Publications Archive
A Chronological survey of work for the blind
Summary: A survey of work done for the blind
- Foreword
- Preface
- A Chronological Survey of work for the Blind
- Appendix I - The Prevention of Blindness
- Appendix II - Recommendations of the Royal Commission on the Blind, etc, 1889 (Appointed 20th January, 1886)
- Appendix III - Agenda of Conferences
- Bibliography
(With an appendix on the prevention of blindness, and a bibliography)
By Henry J Wagg, OBE, assisted by Mary G Thomas
Henry J Wagg is the Honorary Secretary of the Barclay Workshops for Blind Women Honorary Treasurer of the Greater London Fund for the Blind, Member of the Council of the National Institute for the Blind, etc.
Mary Thomas is Information Officer, National Institute for the Blind.
"I have no confidence in any statesman who attempts to solve the problems of a country without a knowledge of its history, and of the lessons to be drawn from that history." - Disraeli.
Published for the National Institute for the Blind, 105 Judd Street, London
By Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons Ltd, London 1932
Foreword
By the RT. Hon. Lord Blanesburgh, P.C, GBE
Chairman of the Ministry of Health Advisory Committee on the Welfare of the Blind
The affliction of blindness makes an irresistible appeal. The blind can count all men amongst their friends. Their claim upon everything that is chivalrous and selfless in human nature can never be denied.
The record of agencies established, of benefactions made (for the relief of blindness, for the training of the blind in every variety of useful work, for placing at their service the treasures of literature, and enabling them to exercise their musical, literary, and artistic gifts, for their medical and other care) is a long one, and is confined to no period of history, to no country or continent. The list of those choice spirits who have devoted their lives to the care and education of the blind is as tong, and it, too, is limited by no distinctions of race or of creed. In the result, the blind to an astonishing degree have been, and are being, helped to help themselves to be self-reliant and independent, foremost in some walks of life, prominent in many others, efficient in all. The resources now at their service, helped by that strange inward light which seems to cheer and inspire their physically darkened lives, have made of our blind friends to-day the good citizens that they are.
Of those who have spent years in the service of the blind none have been more devoted than the author of this book, and MrWagg, by its compilation, which has plainly been to him a labour of love, has rendered a real service to the blind, and to all who wish to help them, but do not quite know where to begin.
In these pages will be found a complete record of the work done for the blind throughout the world from the earliest times, an account of the progress of medicine and surgery in the treatment and cure of blindness, with a bibliography as complete as is the index to the whole work. The book will be indispensable as a work of reference on the subject with which it deals, while it is a trumpet call for still further effort in the cause of those who, in their affliction, are so responsive to every service rendered them.
Preface
I started writing this book in order to show what had been done in Greater London for its eight thousand and snore blind. Never having attempted to write a book before, I found the work interesting, and I wanted to learn more, realizing that although I had been amongst the blind for over twenty-five years I knew comparatively little of what had been done for then. Presuming that others might be equally tacking in this knowledge of the past, and of what is being done elsewhere, I decided to collect what information I could about the rest of Great Britain and Ireland, with its blind population of about 56,000.
The next thing that struck me was that to compile a history of blind work in Great Britain alone would be like drawing a picture of an object without any surroundings, and so failing to get true proportion; so I decided to incorporate the main facts concerning work for the blind in other parts of the world, with its blind population of many millions.
The history is intended to show primarily the foundation and growth of institutions and societies for the blind, the invention and production of apparatus and methods for enabling them to lead happier and more useful lives, as well as legislation for their benefit. It also includes a certain amount of what has been done by medical science to augment, save, and restore eyesight, and for the prevention of blindness.
It is not intended to be a history of the blind mesa and women who have earned distinction in different walks of life, such as the poet Milton, Fawcett the Postmaster-General, and many others, including Helen Keller, a notable example of a deaf and dumb and blind girl who reached a high standard of learning. But I have attempted to record the names and valuable services of those numerous blind persons who have earned distinction in ameliorating the lot of those who suffer from the handicap of blindness.
Though I have written of my book as a history, it would be more correctly described as a register of facts, gathered together to enable those interested to get a general outline of what has been and is being done for the blind; the date of any incident referred to will enable the reader to obtain further information from the numerous books and publications that have appeared from time to time.
I should like to say that any success t may have attained in writing this book is largely due to Mr. Henry Wilson, late Secretary of Gardner's Trust for the Blind; for twenty-two years, until he published a quarterly magazine, The Biffed, full of valuable information, of which I have made great use.
