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Perkins Outreach and Perkins International photograph collection

finding aid

Creator:

Perkins School for the Blind

Date Range:

1960s-2007

Call Number:

AG125

Abstract:

This collection contains slides, photographs, photo albums, newspaper clippings, and manuscripts used for Perkins School of the Blind publications, Perkins/ Hilton International Program, and other student activities.  The bulk of the material relates to the International Program.  

Extent:

15 linear feet

Language:

English

Processed by:

Kalee Mitchelson, 2015

Biographical/Historical note:

In 1829, Perkins School for the Blind became the first school of its kind in the United States. Inspired by the school founded in Paris in 1784, Dr. John Dix Fisher gathered together a group of fellow Bostonians who advocated successfully for a school in Boston dedicated to the education of pupils who were blind. Contrary to popular perceptions at the time, the school’s founders believed that people who were blind could be educated and could live independently. 

The school opened to students in 1832 under our first director, Samuel Gridley Howe. Students followed a curriculum divided between academic subjects similar to any other school in Boston, and curriculum designed to improve tactile dexterity and provide employment options. Physical activity including daily walks, calisthenics, swimming, and rowing were also an important part of the curriculum. 

In 1837, eight-year old Laura Bridgman came to Perkins to be educated. She would become the first person who was deafblind to complete a formal education. The initiative would bring Anne Sullivan and Helen Keller together 50 years later and would evolve into the Perkins Deafblind School that continues to be a leader in the field today.

High demand required the school to move several times to accommodate more students. In 1912 the Watertown campus opened and was the first home to Perkins designed especially for students who were blind. This campus combined accessible architectural elements with an abundance of outdoor space that helped us improve the quality of services for our students. 

Over the years, Perkins has responded directly to the evolving needs of children who are blind or visually impaired. For example, Perkins expanded its Deafblind Program tenfold in the 1960s in response to the surge of babies born with deafblindness due to the rubella epidemic. With mainstreaming beginning in the 1970s, inclusive public education became the model for students who were blind.

Perkins continues to focus on students with multiple disabilities, supplemental outreach programming, and early childhood education. Perkins also supports the families, educators, professionals and researchers who support children through educational and accessibility services, and professional development.

Restrictions:

Collections restricted to internal use only due to student privacy.

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:

AG125 Perkins Outreach/ International Photograph Collection, 1978-2007. Perkins School for the Blind Archives, Watertown, MA.

Scope/Contents:

The majority of this collection is comprised of Hilton/Perkins International, a program that brings services to blind, deafblind, and children with multiple disabilities in more than fifty developing countries around the world.  A variety of Perkins publications are also included – most notably, Remarkable Conversations (1999), which was published in order to address the special needs of children who communicate in nonlinguistic styles.  Additionally, the services that Perkins has brought its students have ranged from Deafblind programs; special events, such as horseback riding and holiday concerts; as well as educational programs, both for its students and teachers.  

Arrangement:

9 series and 5 subseries, 27 boxes (2 Oversize)

  • Series 1: Hilton Perkins International Program 
  • Series 2: Perkins Publications
    • Subseries 1: Remarkable Conversations 
  • Series 3: Deafblind Program 
  • Series 4: Outreach/Extracurricular 
  • Series 5: Special Events
  • Series 6: Educational Programs 
  • Series 7: Graduation  
  • Series 8: Preschool 
  • Series 9: Perkins Photos
    • Subseries 1: People 
    • Subseries 2: Misc. 
    • Subseries 3: Building Photos – Specific 
    • Subseries 4: Campus Photos – General

AG84 Perkins Trust Photograph Collection. Perkins School for the Blind Archives, Watertown, MA.

