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WPA Maps 

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Creator:  

Perkins School for the Blind

Date range:   

1936

Call number:   

AG172

Abstract: 

A collection of embossed maps created to be distributed at school’s for the blind. They were created from a partnership with the Perkins Howe Press and the WPA during the great depression. There are folders with the braille and print copy, “WPA Project 7291 at Perkins Institution and Massachusetts School for the Blind Watertown, Mass. 1936”. The collection also contains a duplicate folder and unbound maps. 

Extent:

2 linear feet in four 24 inch by 36 inch drop-front oversize print boxes

Language:

English. Some text in print, bulk of map text is in braille.

Processed by: 

Jen Hale, 2020

Biographical note: 

Frank C. Bryan

Frank C. Bryan (1876-1951) worked for Perkins for 40 years. He came to the school in 1916 from the Pennsylvania Institute for the Blind where he was in charge of the print department. At Perkins Bryan ran the Workshop in South Boston and served as manager of the Howe Press until he retired in 1946. He also served on the Uniform Type for the Blind Committee which standardized braille in all English speaking countries in 1932.

Charles W. Holmes

Charles W. Holmes (1874-1940) was a Perkins alumni who devoted much of his adult life to advocating and facilitating the employment of people who are blind. He was born in Quebec Canada to American parents in 1874. Holmes lost his sight at the age of 10 and subsequently entered Perkins where he graduated in 1890 having specialized in Music. He would go on to study music in Boston and Berlin before teaching the subject in the Toronto College of Music where he became Headmaster. Holmes left this position in 1906 to work for the adult blind at the newly formed Massachusetts Commision for the Blind organizing workshops designed to employ people who were blind. In 1918 he left this position to become Director of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind at Toronto. Holms also served as President of the American Association of Workers for the Blind for four years, Chairman of the Uniform Type for the Blind Committee for ten years, and President of the Alumni Association of Perkins Institutions for 15 years. Holmes also founded the South Shore School of Music in Hingham, Massachusetts where he lived with his wife and two children for many years. In 1935 he returned to Perkins to oversee the brailling of the embossed maps project funded by the WPA and manufactured at Perkins.  In 1939 Holmes received a medal by the American Association of Workers for the Blind for his lifetime of work on behalf of people who are blind.  

Sources of information: 

“Charles Holmes to Get Medal for Work with the Blind.” The Patriot Ledger, 26, July 1918, pp. 10-11. Perkins Institution Scrapbook of Clippings, Jan. 1939-Oct. 1940, Internet Archive.

“Noted Blind Worker to Direct Canada Institute.” The Globe, 19, April 1918, pp. 10-11. Perkins School for the Blind Bound Clippings: Massachusetts Adult Blind, 1917-1921, Internet Archive.

Pratt, Clara L. “W. P. A. Map Project.” Practical Geography for the Blind, Watertown, Massachusetts, Perkins Institution and Massachusetts School for the Blind. p. 20-21 Internet Archive.

“Death and Funerals: Frank C. Bryan.” The Globe, 12, January 1951 pp. 32. Perkins Institution Scrapbook of Clippings, Jan. 1950- Dec. 1953, Internet Archive.

Historical note: 

From 1935-1938 the Howe Press were part of two Works Progress Administration (WPA) projects during the Great Depression designed to create instructional materials for students who are blind. The WPA employed millions of Americans, mostly men, to work on public works projects during the Great Depression. Between 40 and 50 men and women were employed for this purpose at the Howe Press. This includes 15 who were blind, and 14 former pupils of Perkins. The first of these projects (WPA Project Number 7251) involved designing and embossing 350 geographical and historical maps which were to be distributed to schools for the blind throughout the country. The tactile historical maps were thought to be the first of their kind and were based on a historical atlas used at Harvard University. The maps project was officially sponsored by the Massachusetts Division of the Blind, but the work was initiated at Perkins and was under the direction of Perkins staff, particularly Edward J. Waterhouse and Howe Press Manager Frank C. Bryan. Charles W. Holmes, a graduate of Perkins, ensured the accuracy of the braille which got checked in plate form by workers who were blind before going to print. 

The second project overseen by the WPA (Project Number 9506) also employed 40 workers, but this time to design and make “appliances, and diagrams for use in the education of the blind.” Models of local buildings in Watertown, the Mayflower ship, and the Pantheon are just a few of the models made in this project. It also included appliances to be used in math curriculum.  

