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Research Library collection

finding aid

Creator:

Perkins School for the Blind

Date Range:

1835-1967

Call Number:

AG118

Abstract:

A collection documenting the activities of the Perkins Library, the Blindiana Library at Perkins, and the Research Library. Topics include library services for the blind, the Blind in Art Collection at Perkins, history of the Perkins Library, and other collections maintained by the Perkins Library.

Extent:

2.75 linear feet, 6 manuscript boxes (1 oversize)

Language:

English

Processed by:

Susanna Coit, 2018

Biographical/Historical notes:

Library services began at Perkins in 1880. For most of a century, a single head librarian presided over three different collections. These were a circulating library of embossed and braille books, the Special Reference Library, and the school library for students (at one time called the Teachers’ Library, because the materials supported the curriculum).

Library services were reorganized in the 1960s. The circulating library became the Braille and Talking Book Library (now simply the Perkins Library). The student collection became the Secondary Library. The Research Library was formed to hold both historical materials and those for current practitioners.

Sources of information:

McGinnity, B.L., Seymour-Ford, J. and Andries, K.J. (2004) Perkins Braille and Talking Book Library. Perkins History Museum, Perkins School for the Blind, Watertown, MA.

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:

AG118 Research Library Collection. Perkins School for the Blind Archives, Watertown, MA.

Scope/Contents:

The collection documents the activities of the Perkins Library, the Blindiana Library at Perkins, and the Research Library at Perkins. Contains accession and register notebooks (including guest registers), indices of publications and clippings, reports, historical information, notes, and other administrative materials. Topics include blindness, libraries for the blind, the Blind in Art Collection at Perkins, and other library collections housed in the Perkins Library.

Arrangement:

B1:F1 = Box 1: Folder 1

This collection is arranged in five series:

  • Series 1: Accession Notebooks and Registers, 1786-2001, bulk 1901-1967
  • Series 2: Libraries for the Blind, 1894-1962
  • Series 3: Library, 1835-1966
  • Series 4: Blind in Art (Nelson Coon), 1913-1967
  • Series 5: Scrapbook, 1894-1947

Related collections:

AG89 Kenneth A. Stuckey Papers. Perkins School for the Blind Archives, Watertown, MA.

AG91 Nelson Coon Collection. Perkins School for the Blind Archives, Watertown, MA.

AG92 Laura M. Sawyer Papers. Perkins School for the Blind Archives, Watertown, MA.

AG38 Sarah Lane Collection. Perkins School for the Blind Archives, Watertown, MA.

AG129 Blind in Art Collection. Perkins School for the Blind Archives, Watertown, MA.

Libraries Digital Collection on Flickr

Blind in Art Digital Collection on Flickr

Container List:

Box: 1

Series 1: Accession Notebooks and Registers, 1786-2001, bulk 1901-1967

  • B1:F1: Blindiana Library Register, 1948-1967
  • B1:F2: Perkins Library for Research Guest Book, 1966-2001
  • B1:F3: Accession Book, Vol. 1, 1901-1916
  • B1:F4: Accession Book, Vol. 2, 1916-1920, 1921-1946
  • B1:F5: Inventory of Books, 1786-1845, undated
  • B1:F6: Accession Book, Vol. 3, 1946-1949
  • B1:F7: Accession Book, Vol. 4, 1949-1960
  • B1:F8: Accession Book, Vol. 5, 1960-1966
  • B1:F9: Accession Book, Vol. 6, 1966-1967
  • B1:F10: Pamphlets Accession Book, 1962-1967
  • B1:F11: Pamphlets Accession Book, 1967
  • B1:F11: Microfilms, Records, Films, Tapes Accession Book, 1963-1967

Box: 2

Series 2: Libraries for the Blind, 1894-1962

  • B2: F1: Libraries for the Blind Publications and Clippings, 1899-1933
  • B2:F2: Libraries for the Blind Publications and Clippings, 1898-1957, undated
  • B2:F3: Libraries for the Blind American Library Association (ALA) Publications and Clippings, 1906-1959, undated
  • B2:F4: Libraries for the Blind ALA Publications and Clippings, 1904-1920, undated
  • B2:F5: Libraries for the Blind Publications and Reports, 1894-1962, undated
  • B2:F6: Libraries for the Blind Pamphlets and Brochures, 1922-1961, undated