Container List:

Series 1: Hilton Perkins International Program 

Box 1 

  • B1:F1: Afghanistan, prints, undated   
  • B1:F2-5: Africa, prints, 1993-2000
  • B1:F6: Africa, Africa Forum, prints, 1996 
  • B1:F7: Africa, Sibonile School, prints and manuscript, 1999
  • B1:F8-10: Argentina, prints, ca.2000   

Box 2 

  • B2:F1-2: Asia, prints, undated 
  • B22: Asia, Deaf Blind, photo album, 1996 
  • B22: Asia, Deaf Blind, photo album, 1996 
  • B22: Asia, Deaf Blind, photo album, undated 
  • B22: Asia, Family Workshop, Deaf Blind, photo album, 1999 
  • B22: Asia, Family Workshop, Deaf Blind, photo album, 1999 
  • B22: Asia, photo album, undated
  • B2:F3-4: Belize (Caribbean), prints, undated 
  • B2:F5-6: Brazil, prints, publications, news clippings, circa 2001 
  • B2:F7: Brazil, Sao Paulo, mounted prints, manuscripts, undated 
  • B2:F8: Bulgaria, prints, 2003 
  • B2:F9: Caribbean, prints, undated 
  • B2:F10: Chile, manuscripts, prints, undated 
  • B2:F11-13: China, prints, manuscripts, circa 1980s-2000s B22: China, photo album, undated 
  • B2:F14-17: Columbia, mounted photos, manuscripts, circa 1996-2000 
  • B22: Columbia, photo album, letter, 1996-2000 
  • B2:F18: Costa Rica, mounted photos, manuscripts, news clippings, undated 
  • B2:F19: Czech Republic, prints, publications, 1999-2000   

Box 3

  • B3:F1: Dominican Republic, photo album, undated 
  • B3:F2-4: Eastern Europe/Russia, prints, manuscripts, undated 
  • B3:F5: Estonia Project, prints, August 2004 
  • B3:F6: Greece, publications, undated 
  • B3:F7: Guatemala, prints, undated 
  • B3:F8: Hungary, prints, 1994 
  • B3:F9-10: India, prints, manuscripts, circa 1998 
  • B3:F11: India, Rothstein CD, Mike Collins, Bangladesh India, undated 
  • B21:F2: India (Mumbai), mounted photos, undated   
  • B3:F12: National Resource and Training Centre for Children with Vision Impairment and additional disabilities (Mumbai), manuscripts, undated 
  • B3:F13: Indonesia, prints, manuscripts, news clipping, circa 1997 
  • B22: Jakarta, Indonesia, School for the Blind and Ministry of Education, photo album, undated               
  • B21:F1: Deafblind Activity Photos, Indonesia, 1998-1999 (Oversize) 
  • B3:F14: Israel, manuscripts, print, circa 2004 
  • B3:F15: Japan, prints, circa 2000 
  • B3:F16-17: Latin America, prints, manuscripts, undated 
  • B3:F18: Malaysia, Malawi Union, prints, Fall 2004 
  • B22: Kuala Lampur, Malaysia, Blind Rehabilitation Center and Reception, photo album, undated      
  • B22: Penang, Malaysia, St. Nicholas School for the Blind, photo album, undated 
  • B3:F19: Mexico, publication, mounted prints, 1998 
  • B3:F20: Nepal, prints, undated 
  • B3:F21: Peru, prints, mounted prints, manuscripts, news clippings, 1998-2000   

Box 4

  • B4:F1: Poland, prints, publication, 1994 
  • B4:F2: Portugal, prints, undated 
  • B4:F3: Romania, prints, publications, manuscripts, undated 
  • B4:F4-5: Russia, prints, CD, circa 2002 
  • B4:F6: Slovakia, mounted prints, prints, publications, news clippings, undated 
  • B4:F7: South Africa, prints, undated 
  • B4:F8: South Africa, Sibonile School, Deaf Blind, prints, mounted prints, news clippings, circa 2004 
  • B4:F9-10: South America, mounted prints, prints, circa 1994 
  • B22: South America, photo album, undated   
  • B4:F11: St. Lucia (Caribbean), mounted prints, prints, circa 2002 
  • B4:F12: Thailand, Princess of Thailand, prints, November 14, 1992 
  • B4:F13: Thailand, mounted prints, prints, circa 2002 
  • B22: Bankok [sic] School for the Blind, photo album, undated 
  • B22: Bangkok, Thailand, photo album, undated 
  • B4:F14: Turkey, photo album, prints, 2000-2001 
  • B21:F4: Turkey, prints, 2001-2004 (Oversize) 
  • B4:F15: Venezuela, prints, publication, circa 1997  

