914-1915”, invitation to the meetings of the Men’s Class of the Claflin Club, Pamphlet of the Elito Church, pamphlet of the Unitarian Club of Watertown, Pamphlet of the Woman’s Union, and the envelope they were kept in, 1914-1915

Box 12: Personal Papers, 1925-1962, undated  

• B12:F1: Library cards, half of which are of Allen written material and half of which are by other authors, unclear if they were in Allen’s personal collection or not, undated  
• B12:F2: Lists of Allen’s published writings and personal materials, lists compiled in 1926, 1932 and undated  and covers works over decades, also a list of “Books Formerly Owned by Helen Keller, typed drafts of all, 1925, 1926, 1932, 1925, undated 
• B12:F3: Undated and dated personal papers including: a map of the site concerning the location of Perkins at the Josiah Stickney Estate, newspaper clipping of the engagement of Allen’s daughter, published article on Nathaniel Allen’s school in Newton (Edward Allen’s uncle), draft of Allen’s Retirement from Perkins, biographical draft on Allen written by O.H. Burritt for the Outlook for the Blind, Twenty-Five Year Report on Fulfillment of a Dream, map is undated but circa 1905, engagement notice July 24, 1961, Nathaniel Allen piece January, 1962, Retirement piece undated, Burritt piece on Allen May, 1931, Twenty-Five Year Report 1952 
• B12:F4: Literature, Inspirational Notes and Quotations, one bound scrapbook of Allen’s in which he put newspaper clippings and inspirational material, undated 
• B12:F5: Literature Notes and Quotations, typed and handwritten notes, songs, poems, quotations, all undated except one which is dated January 31, 1929  

Series 4: Correspondence   

Box 13: Correspondence 1917-1959, undated   

• B13:F1: Correspondence to, from, and about Allen, typed and handwritten, 1922- 1951 
• B13:F2: Correspondence, mostly between a Mr. George Richards and a Mr. Henry Hall, and a few other letters of unidentifiable sender, these were in Allen’s collection but only one mentions Allen, typed and handwritten, 1906-1907  
• B13:F3: Correspondence by Allen and about Allen as a successor to Anagnos at Perkins, typed and handwritten drafts, 1906-1907 
• B13:F4: Correspondence among individuals applying for the directorship position or advocating for others for the position, includes letters from John Albert Macy applying and letters advocating for him as well as, a lettering of application from a Jesse T. Morey and also one from Sir Francis J. Campbell from the Royal Normal College, typed and handwritten, 1906 
• B13:F5: Correspondence mostly to George Richards from Allen and a couple letters of unidentifiable senders but one of which is addressed to Thomas Appleton, all handwritten, 1906-1907 
• B13:F6: Correspondence from Dr. Mell to Allen, handwritten drafts, 1920-1931 
• B13:F7: Correspondence to Allen pertaining to “Education of the Blind”, typed drafts, 1922- 1923 
• B13:F8: Correspondence to Allen about his papers “Home Teaching”, “Teaching of the Deaf” and “Training of Teachers”, typed drafts, 1925 
• B13:F9: Squarehand correspondence written to Allen, mostly handwritten some typed, 1933- 1936 
• B13:F10: Correspondence from Allen including a letter to a Mr. Lowell about expenses of a new building, a letter to George H. Richards, and a letter to Mr. Hall, typed and handwritten, 1910-1926, undated 
• B13:F11: Correspondence to Allen, typed and handwritten drafts, 1920-1932 
• B13:F12: Correspondence to and from Ms. Mary Esther Sawyer, typed and handwritten drafts and also includes pressed flowers, drawings, and a couple photos, 1931-1936 
• B13:F13: Copies of Allen’s correspondence, typed drafts, 1917-1931 
• B13:F14: Correspondence and material relating to Allen’s retirement, typed drafts, mostly 1931, one item from 1959 
• B13:F15: Letter from Julia Ward Howe to George Richards with envelope, handwritten, 1906   

Box 14: Correspondence 1907-1950   

• B14:F1: Correspondence about Allen’s paper “Progress of the Blind”, typed and handwritten drafts, 1912-1913  
• B14:F2: Correspondence between Allen and the Alumnae Association of Perkins, a collection of statements collected and typed by Miss Burnham, typed draft, 1907-1934 
• B14:F3: Correspondence between Allen and Perkins School for the Blind much of which seems to about his retirement, typed drafts, 1930-1931 
• B14:F4: Correspondence about Perkins School for the Blind, typed and handwritten drafts, 1920- 1923 
• B14:F5: Correspondence and material on the death of Allen, typed drafts, 1950   

