Uniform Type Committee collection

Creator:

Perkins School for the Blind

Date Range:

1908-1921

Call Number:

AG106

Abstract:

The Uniform Type Committee was formed in 1905 to unify code for all English-speaking readers.  In 1913, they proposed the “Standard Dot” system, which combined Modified Braille, British Braille, and New York Point.  This collection includes correspondence, project files, and embossed test sheets from the Uniform Type Committee for Revised Braille, between the years 1908-1921.  A large amount of correspondence exists from committee members H.R. Latimer, Thomas S. Maloney, E.H. Fowler, and President of the American Association of Instructors of the Blind, Edward Allen.  An embossed book for the Uniform Type Committee, “Baby Boy” by Horace Hazeltine (1915), is also included.

Extent:

3 linear feet, 3 boxes

Language:

English, Braille

Processed by:

Kalee Mitchelson, 2017

Biographical/Historical notes:

The Uniform Type Committee, formed in 1905, agreed that there should be a single uniform code for all English-speaking readers, and that the embossed alphabets should be discontinued. The committee devised a legibility test and discovered that British braille was superior to Modified braille and New York Point.

In 1913, the Uniform Type Committee presented “Standard Dot,” which attempted to combine the advantages of all three systems: Modified braille, British braille, and New York Point. The British, however, refused to undergo the expense and disruption of imposing yet another code, having done so only a few years earlier during the 1905 revision of British braille. “Standard Dot” was abandoned by the Uniform Type Committee.

Sources of information:

McGinnity, B.L., Seymour-Ford, J. and Andries, K.J. (2004) Books for the Blind. 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:

AG106 Uniform Type Committee Collection. Perkins School for the Blind Archives, Watertown, MA.

Scope/Contents:

The Uniform Type Committee replaced the Tactile Print Investigating Commission in 1905 under the American Association of Workers for the Blind (AAWB), with the mission to unify code for all English-speaking readers.  Edward Allen, President of the American Association of Instructors of the Blind and Director at Perkins School for the Blind from 1907-1931, served as the representative of private embossing presses for the committee. He was also elected as part of the executive subcommittee, who met occasionally but conducted most of their work through correspondence.  The subcommittee consisted of three members: Olin H. Burritt, H.R. Latimer, and Edward Allen.  A bulk of the correspondence consists of letters from Latimer to either Allen or other members/representatives of the subcommittee and committee. 

This collection includes correspondence, project files, and embossed test sheets for Revised Braille from the Uniform Type Committee (1908-1921).  Correspondence includes letters to/from members Edward Allen, J.W Smith, Mary Fowler, E.H. Fowler, H.R Latimer, Thomas S. Maloney, Robert Atkinson, Charles Campbell, Robert B. Irwin, M.C. Migel, and Mary Chamberlain. Also included is an embossed book titled “Baby Boy” by Horace Hazeltine.

Arrangement:

• Series 1: Correspondence and Project Files, 1908-1921
• Series 2: Correspondence and Books, 1908-1921
• Series 3: Enclosed test sheets for Revised Braille, 1908-1921

Related collections:

AG1 Edward E. Allen Collection. Perkins School for the Blind Archives, Watertown, MA.

Container List:

Series 1: Correspondence and Project Files

Includes correspondence from the Uniform Type Committee, project files, and test sheets for Revised Braille. Letters are arranged chronologically within each folder. People included Edward Allen, J.W Smith, Mary Fowler, E.H. Fowler, H.R Latimer, Thomas S. Maloney, Robert Atkinson, Charles Campbell, Robert B. Irwin, M.C. Migel, and Mary Chamberlain.

• B1:F1: J.W. Smith to Edward E. Allen, 1915
• B1:F2: Letter from Irwin to Bryan, 1929
• B1:F3: Mary Fowler to Allen, 1914
• B1:F4: Marketing Mailers
• B1:F5: Correspondence & Project Files, H.R. Latimer  & Edward E. Allen
• B1:F6: Correspondence & Project Files, Charles Holmes, E.H. Fowler, M.C. Migel
• B1:F7: Samples from A.P.H. to Allen, 1915
• B1:F8: Correspondence & Project Files, Edward Allen, M.C. Migel, H.R. Latimer, Thos. S.Maloney
• B1:F9: Correspondence & Project Files, H.R Latimer & Thos S. Maloney
• B1:F10: Correspondence, Thomas S. Maloney to E.H. Fowler
• B1:F11: Essay on New York Point, by W.B. Wait, undated
• B1:F12: Correspondence, H.R. Latimer, Henry Stainsby, Susan Merwin, Robert Atkinson
• B1:F13: Revised Braille, Grade 1 ½, 1919
• B1:F14: Systems Comparisons & Statistics
• B1:F15: Correspondence, Charles Campbell, Mary Chamberlain, E.H. Fowler
• B1:F16: Revised Braille, Grade 1 ½, product lists
• B1:F17: Test Sheets for Revised Braille, June, 1915, Received from Mr. Fowler, June 11, 1915, numbers 101-913
• B1:F18: Test Sheets, numbers 171-731

Series 2: Correspondence and Books

• Embossed book for the Uniform Type Committee, 1915
• 1 book; “Baby Boy” by Horace Hazeltine

Series 3: Embossed Test Sheets for Revised Braille

• Embossed and ink-print copy of test sheets for Revised Braille, June 1915.  Received from Mr. Fowler June 11, 1915. 
• Uniform Type Committee experiment sheets prior to 1913 convention, numbers 101-913, complete except for numbers 171-731

Subject headings:

• Perkins School for the Blind.
• Perkins School for the Blind–History.
• Braille–History.
• Blind–Printing and writing systems–History.
• Allen, Edward E. (Edward Ellis), 1861-1950