Box 5: International, Misc. Photos (circa 1990s-2000s) 

  • B5:F1: “Hilton Perkins File,” prints, 1992, 1998, 1999 
  • B5:F2:  Hilton Perkins, photo slides, 1997 
  • B5:F3: International N.J., prints, mounted prints, manuscripts, publications, Pre-1998 
  • B5:F4: D.B.I., prints, undated 
  • B5:F6-12: prints, photo slides, manuscripts, undated 
  • B5:F13: Kevin Lessard, China, undated 
  • B5:F14: Kevin Lessard, Cuba, undated 
  • B5:F15-16, B6:F14: Marianne Riggio, photo slides, prints, undated 
  • B22: photo album, pre-1998   
  • B22: photo album, undated 

Box 6: International, Misc. Photos, Reports, Programs, etc. (1970s-2000s) 

  • B6:F1: Prevocational, photo slides, 1978-1979 
  • B6:F2: Hilton Perkins National/N.Y, Helen Keller Services for the Blind, prints, 1992 
  • B6:F3: Hilton Perkins Building Dedication, prints, Oct.6, 1994 
  • B6:F4: International Program Educators, prints, July 1996 
  • B6:F5: Keyans and Secondary Art Show, prints, Feb. 1999 
  • B6:F6: “Fundal Progress Report,” manuscript/publication, mounted prints, 2001-2002 
  • B6:F7: General Brochure, Spanish, prints, publication, 2003-2004 
  • B6:F8: Medellin Project, CD, 2004 
  • B6:F9: Parents – Deaf Blind, prints, manuscripts/publications, circa 2004 
  • B6:F10: Brochure, Robert Guthrie, artwork, mounted prints, prints, undated 
  • B6:F11: Online Training, manuscripts, undated 
  • B6:F12: International Program Display, mounted prints, undated 
  • B6:F13: Staff, ELPs, mounted prints, undated  
  • B6:F14: Program/Department Supervisors, prints, undated 
  • B6:F15: “Hilton Perkins International – Worldwide Training,” publication packets, 1989-1992 
  • B6:F16: Marianne Riggio, prints, undated 
  • B21:F3: Prints, 1992 (Oversize) 
  • B23: Slides, Argentina, Egypt, Hong Kong (China), Czechoslovakia, 1992 
  • B24: Negatives, Hungary, India, Poland, circa 1992 
  • B24: Negatives, contact sheets, Argentina, Thailand, 1989     

Series 2: Perkins Publications 

Box 7

  • B7:F1-2: Capital Campaign Brochure, prints, photo slides, 1986-1987, 1995 
  • B7:F3-4: Christmas Cards, photos, artwork, manuscripts, circa 1993 
  • B7:F5: Children Learn Together, print slides, Jan. 1976 
  • B7:F6-7: The Educator, prints, manuscripts, 1994-1995, Winter 1996-1998 
  • B7:F8: Empowerment of the Blind, manuscript, undated 
  • B7:F9-12: Howe Press Catalog, prints, manuscripts, publications, circa 1991-1999 
  • B7:F13: “In Celebration of Grandparenting,” prints, undated     

Box 8 

  • B8:F1: Newsletters/Brochures, prints, 1990s 
  • B8:F2: Newsletter, mounted print, 1999 
  • B8:F7: Secondary Housekeeping Manual, prints, 1998 
  • B8:F8: Section opener photos, prints, undated 
  • B8:F9: unknown publication, prints, 2004 
  • B8:F10: web pics, photo slides, prints, undated    

