Perkins Archives

The Perkins Archives is part of the Samuel P. Hayes Research Library at the Perkins School for the Blind, Watertown, MA. The Perkins Archives document the evolution of the fields of knowledge associated with blindness and deafblindness as well as the gradual inclusion of people with visual impairments into the mainstream of American life. Many of the discoveries and achievements that fueled those changes occurred at Perkins, including the first deafblind child to be formally educated, the first kindergarten for blind children, the development of one of the first mechanical braille writing devices, and the first lending library of tactile books.

Finding Aids

The collections are in a variety of formats, including original manuscripts, ledgers, scrapbooks, clippings notebooks, photographs, etc.

Flip through publications and other materials, in virtual book form on the Internet Archive.

Digital Collections on the Perkins Archives Flickr Page arranged by topic.

Links to Online Resources from the Perkins Archives related to Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan.

Mary Grace Knap Burtt was a Perkins student and teacher, but she also opened a school of her own in China for girls who were blind.

Almost three years ago the Perkins Archives was approached with an idea of using 3-D printing technology to create an exhibit.

Polly Thomson spent 46 years as Helen Keller's companion and interpreter but is relatively unknown. Who was she? And how did she get the job?