Perkins School for the Blind
A collection documenting the work of Laura M. Sawyer during her time as Librarian at Perkins between 1898 and 1925. Includes administrative records, books lists, correspondence, lecture notes, and general notes.
Susanna Coit, 2018
Laura M. Sawyer began her work at Perkins School for the Blind as an assistant in the library between 1898 and 1903. She served as librarian with Sarah E. Lane from 1903 until Lane retired in 1911. Sawyer continued as the Librarian until her death in 1925.
During her time at Perkins, she worked with the Harvard extension courses with Edward E. Allen. Fish wrote that Sawyer became “Allen’s right hand in carrying on of the course and a tower of strength to the many who came to draw upon her limitless fund of information and upon her unwearied patience in assisting them” (Fish, 52). She worked with and served both pupils at Perkins and people throughout New England as she advanced accessibility of library materials. She was an advocate of creating a national lending program and was the head of the American Library Association advocacy committee with the American Foundation for the Blind. As part of her work, she created a catalog of the books in the Perkins Library that expanded to lists of embossed accessions, and other braille books that were available for people who were blind. She also curated annual lists of magazine articles about the blind for Outlook for the Blind. With her focus on advancements and the circulation of embossed materials, Sawyer was instrumental in the founding and creation of the library at Perkins as it currently exists.
Following Allen’s trip to Europe, Sawyer communicated with Alexander Mell (of Vienna) to establish the Blindiana collection at Perkins (Fish, 51). She also taught library classes at Simmons College about the history of Perkins, the Perkins Library, and library services for the blind.
Fish, Anna Gardner. “Laura M. Sawyer, Ave et Vale.” Outlook for the Blind, Vol. XIX, No. 1, 1925, pp. 9, 45, 51-52.
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.
This collection documents the work of Perkins Librarian Laura M. Sawyer between 1898 and 1925. Included are book lists from other countries, schools, and publishers as well as correspondence from librarians. Notes prepared by and lectures given by Sawyer, including those given at Simmons College, are also included. The collection also holds records of library administration and Sawyer’s administrative work in the library.
B1:F1 = Box 1: Folder 1
LMS = Laura M. Sawyer
5 Series, 2 boxes arranged chronologically when possible
Series 1: Book Lists
Series 2: Correspondence
Series 3: Notes and Lectures
Series 4: Library Account Books
Series 5: Librarian Notes
Box: 1
Series 1:
B1:F1: German booklists, 1908-1914
B1:F2: French booklists, undated
B1:F3: North American booklists, 1914, undated
B1:F4: Perkins booklists, 1910, 1911, 1914, undated
B1:F5: Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh booklist, 1910-1912
B1:F6: List of Personal Donations to Printing Books, 1836-1912
Series 2:
B1:F7: Correspondence: A. Mell, 1909-1912
B1:F8: O.H. Burritt to LMS, 1907
B1:F9: Gustav Fock to LMS, 1907
B1:F10: Western Pennsylvania School for the Blind to LMS, 1907
B1:F11: C.A. Koehler & Co. to LMS, 1908
B1:F12: Mrs. Salome Cutler Fairchild to LMS, 1908
B1:F13: The British and Foreign Blind Association to LMS, 1908, 1915
B1:F14: Brooklyn Public Library to LMS, 1911
B1:F15: Miscellaneous correspondence
B1:F16: Notebook of Letters and Orders send by LMS, 1907-1918
B1:F17: Record of Letters and Endorsements from LMS, 1918-1925
Series 3:
B1:F18: Notes: General History, May 20, 1908
B1:F19: Notes: Library for Teachers, Nov. 1909
B1:F20: Simmons, 1911, 1912
B1:F21: Library Work for the Blind, Simmons College, Nov. 12, 1914
B1:F22: Simmons College Lectures, 1916, 1921
B1:F23: List of embossed books, timeline of library, undated
B1:F24: Types for the Blind, undated
B1:F25: I. History of the School and Library, undated
B1:F26: Notes: Perkins Inst. Library, undated
B1:F27: Miscellaneous notes, undated
Box 2:
Series 3:
B2:F1: Library Account Book, 1906-1911
B2:F2: Library Account Book II, 1911-1923
B2:F3: LMS Files, 1907
Box 3:
Series 4:
Perkins Library Notes (cards), undated
Perkins School for the Blind.
Perkins School for the Blind--History.
School librarians.