Subseries 1: Remarkable Conversations 

  • B8:F3: Remarkable Conversations, Ch. 1-6, photo slides, manuscripts, circa 2000 
  • B8:F4: Remarkable Conversations, Ch. 7-10, photo slides, manuscript, circa 2000 
  • B8:F5: Remarkable Conversations, Ch.11, photo slides, manuscript, circa 2000 
  • B8:F6: Remarkable Conversations, Ch.11-end, photo slides, manuscript, circa 2000 
  • B25-26: Remarkable Conversations, slides taken by John Kenn, 1998-1999     

Series 3: Deaf Blind Program 

Box 9: Deaf Blind (1980s-2000s) 

  • B9:F1: Program Overview, M. Collins, photo slides, 1980 
  • B9:F2: Deaf Blind Services, prints, manuscripts, news clipping, 1990s 
  • B9:F3: Prints, 1994-2006 
  • B9:F4: Prints, 1997 
  • B9:F5: Prints, 1998-1999 
  • B9:F6: Disney Cookout, prints, 1999 
  • B9:F7: Prints 2000-2002 
  • B9:F8: Christmas, prints, 2000 
  • B9:F9: Chris Jett, prints, undated 
  • B21:F5: Chris Jett, prints, undated (Oversize) 
  • B9:F10: Jaimi Laird, prints, undated 
  • B9:F11: Bobbie Lee/ Vinny Communicating for Barbara Mason, CD, undated 
  • B9:F12: Anne Sullivan Awards, prints, undated 
  • B9:F13: Lion’s Club, Panda Project, prints, manuscript, undated 
  • B9:F14: Representative Lions, prints, undated 
  • B9:F15: Prints, undated 
  • B9:F16: Photo slides, undated 
  • B21:F5: Photos, undated     

Series 4: Outreach/Extracurricular (circa 1990s-2000s) 

Box 10: Outreach/ Extracurricular (circa 1990s-2000s) 

  • B10:F1-2: Prints, undated B10:F3-4: Outreach, prints, circa 1997-2000s 
  • B10:F5: Outreach Weekend, Horseback Riding, prints, 10/29/2000 
  • B10:F6: Outreach S.U.C.S., Bulletin Board, mounted prints, prints, undated 
  • B27: Student artwork, prints & original drawing, undated   

Series 5: Special Events (circa 1970s-2000s) 

Box 11 

  • B11:F1: Author’s Brunch, publications, prints, Braille/embossed papers, 2002 
  • B11:F2: Dick Carlson, prints, undated 
  • B11:F3: Dick Carlson & Wife w/South Africa Deputy President Mbeki, prints, 1998 
  • B11:F4: Corporation Day, prints, Fall 2002 
  • B11:F5: Eyes, prints, undated 
  • B11:F6: Helen Fernald, Retirement Party, prints, 1994 
  • B11:F7-9: Field Day, prints, 2000-2001 
  • B11:F10: Holiday Concert, prints, manuscripts, undated 
  • B11:F11: Science Visit, prints, Fall 2002-2003   

Box 12 

  • B12:F1-2: Senior Yearbook, prints, manuscripts, 1998 
  • B12:F3-8: Special Events, prints, 1999-2002   

Box 13

  • B13:F1-4: Special Events, prints, circa 2003 
  • B13:F5: Trustees Corporation, prints, manuscripts, 1970s-2004 
  • B13:F6: Volunteers, prints, 1987-1994   

Series 6: Educational Programs 

Box 14: Education Programs (1960s-2000s) 

  • B14: F1-2: Elderly Program, prints, 1992-1998 
  • B14:F3-4: Infant Toddler Program, prints, photo slides, 10/1978, 1994-2007 
  • B14:F5-6: Lower School Program, prints, 1990s-early 2000s, 1994-2001 
  • B14:F7-8: Secondary Program, prints, 1997-1999 
  • B14:F9: Teacher Education, prints, 1960s-1980s 
  • B14:F10: Teacher Education, Education Leadership Program, prints, 1995 
  • B21:F7: Greenhouse, horticultural therapy, prints, undated (Oversize)   

