Email is preferred. You can email us at [email protected] with your grade level, information about your project, and the kind of information you’re looking for. If you have a specific deadline, please let us know that too.
If you need to send a snail mail letter, please make sure you address it to the Research Library. There are several libraries on campus, and letters that don’t include “Research Library” may not get to us.
Our mailing address is:
Research Library
Perkins School for the Blind
175 North Beacon St.
Watertown, MA, 02472
Yes. We are glad to do email interviews and are able to do phone interviews if we can find a mutually good time. Interviews work best if your questions are focused and specific. If you ask broad questions (that books have been written about), we will point you to books and other sources instead.
For an email interview, send your questions (4-6 is a good number) in the body of your email. We are normally able to reply within three working days and will let you know if it will be longer.
Phone interviews must be scheduled in advance, at a time when the Research Library is open (8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday, Eastern Time zone). If you would like to arrange a phone interview, please email with three dates and times you would be available, at least three working days in advance (to give us time to schedule).
Please include the questions you would like to ask so we can have materials and dates ready. We will confirm the time that works for us, and let you know the number to call when it is time for the interview.
We do! You may use up to five images from our collection for free, but we require someone over the age of 18 to complete a form requesting the specific images you would like to use. (This can be a parent, guardian, teacher, or librarian who knows how the images will be used). Email our Archives staff at [email protected] and we’ll send you the form and explain the process. Once the completed form is returned to us, we will email you the images.
Please contact us if you would like to use more than five images. For uses other than school projects, our image use and licensing information explains the options and fees.
We do! First, you might want to check out the Perkins History Museum, which has information about Perkins, many people associated with it, and the history of blindness education. These pages link to additional resources from our archives.
We also have handouts and other materials about a variety of topics, including Helen Keller, Anne Sullivan, Laura Bridgman, braille, and the history of Perkins. We are glad to send sample cards of Boston Line Type and braille if you let us know a mailing address we can send them to.
There are lots of great books about Helen! Let us know about your project and we’d be glad to help you identify the best resources.
We’d love to help you with your school project. Just ask!