The Carroll Center for the Blind photographs

Creator: 

• Carroll Center for the Blind, collector
• Henry E. Towle, photographer
• Egan Photo service, photographer

Date Range: 

Circa 1929-1956

Call Number:  

AG96

Abstract: 

This collection consists of photographs collected by the Carroll Center for the Blind, in Newton Massachusetts. The collection is labeled “Photos Perkins Children” and contains mostly 8” by 10” black and white photographs of students taken from 1929-1956. The collection includes photographs taken for the Stoneham Press “Listen” articles which document first communion class, first communion, breakfast, confirmation, St. Patrick, Watertown, and St. Joseph’s Academy, with some additional miscellaneous photos. 

Extent: 

.25 linear feet in one 1/2″ O-Ring Preservation Box Album.

Language: 

English

Processed by: 

Jen Hale, 2022.

Historical Note: 

The Carroll Center for the Blind began as the Catholic Guild for All the Blind in 1936. The Guild provided services that included financial aid, transportation, and help finding employment. It was led for many years by Father Thomas J. Caroll whose career was devoted to bettering the lives of those with blindness. In 1972, after the sudden death of Father Thomas J. Carroll, the organization was renamed The Carroll Center for the Blind in his honor. It was also then incorporated as a private non-profit.

Biographical Note: 

Father Thomas Carroll (1909-1971) was a pioneer in developing rehabilitation services for adults who were blinded. His early work focused on veterans of the Second World War. He helped start and lead the Catholic Guild for All the Blind in 1936, In 1952, Father Carroll started the first mobility program for cane use. In 1954, he established St. Paul’s Rehabilitation Center for the Blind, the first to offer extensive rehabilitation services to non-veterans. in 1963, Father Carroll founded the American Center for Research in Blindness and Rehabilitation, and in 1965, he was involved in creating St. Raphael’s Geriatric Adjustment Center. He served on many committees including the President’s Committee on Employment of the Handicapped and wrote the influential book, Blindness: What It Is, What It Does, And How to Live with It. He was honored with many awards during his career and when he died suddenly in 1971 the Catholic Guild for All the Blind was renamed the Carroll Center for the Blind to honor his contributions.

Sources of information:

• “Our History.” Carroll.org. Accessed 28 October 2022.
• “Our Founder.” Carroll.org. Accessed 28 October 2022.

Restrictions: 

Reproduction restricted due to privacy.

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:

AG96 The Carroll Center for the Blind Photographs. Perkins School for the Blind Archives, Watertown, MA.

Scope and contents: 

This collection of 65 black and white photographs primarily documents the activities of Perkins School for the Blind students’ First Communion activities from around 1929 to 1956. Mostly 8.5” by 11” black and white prints, many of the photographs include the names of the children and press notes. Several photographs from Stoneham press are related to “Listen”. Some photographs are taken at Perkins School for the Blind and many others are taken at Mt. St. Joseph. Religious photographs relate to St. Patrick’s Church, Watertown. 

Arrangement: 

3 Series, 1 box arranged chronologically within

• Series 1: Perkins children
• Series 2: Religious: First communion confirmation
• Series 3: Miscellaneous

Container list:

Box 1

• Series 1: Perkins children
  Photographs of students who attend Perkins, taken on campus
• Series 2: Religious: First communion confirmation
  Photographs in religious practice, primarily First Communion celebrations.
• Series 3: Miscellaneous
  Photographs and clippings in the collection that include students and adults.

Related collections:

Digitized Perkins Institution scrapbooks available on the Internet Archive

Provenance:

Donated by the Carroll Center for the Blind in 2018.

Subject headings: 

• Perkins School for the Blind.
• Perkins School for the Blind–History.
• Carroll Center for the Blind.
• First communion.