Box 15: Education and Employee Recognition 

  • B15:F1-2: Employee Recognition, prints, 1998-2001 
  • B15:F3: Kim Carlson, Employee, print, undated 
  • B15:F4: Donald Hubbs, Employee, prints, undated 
  • B15:F5: Employees, prints, undated 
  • B15:F6: Life Skills, prints, 1990s 
  • B15:F7-8: Sign Language, prints, undated 

Series 7: Graduation 

  • B16:F1: Prints, 1985, 1997, 1998 
  • B16:F2: Prints, 1998
  • B16:F3: Prints, 2000, 2002     
  • B16:F4: Prints, 2002
  • B16:F5: Prints, 2003 
  • B16:F6: Prints, 2007   
  • B22: Education Leadership Program, Graduation Exercises, photo binder, May 18, 2004   

Series 8: Preschool   

  • B16:F7: Prints, 1992, 1997-1998, 2004 
  • B16:F8: Prints, 1998-1999 B16:F9: Prints, 2002 
  • B16:F10: Prints, undated B16:F11: Deaf Blind, prints, undated   

Series 9: Perkins Photos

Subseries 1: People (circa 1800s-2005) 

  • B27: Don Hubbs, President, Hilton Foundation, portrait, undated (Oversize) 
  • B17:F1: Helen Keller, Anne Sullivan, prints, undated   
  • B17:F2: Jaimie Lard, prints, undated 
  • B17:F3: Kevin Lessard, prints, undated 
  • B17:F4: James Montenero on Toy BMW, prints, undated 
  • B17:F5: Martha Runners, prints, 2002-2003 
  • B17:F6: Prints, circa 1998 
  • B17:F7: “Final Perkins Photos,” prints, circa 2003 
  • B17:F8: Prints, circa 2004 B17:F9-12: Prints, 2005 
  • B27: Students, photographs taken by Armon Benneian, undated

Subseries 2: Misc. Photos (1992-circa 2002) 

  • B18:F1: Prints, Brochures, undated 
  • B18:F2: Prints, undated
  • B18:F3-4: Portraits, prints, circa 2002 
  • B18:F5-12 : Misc., prints, circa 1992-2002 
  • B18:F13: Life reprint, Mary Ellen Mark Photographs, circa 1990 
  • B18:F14: Orig Perkins, K6627, photo negatives, prints, 9/25/2000 

Subseries 3: Building Photos – Specific, (circa 1997-2002) 

  • B19:F1: Assistive Device Center, Fall 2002 
  • B19:F2: Braille Talking Book Library Press Conference (Grunwald), prints, undated 
  • B19:F3-4: Braille Talking Book Library, prints, undated
  • B19:F5-6: Greenhouse, Opening Photographs, prints, undated 
  • B19:F7-8: Greenhouse, Horticultural Therapy, prints, undated 
  • B19:F9: Research Library, prints, 1997 

Subseries 4: Campus Photos – General (circa 1980s-1990s) 

  • B20:F1: Aerial Shots, prints, 1984, 2004 
  • B20:F2-3: Aerial Shots, prints, 1993 
  • B20:F4: Aerial Shots, prints, undated 
  • B27: Aerial campus photos, undated 
  • B20:F5-6: Floor Plans, manuscripts, undated 
  • B20:F7: Campus, General, photo slides, prints, undated
  • B27: Campus maps & building illustrations, undated 
  • B20:F8: Howe Building, manuscripts, prints, undated                           

Provenance:

Created by or for Perkins School for the Blind

Subject headings:

  • Perkins School for the Blind.
  • Perkins School for the Blind–History.
  • People who are deafblind–Education
  • Teachers of people who are deafblind
  • People who are blind–Education
  • Teachers of people who are blind

Explore more resources from the Archives

Learn more about our collections, including digitized materials, and resources related to the history of Perkins School for the Blind and the history of education for people with blindness or deafblindness.