I am further indebted to Miss E R Scott's History of the Education of the Blind prior to 1830 for much useful information. I should also like to thank Mr J Herbert Fisher, MB FRCS, who gave me numerous valuable facts about medical and surgical work; Dr. Alfred Eichholz, late Board of Education; Mr ED Macgregor, Ministry of Health; Miss JA Merivale; Mr J de la Mare Rowley; Mr W H Tate, JP; the managers of institutions, and secretaries of local societies throughout the country, and many others without whose help I should have been unable to compile this work.
I do not claim for it that it is either complete or infallible. It is merely the best that I can give after studying alt the information at my disposal. In conclusion, I think it may be of interest to quote an extract from a long article on the blind in The Encyclopaedia (1798), which, written over a hundred and thirty years ago, is not out-of-date to-day-
Parents and relations ought never to be too ready in offering their assistance to the blind in any office which they can perform, or in any requisition that they can procure for themselves, whether they are prompted by amusement or necessity. If he has a mechanical turn, let him not be denied the use of edge-tools; for it is better that he should lose a little blood, or even break a bone, than be perpetually confined to the same place, debilitated in his frame, and depressed in his mind. Scars, fractures, and dislocations are trivial misfortunes compared with imbecility, timidity, or fretfulness of mind.
HJ Wagg
A Chronological Survey of work for the Blind
Fourth Century
Cappadocia
St. Basil established a " Hospital" for the blind at Caesarea in Cappadocia, and provided them with guides.
Fifth Century
Syria
The Hermit of St. Lymnaeus established a Refuge for the blind at Syr in Syria, special cottages being erected for their use.
Seventh Century
France
St. Bertrand, Bishop of Le Mans, founded an Institution for the blinds believed to be at Pontlieu in the north-west of France.
Eleventh Century
France
William the Conqueror, in expiation of his sins, it was said, founded among other institutions Hospices for the blind and other infirm persons, at Cherbourg, Rouen, Bayeux and Caen°
1178
Germany
Duke Welf VII established a Home for the blind at Memmingen, Bavaria, in which it is believed some sort of instruction was given.
1260
France
Louis IX, the saintly King of France, took under his protection an already existing institution for the care of the blind, which went by the name of L'Hospital des Quinze-Vingts. The legend that this institution was built and endowed for his three hundred Crusaders, who chose to have their eyes put out by the Saracens rather than swear never to bear arms again against the Infidel, has been refuted by the researches of the Abbe Prompsault. He proves by ancient documents that institution did exist, though its origin seems to have inquiry, and Louis IX merely bought back the plot of Paris on which it was built, which is proved by letters June, 126o. King Louis also rebuilt the domicile for blind and increased the number of pensioners to 300; them an allowance of £30 a year from his privy purse on condition that this sum was used for making soup for the poor. Begging was encouraged on the part of the inmates, support the Home.
1305
Belgium
A Hospice for the blind was established at Brutes.
1329
London
Tile first Asylum for the blind in this country was by William Elsing, a London mercer. This was known "Elsing Spittle" or "Spital." It stood near London provided shelter for one hundred blind men. "It was confiscated," says Mr Charles Pendrill," at the Reformation, the excuse that in the Middle Ages all hospitals were religious foundations." (See Concerning the Blind, by Dr JM Ritchie)
1347
Swansea. S Wales
Death of Henry de Gower, Bishop of St. David's, who founded an Asylum for the aged blind and sick at Swansea, which he endowed liberally with his own private property as well as with the revenues of three parish churches.
1350
France
King John the Good founded a Home for the blind at Chartres, similar to the one in Paris, but smaIler.
1370
Belgium
A Hospice for the blind was established at Ghent.
1467
London
The Company of Paynier-Siayners was incorporated by Edward IV. This old City Company, now known as the Worshipful Company of Painter Stainers, at the present day distributes about £10 a year each to two hundred blind persons, from Painters' Halt, E C.
c. 1517
Print, Raised
Early in the sixteenth century, Francisco Lucas of Saragossa, Spain, contrived a set of letters carved on thin tablets of wood. This is the first record of raised type for the blind. (See The Beacon, January, I924.)
1528
London
The Fullers' Company, incorporated by Edward IV in I480, and the Company of Sheermen by Henry VII, were united as one corporation by Henry VIII under the title of the Cloth-workers' Company.