Series 5: World Conference on Work for the Blind   

Box 15: World Conference on Work for the Blind, 1931   

• B15:F1: Program from the Conference, correspondence to Allen about the Conference, “Instructions to Motor Corps”, tentative program, “Points of Special Interest in School Program”, “Guides Girls’ Upper School”, “Class Room Activities Girls’ Upper School”, “Lists of Foreign Delegates and Guests to World Conference on Work for the Blind”, “Hotel Rooms”, “Bridgman Cottage”, drawn Visagraph of Home Teachers Workshop Placement, “A Visit to Perkins Institution, made by the Foreign delegates to the World Conference on Work for the Blind at New York”, Menu to the Dinner to the Delegates and Guests of the World Conference on Work for the Blind with Guest of Honor Dr. Edward E. Allen”, typed and handwritten drafts, 1931 
• B15:F2: “Moving Pictures of America at Perkins Institution and Concert by The Choir of the School” program, photo Dr. [Lirnenfeld] at the World Conference on Work for the Blind, newspaper clippings on the event, “Extracts from the Report of the Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the World Conference on Work for the Blind”, Invitation to a luncheon from the Mayor of Boston held for the delegates attending the conference, Dinner Committee RSVP guest list with Dr. Allen as the Guest of Honor, White House Conference on Child Health and Protection program, pamphlet “World Conference on Work for the Blind”, two braille document (untitled), “World Conference on the Work for the Blind” Schedule, typed and handwritten drafts, 1931 
• B15:F3: “This Week in New York World’s Greatest Vacation City” publication, “World Conference on Work for the Blind Tour of Visitation”, List of Delegates, newspaper clippings, Schedule, squarehand letters about Conference, typed correspondence about Conference from a student, typed and handwritten drafts, 1931   

Series 6: Harvard Course Notes   

Box 6: Harvard Course Notes, 1924   

• B6:F29: “The So-Called Harvard Course on the Education of the Blind”, one typed draft, 1924 
• B6:F30: “Harvard Course of Lectures”, two published drafts, 1924    

Box 16: Harvard Course Notes, 1924-1934   

• B16:F1: “Dr. Edward Allen”, newspaper clippings about Harvard course, published drafts, 1931 
• B16:F2: Notes on Samuel Gridley Howe and Perkins School for the Blind, typed with handwritten marks, undated  
• B16:F3: Continues notes from folder 2, typed with handwritten marks, undated 
• B16:F4: “Presentation of Medals” with a medal to Allen, Perkin Institution Annual Report for 1926, “Modern Tendencies in the Education of the Blind”, “The Preparation of Teachers of the Blind”, “Of Mr. & Mrs. Mather and Their Good Work at the West Indies”, an untitled poem, “The Training of Teachers as Conducted by Perkins”, handwritten copy of essay by [Demodocure] from Edinburgh Magazine 1774, Notes on Professor Mirick’s Lectures, handwritten notes, typed and handwritten drafts, 1926-1934, undated 
• B16:F5: Handwritten notes undated, “The Training of Teachers”, “The News Letter”, The Harvard Extension Course “The Blind of Pasy”, “Special Methods Class 1926-1927”, “N1 – A Course in Special Education”, “Harvard Course of Lectures” printed in The Beacon, published, typed and handwritten drafts, 1924-1930, undated   

Series 7: Clippings   

Box 17: Clippings, 1894-1961   

• B17:F1: Clippings about Harvard Course, 1920-1961 
• B17:F2: Clippings about Dr. John Dix Fisher, clippings about University of Pennsylvania, 1920-1921 
• B17:F3: Clippings about The Blind, clippings about Mrs. Edward Ellis Allen Jr., 1916-1928 
• B17:F4: Clippings about Dr. Allen and Schools for the Blind, 1907  
• B17:F5: Clippings about Dr. Allen, 1906, undated 
• B17:F6: Clippings about Dr. Allen, 1907 
• B17:F7: Clippings about The Anniversary of the Harvard Course, 1930-1931  
• B17:F8: Clippings about Allen, 1906-1921 
• B17:F9: Clippings about Allen’s children’s marriage and engagement announcements, 1922, 1932, undated 
• B17:F10: Clippings about Allen’s wife, 1921-1924, undated  
• B17:F11: Clippings about Allen and Perkins, 1916-1924, undated  
• B17:F12: Clippings about Allen and Perkins, 1908-1909, 1920, 1924, undated 
• B17:F13: Clippings about Allen’s trip to Europe, 1909, undated  
• B17:F14: Clippings about Allen and Perkins, 1907-1909  
• B17:F15: Clippings about Allen and Perkins, 1915-1917
• B17:F16: Clippings about Allen and Perkins, 1918-1920  
• B17:F17: Clippings about Allen and Perkins, 1921-1922  
• B17:F18: Clippings about Allen and Perkins, 1925-1929
• B17:F19: Clippings about Allen and Perkins, 1940, 1961, undated 
• B17:F20: Clippings about Allen, Perkins, and Caroline Allen, 1907-1934, undated   

