Special Reports, Perkins Board of Trustees and Administration collection

Creator:

Perkins School for the Blind

Date Range:

1833-1889

Call Number:

AG32

Abstract:

Assortment of documents and correspondence relating to various activities and issues relating to Perkins School for the Blind, including student behavior, financial issues, and legal papers.  Highlights of the collection include correspondence from former directors Samuel Gridley Howe and Michael Anagnos, reports made by various committees of the Board of Trustees, reports on racial relations, cold water bathing, and the school’s workshop.

Extent:

1.38 linear feet ; 1 series, 2 boxes

Language:

English

Processed by:

Stephanie Molnar, 2013 

Processing note:

This collection was processed with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities, Division of Preservation and Access, Washington, D.C., 2012-2015.

Biographical/Historical notes:

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.

Sources of information:

McGinnity, B.L., Seymour-Ford, J. and Andries, K.J. (2004) Founders. 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:

AG32 Special Reports, Perkins Board of Trustees and Administration Collection. Perkins School for the Blind Archives, Watertown, MA.

Scope/Contents:

Correspondence, copies of legal documents, petitions, testimonies relating to former students, and documents relating to school workshops/machinery.

Arrangement:

B1:F1 = Box 1: Folder 1

Related collections:

AG9 Michael Anagnos Collection. Perkins School for the Blind Archives, Watertown, MA.

AG18 Samuel Gridley Howe Collection. Perkins School for the Blind Archives, Watertown, MA.

Container List:

Series 1: Samuel Gridley Howe Correspondence   

Box 1

• B1:F1: Correspondence, addressed to and from Samuel Gridley Howe regarding debt of Mr. James M. Stone including testimonies confirming debt form various persons, Mr. Stone was the Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1866-1867, 2 letters and 1 copy of testimony, 1872   
• B1:F2: Correspondence, addressed to and from Samuel Gridley Howe, 1837-1839, 1867-1869   
• B1:F3-B1:F14: Correspondence, addressed to Samuel Gridley Howe/Director of Perkins School for the Blind, 1860    
• B1:F15-16: Correspondence, addressed to Samuel Gridley Howe/Director of Perkins School for the Blind, 1865   

Series 2: Michael Anagnos Correspondence   

• B1:F17: Correspondence, addressed to Michael Anagnos, 1881-1889

Series 3: Estimates   

Box 2  

• B2:F1: Laundry, Estimates from Crawford & Poland and Oakley & Keating for laundry machinery, 3 letters, 1888   
• B2:F2: Steam Heating, Estimate from T.S. Clogston & Co. For a steam heating apparatus addressed to Samuel Gridley Howe, 1 letter, 1868   

Series 4: Staff Duties/Affairs   

• B2:F3: Duties of boys’ matrons and music teachers, undated  
• B2:F4: Agreements with facilities staff, 1835   
• B2:F5: Report on salary of director, about 1855   
• B2:F6: Report on salary of director, 1867     

Series 5: Student Boarding    

• B2:F7: Report of Committee on Method of Boarding Pupils, made by Edward Brooks and John Dix Fisher, 1833   
• B2:F8: Report on Committee on Boarding of the Pupils, made by Edward Brooks and John Homans, 1834   
• B2:F9: Report on Committee on Boarding Pupils, made by William Hikling Prescott, 1838   
• B2:F10: Report on Committee on Boarding Pupils, Read and Accepted, made by J.K. Mills and Sam A. May, 1840    
• B2:F11: Correspondence, to Howe in regards to separation of sexes in housing arrangements, 1868

Series 6: Financial Information for School Facilities   

• B2:F12: Cost of printing office, 1842-1869   
• B2:F13: Report on shop business to Mr. Fairbanks, 1843, 1844   
• B2:F14: Report of Boy’s Shop, 1850-1852   
• B2:F15: Report of Boy’s Shop, 1853   
• B2:F16: Store expenses, 1857
  • Assets and liabilities, 1857   
  • Special report on workshop, 1856   
  • Letters and invoices relating to the printing of various books, 3 pages, 1856-1857   
  • Documents regarding the running of the work department, 1844-1846      
  • Correspondence, wages for workshop, 1868   
  • Correspondence, employment of D. Long and discussion of employment and salary, 1 letter, 1856   
  • Correspondence, addressed to Samuel Gridley Howe from D. Long regarding employment and salary, 1 letter, 1856    
  • Proposal of J.G. Robbins to L.K. Marston for running workshop and laundry, 1868    
• B2:F17: Financial document for workshop, undated 

