Jean Sorel scrapbook

Creator:

Jean Sorel

Date Range:

1951-1993

Call number:

AG74

Abstract:

This collection consists of a scrapbook curated by Jean Sorel. The scrapbook contains clippings about services for the blind in Haiti and Montreal as well as articles about events that Sorel attended. There are also articles and letters written by Sorel. Many of the articles are in French.

Extent:

.25 linear feet, 1 box

Language:

English, French

Processed by: 

Susanna Coit, 2018

Biographical/Historical notes:

Jean Sorel was born in Jacmel in Haiti on January 1, 1928. He was blind at birth due to congenital glaucoma. Sorel’s mother and family advocated for him throughout his childhood and facilitated his education by having wooden letters made so that he could learn reading and writing.

Sorel learned to read and studied under the guidance of Dr. Justin Castera, Sr. After losing his eyesight in his 50s, Dr. Castera learned about braille while he was visiting France in 1933. When he returned home to Haiti, he began to learn braille with Sorel, who was 5 years old at the time. Sorel continued his education by reading braille books extensively until Dr. Castera died in 1938. Sorel enrolled in a class through Hadley Correspondence School and attended Perkins School for the Blind for 2 years between 1948 and 1950. He also completed teachers’ training courses at Harvard College in a collaborative program with Perkins.  

Sorel went on to attend law school from 1951 to 1953 and was the State University of Haiti’s first student who was visually impaired. He also taught classes for the blind at multiple schools, including St. Vincent School for Handicapped Children and the Hadley School. He hosted a radio show on Radio Haiti from 1956 to 1964 and was involved with a number organizations including the Haitian Society for the Blind, which he co-founded in 1952. He also continued to teach at his home in Jacmel before emigrating to Montreal in 1964, where he died on April 17, 2017.

Sources of information:

Coit, Susanna. “Jean Sorel.” Perkins Archives Blog, Perkins School for the Blind, Watertown, MA. February 9, 2022.

Haiti Sun, October 1957

“Blindness No Handicap For 28 Year Old Jean Sorel Now Popular Evening Announcer For Radio Haiti” Haiti Sun, July 22, 1956. 

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:

AG74 Jean Sorel Scrapbook. Perkins School for the Blind Archives, Watertown, MA.

Scope/Contents:

This collection consists of a scrapbook curated by Jean Sorel. The scrapbook contains clippings about services for the blind in Haiti and Montreal as well as articles about events that Sorel attended. There are also articles and letters written by Sorel. Many of the articles are in French. The collection also contains a documentary (DVD) about Jean Sorel, produced in 2014.

Arrangement:

This collection contains one bound scrapbook and one DVD. The articles in the scrapbook are arranged in the scrapbook by the creator in no discernible order.

Container List:

Box 1:

• Scrapbook (1951-1993)
• Jean Sorel de Jacmel A Montreal, Un Exceptionnel Parcours Dans Le Noir, Un documentaire de Roger Boisrond, 2014

Provenance:

This collection was donated by Jean Sorel. It was acknowledged by the Archives in 2012.

Subject Headings:

• Perkins School for the Blind.
• Perkins School for the Blind–History.
• Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
• Jacmel, Haiti.
• Montreal, Canada.
• Harvard College.