Box 18a: Biographical Material, 1913-1989, undated   

• B18a:F1: Appointments as Member of Massachusetts Division of the Blind, 1913-1933 
• B18a:F2: Material related to Allen’s Retirement, 1930-1931 
• B18a:F3: Honorary Doctorate material, 1930  
• B18a:F4: Materials related to Dr. Allen’s Biography, 1930, 1940  
• B18a:F5: Published biographical material, undated 
• B18a:F6: Obituaries on Dr. Allen, 1936, undated 
• B18a:F7: Material related to Founder’s Day Program, 1989
• B18a:F8: Undated typed drafts, undated 
• B18a:F9: Undated handwritten drafts, undated  

Box 18b: Edward Ellis Allen, by Katharine G. Allen 1940  

Series 9: Modern Research and Projects    

Box 19: Modern Research and Projects/Publications, 1968-1991/1932-1941   

• B19:F1: Perkins Memorial Trees and Programs, circa 1968, 1980s 
• B19:F2: Modern research Material (related to Ken Stuckey), circa 1970s-1980s 
• B19:F3: Correspondence between Howard Reynolds to Ken Stuckey about Eleanor Thayer and two photographs of Eleanor Thayer, 1991   

Series 10: Publications   

Box 19: Modern Research and Projects/Publications, 1968-1991/1932-1941   

• B19:F1: Two drawings from the Red Bound Book entitled “To Edward E. Allen on his 80th Birthday”, 1941    
• Two CDs in clear cases that include the Address delivered at Perkins Centennial Exercises, November 10, 1932    
• Red Bound Book entitled: “To Edward E. Allen on his 80th Birthday August 1st, 1941”   
• Red Bound Book entitled: “Papers on the Education of the Blind – E. E. Allen”   

Transcription of Table of Contents below:   

• To the Parents of seeing and of Blind Children 
• About a School for Children and Youth who have Bad Eyesight or who are Blind  
• Education of Defectives 
• Sketch of Julius R. Friedlander 
• The Feeble-Minded Blind 
• The Problem of the Feeble-Minded Blind Child  
• The Reconstruction of Perkins Institution a Pressing Need
• Impressions of Institutions for the Blind in Germany and Austria
• Dennis A. Reardon 
• Progress in Education of the Blind in the U.S. in the year 1912-1913  
• Progress in Education of the Blind, 1915 
• Special Features in the Education of the Blind during the Biennium 1918-20 
• Present-Day Factors in the Schools for the Blind as Emphasized at Perkins Institution 
• Report of the Committee on Efficiency 
• Opportunities for Training to Teach the Blind 
• Samuel Gridley Howe 
• A Survey of Work for the Blind in the U.S. from the Beginning Until Now, 1926 
• Finger Reading, with Particular Reference to New England 
• A Massachusetts Institution which Teachers Should Know About 
• Museums for the Blind
• Preparation of Teachers of the Blind 
• Progress in the Movement for Special Preparation of Teachers of the Blind 
• The Training of Teachers as Conducted at Perkins 
• Modern Tendencies in the Education of the Blind 
• The Education of Blind Children of School Age   

Box 20: Publications, circa 1906-1942   

• Large red bound book entitled “Edward Ellis Allen” which is a scrapbook presented to the Pennsylvania Institution for the Instruction of the Blind from Katharine Allen, circa 1906-1942   

Table of Contents transcribed below:

• Mr. Allen’s leaving the Philadelphia School for Perkins 0 
• Tribute from Philadelphia Alumnae 37A 
• Lives of Mr. Allen 51 
• Mr. Allen’s Forced Retirement from Perkins 67
  • How it Came About             
  • Letters of protest             
  • Resolutions on his Retirement 
• Loving Cup Inscription 113 
• Complimentary Dinner given Mr. Allen by Mr. Migel and Mr. Cromwell at the end of the World 
• Conference on Work for the Blind 124 
• Mr. Allen receives the Gold Medal of the National Institute of Social Sciences 139 
• Honorary Degree of D. Sc. given Mr. Allen by the University of Pennsylvania 261 
• Bronze portrait of Bas-relief for Perkins 116 259 
• Celebrations at Overbrook of the 50th Anniversary of Mr. Allen’s becoming Principal of the Philadelphia School
  • 397 A 
• Mr. Allen celebrates the 50th year if his graduation from Harvard 135 
• Miscellaneous Letters 153 216 
• Biography of Mr. Allen written by Mrs. Allen 270 
• Papers found by Miss Fish in an old box 409 
• Excerpts from Alumnae Association Notes from 1907-1934 compiled by Miss Julia Burnham 215 
• Special Occasions on which Mr. Allen has presented papers or spoken 210 234 
• Letters about the Biography 270 
• Camp Allen 168-170 425 430 
• A few cards sent Mr. Allen on his 79th Birthday which was thought to be his 80th 251   

Box 21: Publications, 1919-1946   

• Brown leather personalized book entitled “Dr. Edward Ellis Allen”, includes correspondence, programs, and speeches, 1940-1941   
• Black bound book entitled “Dr. Allen Says: Notebook B”, includes published versions of his column “Dr. Allen Says”, 1932-1946    
• Red bound book entitled “Harvard College Class of 1884 Report IX 1919”, 35th anniversary report by the Secretary of the class of 1884, 1919   
• Black bound book entitled “Notebook A”, includes handwritten index at beginning, copies of Allen’s writings and correspondence, circa 1929     

Index transcription below:

• A-B:
  • A Challenge to Darkness – (Reviews) For Mr. Edgett – B. Transcript – p. 10 
  •  Allen, E.E. – (Autobiography) Town and Country Life p.p. 3-4  
  •  Publications in 1929 (For Dean Holmes p. 17) 
  • Beacon Article “Mothers” 52 
  •  Broadcasts p.p. 5-8, 12-17             
  •  Finger Reading 5             
  •  Perkins Institution 12 
• C-D:
  • Centennial Papers, 132 
  • Convention Papers             
  • Teacher Training as Conducted at Perkins, 48 
  • Deaf Blind, 45 
• E-F:
  • Finger Reading, 5 
  • Frankel, Emil, 32-40 
  • [Frary, Bogues] Solicitors, 57
• G-H:
  • Harvard Crimson (article on PI) – not published, 41 
  • Holmes (Mr. Allen’s Writings) 17
• K-L:
  • Keller, Helen, 11 (2) – Allen (Review – a Challenge to Darkness) 
• M-Mc:
  • [Mrs. ]Secretary’s Report, 21
  • Mother Material Part I 26, 27 (for Beacon) Part II 28, 29, 30 (for Outlook)
  • Torch Bearing Tour, 52 (for Beacon) 
• N-O:
  • Outlook [(Stems of Pol)] 9, 31, 51 
• P-Q: Perkins Institution, 1
  • Perkins items (for Outlook) 31    
  • [Quiet] – article written for Harvard Crimson – (not published) 41 
  • Perring, R. H. – written for Town & Country Life – E.E. Allen + [P.I] 3 
  • Printery Report, 10 
  • Program of Research into the Education of the Blind, 120 
• R-S:
  • Report of Secretary 1929, p.p. 21-25 
  • Social + Economic Status of the Blind, + How this may be Improved, 42 
• T-U:
  • Teacher Training Courses at P.I., 48 
  • Tercentenary articles, 9+10, 18-20 
  • Town & Country Life 3 
• V-W:
  • White House Conference on Child Health and Protection, 32-40, 42, 45
  • Reply to questionnaire on Handicapped Children in Industry, 32 
  • The Social + Economic Status of Blind + How it can be Improved, 42 
  • Deaf-Blind 45   

Box 22: Publications, 1874-1944   

• Diary/Agenda, 1915 
•  5 Year Diary, 1915-1919 
•  5 Year Diary, 1920-1924 
•  5 Year Diary, 1930-1934 
•  5 Year Diary, 1935-1939 
•  5 Year Diary, 1940-1944 
•  Outlines of the World History, 1874 
•  Complete Guide to Europe, handwritten note on inside, [1910] 
•  Newspaper Clipping removed from diary, 1944   

