Tactile pictures of plant specimens, circa 1902

Overview

The Perkins Archives program

The Perkins Archives program supports the mission of Perkins and the Samuel P. Hayes Research Library by preserving and providing access to its historical records and collections.

Perkins archivists care for a wide variety of materials, including photographs, documents, tactile objects, films, audio recordings and books–in both print and braille. The collection is local, national and international in scope. Through archival practices and preservation efforts—particularly digitization—the Perkins Archives continues to make its collections available and accessible to the public.

history

A legacy of knowledge

Perkins pioneered the work of educating students who are blind and deafblind. The first school for the blind chartered in the United States, Perkins has remained a leader in the field for nearly 180 years. The Perkins Archives document both the evolution of these fields of knowledge and of the gradual inclusion of people with visual impairments into mainstream society.

Many of the discoveries and achievements that fueled those changes occurred at Perkins—the first child with deafblindness to be formally educated, the first kindergarten for children who are blind, one of the first mechanical writing devices and the first lending library of tactile books.

No other American institution is as closely connected to these changes as Perkins. Thanks to institutional collecting practices begun in the 19th century, Perkins Archives holds and makes available unique collections that are essential in tracing the arc of that development all over the world.

Daguerreotype portrait of Laura Bridgman and her last teacher, Sarah Wight circa 1845. Bridgman, aged 16, is signing into Wight’s hand.

Archives resources

Explore a variety of materials stored in the Perkins Archives, many of which have been digitized and made available online.

Librarian Florence J. Worth looking at a card catalog in 1966/\.
Anne Sullivan fingerspells into the hand of a very young Helen Keller in this black and white studio portrait circa 1888. Fingerspelling, a precursor to today’s tactile sign language, is one of many methods Perkins has used over the years to help students who are deafblind connect with the world around them.

Finding aids

The Perkins Archives stewards collections in a variety of formats. Finding aids are guides to these collections to aid in research.

Studio portrait of student Edith Thomas, circa 1880s.

Photograph collections

Digitized and described collections, that include photographs, photographed artifacts, and scanned manuscripts with transcription.

Anne Sullivan fingerspells into the hand of a very young Helen Keller in this black and white studio portrait circa 1888. Fingerspelling, a precursor to today’s tactile sign language, is one of many methods Perkins has used over the years to help students who are deafblind connect with the world around them.
Anne Sullivan fingerspells into the hand of a very young Helen Keller in this black and white studio portrait circa 1888. Fingerspelling, a precursor to today’s tactile sign language, is one of many methods Perkins has used over the years to help students who are deafblind connect with the world around them.

Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan collections

Links to online resources from the Perkins Archives related to Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan.

Pages from the 1838-1875 Laura Bridgman scrapbook.
Open spread from a scrapbook of clippings about Laura Bridgman. The article from the left from mentions an English woman’s visit with Bridgman. An article on the right titled “Laura Bridgman” features an illustration of her from the bust up wearing her eye sash.

Text collections

Digitized collections that include periodicals and annual reports, correspondence, journals and manuscripts, books and other published works, and scrapbooks of clippings.

Bust of Laura Bridgman in the Deafblind Education exhibit.

Museum

The Perkins Museum tells the story of Perkins and traces the history of educating students who are blind or deafblind, in many disciplines – including reading and writing, geography, math, science, music and sports. 

A person writing at a desk

Policies and forms

Information about our policies, including how to use our images and request digitization or scanning, our collection development, and access policies, and our digital preservation plan.

Latest stories from the archives

Featured resources

Explore some of our favorite and most recommended historical resources.

Guide to Archives’ online resources

The Perkins Archives has a variety of resources available on Perkins.org/archives and on other digital platforms. This guide is designed to help you navigate the platforms more easily and facilitate optimal research results. 

Digitized audiovisual media from the Archives

Collection of audio and film recordings, primarily Perkins produced, that have been digitized and made accessible through transcripts, audio captions, and audio descriptions.

Perkins historical curriculum and programs

Information about the history of education for students with blindness and deafblindness and related programs and innovations

The Halifax Explosion centennial online exhibit

An online exhibit about the Perkins contribution to relief efforts following the Halifax Explosion of 1917.

Latest processed collection

Learn about the latest processed collection with the finding aid for the Roy Cloukia photographs and postcards collection.

Student exploring WPA model of New England waterfront in the 1930s
Latest digitized collection

Explore a collection of described and transcribed photographs and clippings related to the projects the WPA and Perkins collaborated on during the Great Depression.

Latest digitized AV resource

Access the latest accessible oral history interview from Perkins Alumnus, Richard Chapman, class of 1964 recorded in 2023.

Helen Keller working at her desk circa 1946

Subscribe to the Perkins Archives newsletter

The Perkins Archives Newsletter is a quarterly update on our activities, special projects, and more. It is a great way to find out about the latest processed collections and newly digitized materials, and to learn more about the items and stories that can be found in these collections.

Dr. Elisabeth Gitter Author of The Imprisoned Guest: Samuel Howe and Laura Bridgman, the Original Deaf-Blind Girl

“To describe the historical materials at Perkins as a national treasure is no exaggeration: these letters and journals delineate the development of America’s awareness of the needs and capabilities of the disabled and a vision for their integration into the larger society.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Looking for an answer?

  • Perkins School for the Blind requires permission for all image use, including personal, classroom, or publications. More information is available on our Image Licensing Page.
  • K-12 students wishing to use images for school projects, should email Archives staff at [email protected].

We are glad to help. Please visit the Hayes Research Library’s School Project Resources page to get started.

We are glad to help. Please contact the Research Library to get started. It helps us to know:

  • Where you are located (state, province, or country)
  • The type of resources you would find most helpful (peer reviewed research, personal experiences, historical information, etc.)
  • If asking for materials about an educational topic, the age range you are focusing on.
  • Any accessibility needs or other notes that may affect what materials will be useful to you.

Visit our Donations to Archives page for more information about what we collect and contact us at [email protected] to discuss.

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Join us on Instagram to see more of our collection every week! Follow @PerkinsArchives on Instagram to learn more about the items and stories in our collections.