Sources of information: 

  • Byron, Frank C. “The Howe Memorial Press.” One Hundred and Sixth Annual Report of the Perkins Institution and Massachusetts School for the Blind, 1936, p. 57-58. Internet Archive.
  • Byron, Frank C. “The Howe Memorial Press.” One Hundred and Sixth Annual Report of the Perkins Institution and Massachusetts School for the Blind, 1937, p. 62. Internet Archive.
  • Pratt, Clara L. “W. P. A. Map Project.” Practical Geography for the Blind, Watertown, Massachusetts, Perkins Institution and Massachusetts School for the Blind. p. 20-21 Internet Archive.
  • Waterhouse, Edward J. History of The Howe Press of Perkins School for the Blind, Watertown, Massachusetts, The Howe Press of Perkins School for the Blind, 1975 Internet Archive. 

Restrictions: 

The Perkins Archives reserves the right to deny physical access to materials available in a digital format. 

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:

AG172 WPA Maps, Perkins School for the Blind Archives, Watertown, MA.

Scope and contents: 

The bulk of the maps are bound in folders but some unbound maps are also included in the collection. The folders are 29 inches wide by 22 inches tall and contain 50 maps each. The collection spans maps made in 1936 and WPA Project 7291. The folders include print and braille text, including a guide to maps which have been provided in the contents list. The maps are printed in braille only. The unbound maps measure 28 inches wide by 22 inches tall.

Arrangement: 

The first 3 boxes contain map folders A-F that contain maps 1 through 300, arranged alphabetically by folder. The last two boxes contain unbound maps and a second copy of Folder A.

Container list: 

B1:F1 = Box 1: Folder 1

Box 1: Folder A Maps 1-50

  1. Map of the World on Mercator’s Projection
  2. Map of the Western Hemisphere on Mercator’s Projection
  3. Outline map of North America
  4. Physical map of North America
  5. Political map of North America
  6. Outline map of the United States
  7. Map of the United States showing Stat
  8. Physical map of the United States State boundaries
  9. Political map of the United States
  10. Map of North Eastern United States
  11. Map of South Eastern United States
  12. Map of Western United States
  13. Map of Alabama
  14. Map of Arizona
  15. Map of Arkansas
  16. Map of California
  17. Map of Colorado
  18. Map of Connecticut
  19. Map of Delaware
  20. Map of Florida
  21. Map of Georgia
  22. Map of Idaho
  23. Map of Illinois
  24. Map of Indiana
  25. Map of Iowa
  26. Map of Kansas
  27. Map of Kentucky
  28. Map of Louisiana
  29. Map of Maine
  30. Map of Maryland
  31. Physical map of Massachusetts
  32. Political map of Massachusetts
  33. Map of Michigan
  34. Map of Minnesota
  35. Map of Mississippi
  36. Map of Missouri
  37. Map of Montana
  38. Map of Nebraska
  39. Map of Nevada
  40. Map of New Hampshire
  41. Map of New Jersey
  42. Map of New Mexico
  43. Physical map of New York
  44. Political map of New York
  45. Map of North Carolina
  46. Map of North Dakota
  47. Map of Ohio
  48. Map of Oklahoma
  49. Map of Oregon
  50. Map of Pennsylvania

Box 1: Folder B Maps 51-100

  1. Map of Rhode Island
  2. Map of South Carolina
  3. Map of South Dakota
  4. Map of Tennessee
  5. Map of Texas
  6. Map of Utah
  7. Map of Vermont
  8. Map of Virginia
  9. Map of Washington
  10. Map of West Virginia
  11. Map of Wisconsin
  12. Map of Wyoming
  13. Outline map of Alaska
  14. Map of Alaska
  15. Map of Panama Canal Zone
  16. Outline map of Philippine Islands
  17. Map of Philippine Islands
  18. Outline map of Hawaiian Islands
  19. Map of Hawaiian Islands
  20. Map of Porto Rico
  21. Outline map of Canada and Newfoundland
  22. Physical map of Canada and Newfoundland
  23. Political map of Canada and Newfoundland
  24. Outline map of Newfoundland and Labrador
  25. Physical map of Newfoundland and Labrador
  26. Political map of Newfoundland and Labrador
  27. Map of British Columbia and Alberta
  28. Map of Manitoba and Saskatchewan
  29. Map of Maritime Provinces of Canada
  30. Map of Northwest Territory of Canada
  31. Map of Ontario
  32. Map of Quebec
  33. Map of Yukon Territory
  34. Map of Arctic Regions
  35. Map of Greenland
  36. Outline map of Mexico
  37. Physical map of Mexico
  38. Political map of Mexico
  39. Map of Political Divisions of Mexico
  40. Outline map of Central America North of Panama
  41. Physical map of Central America North of Panama
  42. Political map of Central America North of Panama
  43. Outline map of Panama
  44. Physical map of Panama
  45. Political map of Panama
  46. Map of West Indies
  47. Map of Cuba
  48. Outline map of South America
  49. Physical map of South America
  50. Political map of South America