Box 23: Publications and Photo Albums, 1907-1947

• Black and blue bound book entitled “Education in the United States Volume 1” Edited by Nicholas Murray Butler, includes 9 essays on education and is numbered 80 out of 500, 1946   
• Black and blue bound book entitled “Education in the United States Volume 2” Edited by Nicholas Murray Butler, includes 10 essays on education including one by Allen and is numbered 80 out of 500, 1947   
• Green bound book entitled “Preliminary Committee Reports of the White House Conference on Child Health and Protection”, 1930   
• Perkins bound book entitled “Perkins Institution Annual Reports Vol. XII”, 1907-1910   
• Purple bound book entitled “Journal of the National Institute of Social Sciences Vol. XIV”, includes unmarked bookmarks (unclear whether these are from Allen or someone else, 1929   
• Purple bound book entitled “Journals of the National Institute of Social Science Vol. XV, includes a notecard as a bookmark (unknown if it’s from Allen or someone else), 1930  
• Purple bound book entitled “Journal of the National Institute of Social Sciences Vol. XVI-XIX, 1931-1934   3 copies of the small bound book “Perkins Institution for the Blind” written by Edward E. Allen, 1924   
• Small bound book entitled “A Child’s Gem”, [1924]  

Box 27: Publications, 1881-1898, undated    

• Blue bound scrapbook entitled “Scrapbook”, mostly clippings, 1881-1898, undated   

Box 28: Publications, 1907-1931             

• Green bound book entitled: E. E. Allen’s Writings Perkins Institution for the Blind Reports 76-79 Vol. XIV 1907-1910
• Green bound book entitled: E. E. Allen’s Writings Perkins Institution for the Blind Reports 80-83 Vol. XV 1911-1914
• Green bound book entitled: E. E. Allen’s Writings Perkins Institution for the Blind Reports 80- 83 Vol. XV 1911-1914  
• Green bound book entitled: E. E. Allen’s Writings Perkins Institution for the Blind Reports 84- 90 Vol. XVI 1915-1921  
• Green bound book entitled: E. E. Allen’s Writings Perkins Institution for the Blind Reports 91- 97 Vol. XVII 1922-1928  
• Green bound book entitled: E. E. Allen’s Writings Perkins Institution for the Blind Reports 98- 100 Vol. XVIII 1929-1931

Series 11: Artifacts   

Box 29: Oversized Artifacts, 1848, 1864, 1869   

• B29:F1: “Dr. Edward A. Kittredge” [E.E. Allen’s grandfather], typed draft, 1848, 1869    
• Large photo of the home of James Allen (E.E. Allen’s father) in West Newton, Massachusetts, 1864   

Box 30: Artifacts/Voice Recordings, 1938-1942   

• Voice recordings on 5 LPs all read by Edward Allen, 1938-1942   

Box 31: Artifacts, 1908 – 1931, undated   

• Large newspaper clipping on Perkins Institute, 1908    
• Drawing on card stock of a Watermelon man, undated  
• Committee medal from Blind Workers Exhibition, undated   
• Glass plate negative, 1924   
• Glass plate negative, 1931   
• Bridge set, undated  
• Allen’s Academic hood with a note about it being presented to Allen, 1930   

Box 32: Honorary Degree, Resolutions, and Membership, 1907, 1930-1931 

• Resolution from Overbrook School for the Blind in appreciation of Allen, 1907
• Honorary Doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania, 1930 
• Resolution from Perkins School for the Blind Alumni Association to commemorate Allen’s retirement, circa 1931
• Honorary Membership from the Blind Institute, Wein, Austria, 1931

Series 12: Photographs   

Box 24: Photographs, circa 1898   

• Green bound photo album entitled “Photographs”, cyanotype photographs mostly of Overbrook, circa 1898    

Box 25: Photographs, circa 1900   

• Black bound photo album entitled “Photographs”, mostly cyanotype photographs of Overbrook, circa 1900   

Box 26: Photographs, circa 1904   

• Black bound photo album entitled “Photographs”, black and white photos of Overbrook, circa 1904   

Box 33: Photographs, 1909, 1922, undated   

• B33:F1: Photos of Perkins Institution, circa 1915 
• B33:F2: Photos of Paris School, circa 1909 
• B33:F3: Photos of Perkins Institute Kindergarten in Jamaica Plain, circa 1910 
• B33:F4: Photos removed from Allen’s personal diaries, undated  
• B33:F5: Photos of Allen, circa 1890s-1931, undated 
• B33:F6: Photos of Allen with an early automobile, undated 
• B33:F7: Photos of German and foreign schools by Allen, circa 1909 
• B33:F8: Photos of foreign schools by Allen, circa 1909 
• B33:F9: Photos of Overbrook, undated [circa 1900] 
• B33:F10: Cyanotype, postcards, undated photographs, 1918, undated

Subject headings:

• Allen, Edward E. (Edward Ellis), 1861-1950
• Perkins School for the Blind–History
• Perkins School for the Blind
• People who are blind–Education
• Overbrook School for the Blind
• White House Conference on Child Health and Protection