This old City Company, now known as the Worshipful Company of Clothworkers, distributes about £12,000 a year in pensions to the blind, including the Blind Man's Friend (Day's Charity) now administered from Clothworkers' Hall.
c.1550
Print, Raised
Girolimo Cardano (I501-I576), a physician of Pavia in Italy, conceived the idea that the blind might be taught through the sense of touch, and attempted to procure to some extent instruction for them. His Natural History mentions a device for teaching the blind to read and write by sense of touch, not very different from the modern invention of Braille.
Knitting
Joan Wast, one of the four blind martyrs of England, maintained herself by knitting stockings. (See Blindness and the Blind, by W Hanks Levy.)
c. 1575
Print, Raised
Rampazetto, of Rome, taught blind people to read by means of letters incised on thin wooden tablets. The disadvantage of this system was that the letters were immovable, a fresh tablet was required for each page, and there was no means of duplicating.
Act of Parliament
The Poor Law Act of Queen Elizabeth specifically mentions relief to be given, amongst others, to the destitute blind.
Prior to the Reformation, the poor, including the blind poor, were relieved through the activity of the monks.
1601
After the destruction of the monasteries in the reign of Henry VIII, this mode of assistance necessarily came to an end, and was replaced, as soon as times became quiet and peaceful, by the Poor Law Act of Queen Elizabeth, which was the first statute enacting relief on national lines.
1640
Print, Raised
Pierre Moreau, a notary of Paris, devised a system of movable raised letters cast in lead, and about the same time Sch6nberger of K6nigsberg, in. Prussia, employed letters made of tin.
1651
Print, Raised
George Harsdorffer of Nuremberg, recommended the use of tablets covered with a coat of wax, on which letters could be formed by means of a stylus.
1660
Print, Raised
Elizabeth Waldkirch was born in Geneva. She was a blind girl of remarkable intelligence, and her father and his friend, Bernouilli, the Swiss "savant," took a delight in teaching her.
Bernouilli had the alphabet incised deeply on a thin wooden board; Elizabeth traced out the form of the letters with her finger, then with a pencil, and by this means learnt to work correctly on paper with a pencil and even with ink. She learnt to speak and write Latin, French, and German, and kept up a voluminous correspondence with her family and friends in all three languages. We are also told she played several instruments, the violin, the flute, and the organ, with a delightfully vague" etc." at the end of the list !
1676
Print, Raised
Padre Francesco Lana Terzi advocated a kind of cipher code based upon a system of dots enclosed in squares or other figures, and further, an arrangement of knots tied in string.
c.1680
Sculptor
Giovani Gonnelli (sometimes called Gambasius or Gambasio), who lost his sight at the age of 20, commenced work as a sculptor about 10 years later, and became well known for his work in Italy.
1717
York, Yorkshire
Dorothy Wilson's Charity was founded by a bequest which provides eight annuities of £8, for Mind persons resident in the city or suburbs of York.
1718
London
In 1718 and subsequent years, the trusts known as "West's Trusts for the Blind" were created by John and Frances West, the funds being derived from various properties left to the Clothworkers' Company as trustees.
1720
Apparatus
Nicholas Saunderson, blind from infancy, Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge, invented a board for worldng problems in arithmetic and algebra.
1721
Edinburgh, Scotland
Thomas Blacklock was born at Annan in Scotland; blind from infancy, he became a talented pupil at the Grammar School, studied divinity, and for a short time had charge of the parish church of Kirkcudbright. Later he became a school- master, and was keenly interested in the education of the blind. His example paved the way for the founding of the Edinburgh Institution for the Blind.
1723
Oundle, Northamptonshire
John Clifton, by his will dated 1723, left £300 for two blind pensioners of Oundleo (The charity did not take effect till about I785.)
1756
Apparatus
Herr Weissembourg was born at Mannheim, Germany, in I756; he lost his sight at the age of five. He was a bright, intelligent child, and his parents, being well-to-do, procured for him a tutor, Christian Niesen, who devoted all his energies to developing his pupil's ardent intellect. He taught the boy to write in French, as well as in his native German, improved on Saunderson's arithmetical table, and invented various contrivances for teaching Ms pupil algebra, trigonometry and geometry, for the boy had a marked talent for mathematics. The maps which the tutor prepared for his geography lessons especially excited the wonder of his con- temporaries. In them the boundaries were marked in silk knots on tile paper or cardboard on which the map was drawn, the rivers were marked in wire, the mountains by wooden pegs, the cities and and towns by pins of varying size. Weissembourg was a very expert chess player; he taught a deaf and dumb man to play, and the two were ever afterwards constant, but friendly, opponents at the game.