Box 1: Folder C Maps 101-150

  1. Outline map of Venezuela and the Guianas
  2. Physical map of Venezuela and the Guianas
  3. Political map of Venezuela and the Guianas
  4. Outline map of Colombia and Ecuador
  5. Physical map of Colombia and Ecuador
  6. Political map of Colombia and Ecuador
  7. Outline map of Brazil
  8. Physical map of Brazil
  9. Political map of Brazil
  10. Outline map of Peru, Bolivia, and Paraguay
  11. Physical map of Peru, Bolivia, and Paraguay
  12. Political map of Peru, Bolivia, and Paraguay
  13. Outline map of Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay
  14. Physical map of Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay
  15. Political map of Chile, Argentina and Uruguay
  16. Map of Antarctic Regions
  17. Outline map of Eastern Hemisphere
  18. Map of Oceania
  19. Outline map of Australia
  20. Physical map of Australia
  21. Political map of Australia
  22. Map of Victoria and New South Wales
  23. Outline map of New Zealand
  24. Physical map of New Zealand
  25. Political map of New Zealand
  26. Outline map of Africa
  27. Physical map of Africa
  28. Political map of Africa
  29. Physical map of North West Africa
  30. Political map of North West Africa
  31. Physical map of North East Africa
  32. Political map of North East Africa
  33. Physical map of Central Africa
  34. Political map of Central Africa
  35. Physical map of Southern Africa
  36. Political map of Southern Africa
  37. Outline map of Asia
  38. Physical map of Asia
  39. Political map of Asia
  40. Outline map of Japan
  41. Physical map of Japan
  42. Political map of Japan
  43. Outline map of Japanese Empire
  44. Physical map of Japanese Empire
  45. Political map of Japanese Empire
  46. Outline map of Japanese Empire
  47. Physical map of China and Manchukuo
  48. Political Map of China and Manchukuo
  49. Political map of China Proper
  50. Map of States of China Proper

Box 2: Folder D Maps 151-200

  1. Outline map of Siam, French Indo-China Malay States, and East Indies
  2. Map of Siam, French Indo-China, Malay States, and East Indies
  3. Outline map of India and Burma
  4. Physical map of India and Burma
  5. Political map of India and Burma
  6. Map of Principal States of India
  7. Outline map of Persia and Afghanistan
  8. Map of Persia and Afghanistan
  9. Outline map of Arabian Peninsula
  10. Physical map of Arabian Peninsula
  11. Political map of Arabian Peninsula
  12. Outline map of Turkey 
  13. Physical map of Turkey
  14. Political map of Turkey
  15. Physical map of Asiatic Russia
  16. Political map of Asiatic Russia
  17. Outline Man of Europe on Mercator’s Projection
  18. Outline map of Europe
  19. Physical map of Europe
  20. Political map of Europe
  21. Outline map of British Isles
  22. Physical map of British Isles
  23. Political map of British Isles
  24. Outline map of England and Wales
  25. Physical map of England and Wales
  26. Political map of England and Wales
  27. Map of Counties of England and Wales
  28. Outline map of Scotland
  29. Physical map of Scotland
  30. Political map of Scotland
  31. Map of Counties of Scotland
  32. Outline map of Ireland
  33. Physical map of Ireland
  34. Political Man of Ireland
  35. Map of Counties of Ireland
  36. Outline map of Iceland
  37. Map of Iceland
  38. Outline map of Spain and Portugal
  39. Physical map of Spain and Portugal
  40. Political map of Spain and Portugal
  41. Map of Provinces of Spain and Portugal
  42. Outline map of France
  43. Physical map of France
  44. Political map of France
  45. Map of Departments of France
  46. Outline map of Italy
  47. Physical map of Italy
  48. Political map of Italy
  49. Map of Provinces of Italy
  50. Map of the Mediterranean Region

