Postcard image of school sign, Watertown Massachusetts

The Perkins School for the Blind is a learning center for people who are blind, deafblind, or have multiple disabilities. The school was founded by John Dix Fisher in 1829 as the "'New England Asylum for the Blind'", and currently is located in Watertown, Massachusetts. The curriculum emphasizes accessible learning and individual independence. Samuel Gridley Howe served as the institution's first director, from 1831–1876. Famous former students include Laura Bridgman, Anne Sullivan and Helen Keller. Image File history File links Perkins_School_sign. ... Image File history File links Perkins_School_sign. ... Blindness is the condition of lacking visual perception due to physiological or psychological factors. ... Deafblindness is the condition of having little or no useful sight and hearing. ... Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 1829 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Location in Massachusetts Coordinates: Country United States State Massachusetts County Middlesex County Settled 1630 Incorporated 1630 Government  - Type Town Council  - City Manager Michael J. Driscoll Area  - City  4. ... Samuel Gridley Howe (November 10, 1801 - January 9, 1876) was a prominent 19th century United States physician, abolitionist, advocate of education for the blind, and husband of Julia Ward Howe. ... Laura Bridgman (December 21, 1829 – May 24, 1889) was the first deaf-blind person to be successfully educated, fifty years before the more famous Helen Keller. ... Anne Sullivan in 1887 Anne Sullivan, Annie Sullivan, or Johanna Mansfield Sullivan Macy, (April 14, 1866 – October 20, 1936) was a teacher best known as the tutor of Helen Keller. ... Helen Adams Keller (June 27, 1880 – June 1, 1968) was a deafblind American author, activist and lecturer. ...

In the 21st century, the words 'asylum' and 'institution' have pejorative connotations, but in the 19th century they meant 'place of refuge' and 'school', respectively. The 21st century is the present century of the Anno Domini (common) era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The school is named in honor of Thomas Handasyd Perkins, a wealthy and visually-impaired 19th century Boston shipping merchant, who was one of the organization's incorporators. In 1833 the school outgrew the Pleasant Street house of Howe's father, and Perkins donated his Pearl Street mansion as the school's second home. In 1839 Perkins sold the mansion and donated the proceeds. This gift allowed the purchase of a more spacious building in South Boston. In 1885, six acres were purchased in the Hyde Square section of Jamaica Plain to build a kindergarten. The school moved to its present Watertown campus in the autumn of 1912. Thomas Handasyd Perkins. ... Nickname: City on the Hill, Beantown, Athens of America, The Hub (of the Universe)1 Location in Massachusetts, USA Counties Suffolk County  - Mayor Thomas M. Menino (D) Area    - City  89. ... 1833 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1839 (MDCCCXXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... South Boston is a heavily populated neighborhood in Boston, Massachusetts, located south of the Fort Point Channel and abutting Dorchester Bay. ... 1885 (MDCCCLXXXV) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Jamaica Plain, commonly known as JP, is a historic neighborhood in Boston, Massachusetts. ... 1912 (MCMXII) was a leap year starting on Monday in the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday in the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

External Links

Perkins School for the Blind