1759-1822
Print, Raised
Maria Theresa yon Paradis was born in Vienna, 1759; she lost her sight when two years old. Her father quickly recognized his child’s talent for music, and obtained the best teachers for her. She was taught to read by means of pins stuck into a cushion in the shape of the letters of the alphabet ; when she had learnt their forms by passing her fingers over the pinheads, she was able to read when the writing was pricked through stout paper or cardboard. Herr von Kempellen invented a press for her, by means of which she printed German characters in relief. She early made her debut as a singer in church choirs, and was a skilful organist while still a child. The Empress Maria Theresa was a lover of music, and perhaps even more, of a child musician; she soon took a fancy to her little blind namesake and gave her a pension of 200 gulden a year.
1774
London
The Rev. William. Hetherington, a Governor of Christ's Hospital, in the hope that his example would be followed gave £20,000 to enable the Governors to pay annuities of £10 each to fifty aged blind persons. (The income in 1930 was £8,000, and the number of pensioners 514.)
1777
London
Hugh Humston, by his will dated 1777, left a sum of money to provide pensions for the blind. The Humston Charity for the Blind, administered by the Aldgate Lordship Foundation,
Whitechapel, E, provides pensions for five blind persons, who receive about £I4 8s. each per annum.
1779
Print, Raised
Death of a man named "Blind Jacob," at Netra, a Hessian village; he lost his sight when eighteen months old through smallpox. He reached a high standard of education by means of embossing characters on wooden staves. (See The Braille Review, March, 1903.)
Dublin, Ireland
Simpson's Hospital for the Blind and Gouty was founded "to provide a home for Mind and gouty men who have once been respectable merchants, traders, or professional men in Ireland."
(In 1884 about 60 blind persons were benefited. It apparently ceased to exist as a blind charity soon after.)
1781
London
John Stock signed his will, leaving £55,000 reduced 3 per cent to the Company of Painters and Stainers "to be distributed to the Aged and Blind and other charitable purposes." Numerous other small sums have been bequeathed to this City Company for granting pensions since that date.
(In I930 the Company was granting annuities of £10 to two hundred blind persons, distributed throughout England; the blind in Scotland, Ireland, and Wales are excluded.)
York
York Emanuel Charity was founded for granting annuities of £Io to £20 to ministers, their wives, widows, or children, "blind, nearly blind, or idiotic." The income of the Charity is about £500 a year.
1784
Bristol, Gloucestershire
John Merlott, by his will dated January, 1784, bequeathed £3,000 to the Corporation of Bristol, the interest of which was to provide pensions for blind persons over fifty years of age. John Merlott's Charity, thus founded, has since been augmented by several gifts and bequests. (In I930 there were thirty-eight pensioners, and the income amounted to £492.)
France
Valentin Haüy founded, in Paris, the first School for the Blind--L'Institution Nationale des Jeunes Aveugles (Institution for young blind people), He was born in Picardy in 1745, and became the first great pioneer in the education of the blind.
The same year that the school was founded Haüy placed the first embossed books within reach of blind people, his pupil, Frangois Lesueur, having discovered by accident the value of embossing on paper.
London
Jonathan Granger having bequeathed a sum of money to the Drapers' Company, Granger's Charity was founded, which now enables fourteen blind persons to receive £10 each, every alternate year.
1786
Stanley John
Death of John Stanley (born 1731), in many respects one of the greatest blind musicians. In spite of the fact that there was no embossed literature, he became Mus.Bac, Oxon, at the age of sixteen, and afterwards organist at St. Andrew's, Holborn and the Temple Church, London. A contemporary of Handel, he not only (in conjunction with J Christopher Smith) conducted the oratorio performances initiated by Handel, but held the office of Master of the King's Band of Music.
(The reason for the inclusion of John Stanley in this book is the fact that he was a pioneer in what has since become a recognized profession for the blind.)
1787
France
Valentin Haüy at his school in Paris taught his pupils to make hemp into thread and cord, and then into nets and webbing.
1789
France
Valentin Haüy secured for his Mind orchestra a position in the chapel of the Tuileries in Paris.
