The Samuel P. Hayes Research Library is a resource for researchers, the Perkins community, professionals, parents and the public. It is also home to the Perkins Archives, which holds historical collections of documents, photographs and other artifacts related to the history of Perkins and the education of the blind and deafblind.
Read more about visiting the Research Library and Archives.
The Hayes Research Library
The Hayes Research Library offers the largest and most comprehensive collection on the non-medical aspects of blindness and deafblindness open to the public. Our online catalog includes more than 48,000 books, pamphlets, journal articles, newspaper clippings, dissertations, conference reports and multimedia materials.
Material from the Research Library does not circulate, but we are glad to provide access to visitors, make scans, or provide information in other ways.
We also offer a variety of materials for students and teachers doing school projects about Helen Keller, Anne Sullivan, Laura Bridgman, braille or other topics in blindness education.
About half our questions come from Perkins staff, but the other half come from students, researchers, teachers and support professionals, and many others, both in the United States and from around the world.
- Learn more about the Research Library’s services and materials
- Search the Research Library’s online catalog of materials
- Tips for searching the Research Library online catalog
The Perkins Archives
The Perkins Archives contain invaluable primary source documents, with collections related to the history of education for people who are blind and deafblind, institutional archives and correspondence of significant figures in the school’s history such as Helen Keller, Anne Sullivan, Laura Bridgman and Samuel Gridley Howe.
Hundreds of historical documents and photographs have been digitized and may be viewed online, along with digital versions of the school’s Annual Reports and other publications. Access to Archives materials is by appointment only: please review our information on arranging a visit.
- Perkins Archives overview of collections
- Information for researchers interested in visiting the Research Library and Archives
Have a question?
We can answer many questions by email at HayesLibrary@perkins.org or by phone at 617-972-7250. Our Frequently Asked Questions has additional information about some common queries.