Series 7: Cold Water Bathing   

• B2: F18: Report, by Dr. Edward Jarvis to the Board of Trustees on cold water bathing, 1872   
• B2: F19: Report, by Dr. Edward Jarvis, 1872
  • Petition to Physicians and others against cold water bathing, referring to it as “abusive and injurious,” signed by 65 people, undated   
  • Copy of the vote of the committee on public charities, signed by B.B. Breed and [M.]D. Stedman, 1872   
  • Correspondence, from Hamilton A. Hill to Dr. Edward Jarvis of Perkins regarding Committee on Public Charities, 1872   
  • Minutes made by Dr. Jarvis on bathing, undated   
  • Extract from Combe’s Physiology in regards to bathing, n.d   
  • Correspondence, addressed to Misters Brooks and Elliott (Committee of Trustees) on the Application of J.M. Lewis and other persons, 1872   
  • Directors Quarterly Report to the Board of Trustees from Dr. Edward Jarvis, 1872   

Series 8: Dempsey Sherrod   

Dempsey B. Sherrod was a blind man from Mississippi.  He helped to establish The American Printing House for the Blind in the 1860s in Kentucky.  In 1875, Samuel Gridley Howe wrote a pamphlet entitled: “Warning Against Dempsey B. Sherrod, and his Proposed American Printing House, and University for the Blind. Showing the True History and Character of the Man and of His Pretended Establishments.”  In this pamphlet, Howe denounces Sherrod as a “bold, bad, blind man” and accused him of raising money for printing, without giving “one page of printed matter to the blind.”  He also refers to Sherrod as a “marauder,” “quack,” and “utterly unworthy of having funds or names entrusted to him.”   

Source: Howe, Samuel G. Warning Against Dempsey B. Sherrod, and His Proposed American PrintingHouse, and University for the Blind. Boston: Inquirer Job, 1875. Print.   

• B2: F20-21: Documents are in original order in file. Copies of the Appendix are signed by principals and superintendents of various schools/organizations of the blind, denouncing Dempsey Sherrod’s character.  Several copies are accompanied by a personal message to Howe or, lacking a copy of the Appendix, just a letter was sent.  Unless otherwise noted, all letters/copies are dated March 5, 1875.  Also, a large number of the documents are copies of the Appendix with a copied signature of John Nichols, Principal, North Carolina Institution for the Blind/ North Carolina Institution for the D. & D. & Blind, stating that the signee does not know the facts of the case but is satisfied with the Appendix statement.
  • “Appendix,” denouncing the character of Dempsey Sherrod with a list of several leaders of national schools for the blind, signed by:
  • McWorkman, [Jas], Superintendent, Missouri Institution for the Blind, with accompanying letter, April 1, 1875
  • Noyes, J.L., Superintendent, Minnesota Institution for the D. & D. & Blind, March 11, 1875
  • Wait, Esq., W.D., New York Institution for the Blind, with accompanying indecipherable letter, March 25, 1875
  • Hall, H.L., Superintendent and Financial Agent for Pennsylvania Work Home for Blind Men and Sole Agent for American Print House for the Blind
  • Chapin, William, Principal of the Pennsylvania Institution for the Blind
  • Sturtevant, J.M., Superintendent, Tennessee Institution of the Blind
  • Smead, G.L., Superintendent, Ohio Institution of the Blind
  • Nichols, John, Principal, North Carolina Institution for the Blind, possible amendment written by Mr. Nichols
  • Covell, J.C., Principal, West Virginia Institution for D. & D. & the Blind
  • McCoy, Chas D., Principal, Virginia Institution for D. & D. & Blind, on back: “Chas D.
  • McCoy authorizes Dr. to sign for him if other superintendents sign”
  • Wilkinson, Warring, Principal, California Institution for the D.D. & Blind, March 16, 1875
  • Babcock, John H., Superintendent, Oregon Institute for the Blind, March 19, 1875
  • Johnson, Jo. H., Principal, Institution for the D. & D. & the Blind, Alabama, March 11, 1875
  • Churchman, W.H., Superintendent, Indiana Institute for the Blind
  • Huntoon, B.B., Superintendent, Kentucky Institution for the Blind
  • Bacon, Samuel, Superintendent, Nebraska Institution for the Blind, March 1875
  • Williams, W.D., Principal, Georgia Academy for the Blind, March 1875
  • Parker, J.D., Superintendent, Kansas Institution for the Blind
  • Merrill, Mrs. S.B., Former Superintendent, Mississippi Institution for the Blind, signed copy of Appendix
  • Bangs, Egbert L., Principal, Michigan Institution for the D. & D. & Blind, with accompanying letter from Egbert Bangs, April 3, 1875
  • Phillips, T.W., Superintendent, Illinois Institution for the Blind
  • Knapp, S.A., Principal, Iowa College for Blind
  • Parker, John D., letter to Howe regarding Appendix, April 2, 1875
  • Phillips, T.W., letter to Howe regarding Sherrod’s character, April 1, 1875
  • Lane, P., copy of Appendix with a letter glued to the bottom signed by Mr. Lane, n.d.
  • Morrison, F.D., Superintendent, Maryland Institution for the Blind
  • Patten, Otis, Superintendent, Arkansas Institution for the Blind, letter dated March 10, 1875

Series 9: Student Behavior

Subseries 1: Frank Van Dusen   

• B2:F22: Documents concerning the character of former Perkins student Frank Van Dusen, correspondence from Samuel Gridley Howe to Frank Van Dusen regarding a denial of his request for readmittance, and a copy of the minutes of the board meeting from December 1, 1858 regarding Frank Van Dusen’s alleged arson and subsequent “mania,” 1864   

Subseries 2: Joseph Emerson   

• B2:F23: Comprehensive report including the testimonies and evidence regarding the suicide of student Joseph Emerson by hanging.  Testimonies outline Emerson’s mental state at the time, recent activities, and his history of suicidal thoughts, 1867. 