1790
Apparatus
Dr Moyes invented improvements to Nicholas Saunderson's Arithmetic Board.
1791
Liverpool, Lancashire
The first School for the Blind in England (and for the blind only, in the world) was opened at the instigation of Edward Rushton, a blind poet, in two small houses in Commutation Row, Liverpool. (See The Blind, 1913, No, 64.) Basket-making was one of the first industries taught at this and most other institutions for the blind.
(In 1930 there were 210 blind persons in this Institution: 96 elementary pupils, 100 technical pupils, 6 employed in the workshop, and 8 on the staff.)
1793
Bristol
A School for the Blind was founded by Messrs. Bath and Fox, two members of the Society of Friends, in Callow Hill Street.
The first trades attempted were plaiting whips and spinning flax. Stay-lace manufacture was later tried for a short time, but was soon followed by basket-making.
(In 1930 the Royal School of Industry for the Blind, Bristol, had 615 blind persons on the register, including 85 elementary and 22 technical pupils at its school at Westbury-on-Trym, 81 employed in the workshops in Park Street, 55 home workers, and 7 otherwise employed; 17 women were residing in its Hostel, and 5 in its Home.)
Edinburgh
The first Institution in Scotland, known as the Society for the Relief of the Indigent Blind, was opened at Edinburgh; within two months of its foundation, workshops were opened under the name of The Asylum for the Industrious Blind. The Institution was founded by the Rev. David Johnston, D.D, a minister of Leith.
(In 1930 there were 586 blind persons on the register of the Royal Blind Asylum and School, including 125 in the elementary and secondary schools, 101 technical pupils, including those learning music, 122 employed in the workshops, I7 home workers, and 17 otherwise employed. There were 17 the Institution’s Hostel, 39 in its Home, and 148 pensioners.
1794
Sussex
Fuller's Charity for the Blind of Sussex was founded by John Fuller. Pensions of £9 12s each are administered to six blind persons.
1796
London
John Came left £18,200 reduced annuities to the Cordwainers' Company for the provision of pensions for (In I929, I04 blind persons received annuities of £5 each.)
1797
London
Joanna Rashdale bequeathed £1000 Consols to provide pensions for blind women. (Rashdale's Charity for Blind Women is now administered by Gardner’s Trust, and provides four annual pensions of £7 10s each.}
1799
London
School for the Indigent Blind, St George's Fields, Southwark, was founded. It owed its inception to the efforts of four gentlemen, viz: Thomas Boddington, Samuel Bosanquet, James Ware, and William Houlston. It afterwards became the Royal School for the Blind, Leatherhead.
(In 1930 there were 451 blind persons on the register of the Royal School, including I47 technical pupils, 42 workers and 15 otherwise employed at Leatherhead; I39 workers and 9 technical pupils at its workshop, the Blind Employment Factory, in London; 61 persons in its Homes, and 38 pensioners. Forty-six of the blind were in the Institution's Hostels.)
1800
Liverpool
Liverpool School was moved to Hotham Street, London Road, and began taking resident pupils.
London
The School for the Indigent Blind, Southwark, decided that the purpose of the School was ``to educate and maintain fifteen blind persons who should be taught a trade.’’
1803
Bristol
Bristol School moved to larger premises in Lower Maudlin Street, and started taking female pupils as inmates.
1804
Austria
The first School for the Blind in Austria was opened at Vienna.
Essex
Chigwell United Charities started a Benevolent Fund. (In 1930 the income was £2, this amount being given annually to one or two blind women in the district.)
Glasgow, Scotland
John Leitch died, bequeathing £5,000 for the purpose of founding an Asylum for the Blind in Glasgow.
1805
Kent
Miss Elizabeth Denward's Charity for the Blind of Kent was founded at Canterbury. It provided twelve pensions of about £3 15s. and twelve of about £1 17s. per annum, to widows.
Norwich, Norfolk
Norwich Asylum and School for the Blind was founded by Mr. Thomas Tawell, a wealthy iron merchant, who had been blind, but partially recovered his sight. He purchased Lord Bradford's mansion in Magdalen Street, with four acres of land, and also presented 1,000 guineas; he took a keen interest in the Institution until his death in 1820.
(In 1930 the Norwich Institution for the Blind, 132 Magdalen Street, had 73 blind persons on the register, of whom 19 were in the workshops, 12 were trainees, and 13 were home workers; and their Home accommodated 11 men and 18 women.)