Box: 3

Series 2: Libraries for the Blind, 1882-1958

  • B3:F1: List of Embossed books collected by Howe, 1882
  • B3:F2: Report of the Committee on Library Work with the Blind, 1907
  • B3:F3: Growth and use of the Library, Pennsylvania School for the Blind, 1908
  • B3:F4: Literature for libraries for the blind, Lucille A. Goldthwaithe, 1921
  • B3:F5: Photographs and postcards, 1911, 1914, 1929, undated
  • B3:F6: Free Library of Philadelphia, 1931
  • B3:F7: Our Perkins Library, Eileen McNamara, 1937
  • B3:F8: Library work for the blind, 1941, 1951
  • B3:F9: Braille Library of the Valentin Huay Association, ca. 1957
  • B3:F10: Federal grants for libraries for the blind, undated, 1958
  • B3:F11: Regional libraries, undated
  • B3:F12: Raised type materials, undated
  • B3:F13: Cooperation with public libraries, undated
  • B3:F14: Library of Congress – Division for the Blind, photograph and letter, 1957
  • B4:F15: Progress in library service among the blind, 1929

Box: 4

Series 3: Library, 1835-1966

  • B4:F1: S. G. Howe reports on library, 1835-1919
  • B4:F2: Research Library stacks construction, 1924
  • B4:F3: History of Perkins Library, 1911-1953
  • B4:F4: Extracts from Reports on Schools, 1913
  • B4:F5: Library reports and statistics, 1920s-1950s
  • B4:F6: Inventory of libraries of embossed books, undated
  • B4:F7: Report of Library, E.E. Allen, 1910
  • B4:F8: Social statistics of Massachusetts Libraries and reading rooms, 1905
  • B4:F9: Library of Congress – Room for the Blind, 1920
  • B4:F10: Correspondence – Thos. S. Taylor (bookdealer) to Miss Laura Sawyer, 1906-1923
  • B4:F11: Answer to Mr. Allen’s inquiry concerning special libraries, 1931
  • B4:F12: Library survey, Frank C. Bryson, 1920
  • B4:F13: Library circulation, 1920-1950
  • B4:F14: Statistics of Libraries for the Blind (ALA), 1920
  • B4:F15: Miss Sawyer, Librarian pin, 1924
  • B4:F16: M.E. Sawyer Harvard class talks, 1941, 1942, 1950
  • B4:F17: New rate for mail for blind – clippings, 1904, 1910, 1915
  • B4:F18: Annual Report of the Librarian, 1948-1949, 1953-1954, 1955-1956
  • B4:F19: Annual Report, excerpts about the Library, 1912-1952
  • B4:F20: The Lantern, excerpts about the Library, 1947, 1948, 1958, 1966
  • B4:F21: Publications and clippings, 1918, 1922, 1953, undated
  • B4:F22: Paper – Outline, functions, and history of library, Nelson Coon, ca. 1951
  • B4:F23: Photograph – Mary Esther Sawyer, 1953

Box 5:

Series 3: Library (oversize), 1902-1959

  • B5:F1: The Blind-Report from J.F. Meehna, 1902-1910
  • B5:F2: [possibly] Key to Blind in Art Pictures or Pictures Accession notebook, 1902-1908
  • B5:F3: Zan nd Jaensch, Desden, Reports on books for the blind, 1902-1910
  • B5:F4: M. Gundu Rao, Lenden Mission Girl’s School, Petition for help, Bangladore, S. India, 1915
  • B5:F5: A Brief History of Guide Dogs for the Blind, Nelson Coon, 1959
  • B5:F6: Reports on books for the blind, undated

Box: 6

Series 4: Blind in Art (Nelson Coon), 1913-1967

  • B6:F1: Accession letter from N. Coon to K. Stuckey, 1967
  • B6:F2: Japanese, undated, 1913
  • B6:F3: Publications, 1942-1946, undated
  • B6:F4: Correspondence and notes, 1949, 1950, undated
  • B6:F5: Black and white transparencies (Microfilm), 1958, undated
  • B6:F6: Notecards and photographs, undated

Series 5: Scrapbook, 1894-1947

  • B6:F1: Extracts from letters, 1894-1937
  • B6:F2: Extracts from letters, 1896-1947

Subject headings:

  • Perkins School for the Blind.
  • Perkins School for the Blind–History.
  • Librarians.
  • Libraries.

Explore more resources from the Archives

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