Subseries 3: Special Reports

• B2:F24: Special report, regarding dismissal from institution of Henry P. Thayer and Cornelius McCullach for running away, 1844
• B2:F25: Letter to Senate and House of Representatives on murder, involuntary manslaughter, and its relation to mental illness, 1870

Series 10: Administrative Papers

• B2:B26: Report on extension of premises and repairs, 1833, 1835
• B2:F27: Report on relocation of Perkins, partially written by Samuel Gridley Howe, 1838, 1859
• B2:F28: Correspondence, to Samuel Gridley Howe from architects Preston, Snell, Cummings, and Sears regarding construction of new buildings and letter “urging state appropriation for new buildings,” 5 letters, 1869
• B2:F29: Documents relating to the name change of the school, 6 documents, 1874
  • Correspondence, from Howe, 1 letter, 1874
  • Correspondence, addressed Howe and Board of Trustees from E.N. Perkins, 3 letters, 1874
  • Extract from Annual Report on the name and objects of the Institution, 2 documents

Series 11: Various Special Reports

• B2:F30: Report on admitting colored pupils, 1833
• B2:F31: Report on memento (painting/bust) to Colonel Perkins, 1833
• B2:F32: Report on maps, 1835
• B2:F33: Report of Committee on Organ Music, made by John Dix Fisher, 1835
• B2:F34: Report of Committee on Organ Music, made by William P. Mason and John Dix Fisher, 1835
• B2:F35: Report of Committee on Labour of Pupils, 1835
• B2:F36: Report on future wants of the institution, made by Samuel Gridley Howe, 1835
• B2:F37: Report of Committee for Investigating Changes, made by Edward Brooks and John Dix Fisher, 1840
• B2:F38: Specials reports on Parker’s legacy, made by Samuel Gridley Howe, 1845
• B2:F39: Report of Committee on Admission of Pupils, made by William Hickling Prescott, n.d.

Series 12: Miscellaneous Papers

• B2:F40: Notes on curriculum and policies of the school, possibly written by Samuel Gridley Howe, n.d.
• B2:F41: Treasurer’s Report, 1834
• B2:F42: Documents on a variety of topics itemized below, 1869-1883
  • Copy of Deed to Commonwealth, 1870
  • Correspondence, from Attorney General, 1870
  • Order from the Council Chamber of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1870
  • Correspondence, from Cummings Sears, memo of lots deeded to the Commonwealth, n.d.
  • Blethen & Blethen Libel & Order, 1878
  • Harnett & Solomons agreement to supply a “Post Press.” 5 cent stamp, 1870
  • Correspondence, from the Executor of the estate of John Simpleton, 1874
  • Legal opinion in regard to right erect houses for rent to Misters Sturgis and Glover of the Committee of the Perkins Institution from F.V. Balch, 1883
  • Correspondence, addressed to Perkins School from James Sturgis, Joseph Glover, and [S.G. Snelling], 1883
  • Agreement on purchase of a printing press and patterns from Preston R. Mansfield, Administrator of the Estate of S.P. Ruggles, 1881
• B2:F43: Memo receipt from Wm. Endicott, Treasurer regarding the Deed of Thomas H. Perkins to N.E. Institution for the Blind, 1869
  • Contract with City of Boston regarding the cleaning and repair of all pianos owned by the city from May 1878 through May 1879, 1878
  • Correspondence, from City of Boston clerk William Porter for Perkins to tune pianos from May 1, 1880-May 1, 1881, 1880
  • Correspondence, regarding cleaning and repair of all pianos owned by the city, 1880
  • Measurements and value of Perkins property on corner of Day and Perkins Streets Award from Centennial Fair for good work of the school, International Exhibition, Philadelphia, 1876
  • Original copy of petition of pupils, against Mr. Campbell’s return, 1870
  • James S. Bowen Statement, lists names and dollar amounts, [1875]
• B2:F44: Copy of last will and testament of William Oliver, 1843
• B2:F45: Horace Mann accounts and bills paid, 1859-1865
• B2:F46: Resolutions of The Alumnae Association, 1889

Box 3

Original file folders with ties

Subject headings:

• Sherrod, Dempsey B.
• Howe, S. G. (Samuel Gridley), 1801-1876
• Anagnos, Michael, 1837-1906
• Perkins, Thomas Handasyd, 1764-1854  
• Mann, Horace K. (Horace Kinder), 1859-1928
• Fisher, John D. (John Dix), 1797-1850 
• Perkins School for the Blind.
• Perkins School for the Blind–History.