Box 2: Folder E Maps 201-250

  1. Outline map of Switzerland
  2. Physical map of Switzerland
  3. Political map of Switzerland
  4. Map of Cantons of Switzerland
  5. Outline map of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg
  6. Physical map of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg
  7. Political map of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg
  8. Map of Subdivisions of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg
  9. Outline map of Denmark
  10. Physical map of Denmark
  11. Political map of Denmark
  12. Map of Subdivisions of Denmark
  13. Outline map of Norway, Sweden and Finland
  14. Physical map of Norway, Sweden and Finland
  15. Political map of Norway, Sweden and Finland
  16. Outline map of Germany and East Prussia
  17. Physical map of Germany and East Prussia
  18. Political map of Germany and East Prussia
  19. Map of Subdivisions of Germany and East Prussia
  20. Outline map of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania
  21. Map of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania
  22. Outline map of Poland
  23. Physical map of Poland
  24. Political map of Poland
  25. Outline map of Austria, Hungary and Czechoslovakia
  26. Physical map of Austria, Hungary and Czechoslovakia
  27. Political map of Austria, Hungary and Czechoslovakia
  28. Outline map Gf Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey in Europe, Yugoslavia and Albania
  29. Physical map of Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey in Europe, Yugoslavia and Albania
  30. Political map of Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey in Europe, Yugoslavia and Albania
  31. Outline map of Greece
  32. Physical map of Greece
  33. Political map of Greece
  34. Outline map of Russia
  35. Outline map of European Russia
  36. Physical map of European Russia
  37. Political map of European Russia
  38. Palestine as divided among the Twelve Tribes
  39. Kingdoms of David and Solomon
  40. Palestine under the latter Kings
  41. Palestine in the time of Christ
  42. Journeys of Saint Paul
  43. Birthplace of Western Civilization
  44. Babylonia and Egypt, 2100 – 1300 B. C.
  45. Assyrian Empire, 669 – 625 B. C.
  46. Mycenean Greece
  47. Ancient Greece, 700 – 600 D. C.
  48. Oriental Empires about 600 B. C.
  49. Persian Empire about 500 B. C.
  50. Greece and Phoenicia about 550 B. C.

Box 2: Folder F Maps 251-300

  1. Greece during the Persian War
  2. Athenian Empire about 450 B.C.
  3. Greece in 431 B.C.
  4. Empire of Alexander the Great
  5. Ancient Italy
  6. Rome and Carthage 218 B.C.
  7. Gaul about 50 B.C.
  8. Roman Empire 44 B.C.
  9. Roman Empire in 117 A.D.
  10. Roman Empire about 395 A.D.
  11. Roman Britain about 410 A.D.
  12. Roman and Hunnic Empires about 450 A.D.
  13. Europe in 486 A.D.
  14. Europe at the death of Justinian
  15. Angles, Saxons and Jutes about 600 A.D.
  16. The Califate in 750
  17. Growth of Frankish power, 481 – 814
  18. Europe and the Califate about 814
  19. Divisions of Charlemagne’s Empire at Verdun, 843
  20. Divisions of Charlemagne’s Empire 870
  21. Divisions of Charlemagne’s Empire in 887
  22. England about 800 A.D.
  23. England about 886 A.D.
  24. Spain in 910
  25. Central Europe about 980 A.D.
  26. Europe and Byzantine Empire about 1000
  27. France about 1035
  28. Spain in 1037
  29. Italy about 1050
  30. Dominions of William the Conqueror, 1087
  31. Dominions of the Danes, 1016 – 1241
  32. Europe about 1097
  33. Asia Minor and Syria about 1140
  34. Spain in 1150
  35. France from 1154 – 1184
  36. Central Europe about 1180
  37. Europe about 1190
  38. The Mediterranean Lands after 1204
  39. Spain, 1212 – 1492
  40. Development of Christianity to 1300
  41. France in 1328
  42. Mongolie,n Empires in 1330 A.D.
  43. Byzantine Empire in 1265
  44. Europe from 1360 – 1400
  45. The Great Schism, 1378 – 1417
  46. The Byzantine Empire and the Ottoman Turks in 1355
  47. Scotland about 1250
  48. Swiss Confederation 1291 – 1613
  49. France in 1453
  50. Ottoman Empire 1451 – 1481

Box 3: Unbound maps from the WPA Project

Box 4: Folder A Maps and unbound maps from the WPA Project 7291

Related collections:

  • Waterhouse, Edward J. History of The Howe Press of Perkins School for the Blind, Watertown, Massachusetts, The Howe Press of Perkins School for the Blind, 1975 Internet Archive. 
  • Pratt, Clara L. “W. P. A. Map Project.” Practical Geography for the Blind, Watertown, Massachusetts, Perkins Institution and Massachusetts School for the Blind. p. 20-21 Internet Archive.
  • “Four Faculty Members Retire.” The Lantern, June 1974, p. 16. Internet Archive.
  • Byron, Frank C. “The Howe Memorial Press.” The Lantern, p. 57-58. Internet Archive.

Provenance:

Perkins School for the Blind

Subject headings: 

  • Perkins School for the Blind.
  • Perkins School for the Blind–History.
  • Blind–Education–United States.
  • Maps for the blind.

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