Note: In 1930 there were 318 blind persons on the register of the City of Norwich and 447 on the register of the County Norfolk, and the welfare of the blind was being looked after by the respective local authorities.
1806
Edinburgh
The Asylum for the Industrious Blind acquired premises in Nicolson Street, where the workshops remained until I923.
Germany
The first School for the Blind in Germany was opened at Steglitz.
Oxford, Oxfordshire
William Haynes, by his will dated 1806, left about £1266, the income of which was to provide pensions for four persons of Oxford.
1807
Russia
The first Institution for the Blind in Russia was Valentin Haüy at St Petersburg (Now Leningrad.)
1808
Holland
An Institution for the education of the blind was at Amsterdam.
Sweden
The first Institution for the Blind in Sweden was Stockholm.
1809
Switzerland
The first Institution for the Education of the Blind bond was founded at Zurich.
1810
Dublin
The Richmond Institution for the Instruction and Employment of the Industrious Blind, Upper Sackville Street, was founded, and named after the Lord Lieutenant of the Duke of Richmond.
(In 193o there were 37 blind workers and 17 trainees, the latter residing in the Institution.)
London – c.1810
'The School for the indigent Blind, Southwark, moved to Blackfriars Road, opposite the Obelisk, where a commodious School House was built.
Thomas Newnam bequeathed to the Clothworkers' Company £10, 000 Consols for providing pensions for the blind.
Manchester, Lancanshire – c.1810
Death of Thomas Henshaw of Oldham, who left a sum of £20,000 for the purpose of establishing an Asylum for the Indigent Blind. The will was contested by the relatives, but after twenty-five years the Court of Chancery gave a verdict in accordance with the terms of the will, which provided that none of the money should be spent on building.
1811
Denmark
The first Institution for the Blind in Denmark was founded at Copenhagen.
1813
Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire
By his will, dated May, I8z3, Benjamin Collett of Downing Street, Westminster, left a sum of money to provide pensions for four blind persons, preference being given to residents in or near Hemel Hempstead. Benjamin Collett's Charity for the Blind was thus founded.
(In I930 there were four pensioners, and the income was £11 I6s per annum.)
London
Rachel Farmer bequeathed £1000 4 per cent Consols to the Goldsmiths' Company for the provision of pensions for the blind.
1814
Liverpool
Death of Edward Rushton (born I755). As mate in a vessel bound for Dominica he contracted malignant ophthalmia, but struggling bravely against difficulties he subsequently maintained himself as a bookseller, and published poems and other literary efforts.
He was the originator of the proposal for the first School for the Blind in England-the School for the Indigent Blind, Liverpool.
Dublin
The National Institution and Molyneux Asylum for the Blind of Ireland, Leeson Park, Dublin, was founded. There is a School for the young and a Home for the aged. Main- tenance is free. Female Protestants only are admitted. (In I904 there were 49 inmates, but since 1913 only adults have been admitted; in I930 there were 32 inmates, 26 of whom were employed in the workshops.)
1817
Apparatus
David Macbeath of Edinburgh made further improvements in Nicholas Saunderson's Arithmetic Board.
1819
Liverpool
Liverpool School for the Indigent Blind built a to be an exact copy in its dimensions of the temple Pan-Hellinus in the island of Aegina. (It was damaged when moved later to Hardman Street.) The Chapel became famous for the singing of its blind choir, and in twenty- six years handed over £12,000 surplus income to the school.
London
Institution for the Relief of the Indigent Blind Persuasion, now known as the Jewish Blind Society, founded at Aldgate, E.
(In 1930 the Society's offices were at 135 Fordwych Road, NW 2. In 1929 £4,339 was distributed to 144 pensioners.)
Print, Raised
Captain Charles Barbier, a French artillery officer, invented an arrangement of cells containing two vertical rows of six points each, certain combinations of which could, on phonetic principles, be made to represent the letters of the alphabet. The system did not prove practicable, but laid the foundation on which Louis Braille worked in perfecting his system of writing ten years later.
1820
Spain
The first Institution for the Education of the Blind in Spain--a day school--was founded in Barcelona. (There was no boarding school for the blind in Spain until one was opened twenty-one years later in Madrid.)
1821
London
The School for the Indigent Blind, Southwark, gave its first musical Exhibition.
Print, Raised
The Lady Elizabeth Lowther brought from Paris some embossed books for the blind for the use of her son, afterwards Sir Charles Lowther, Bart. She procured some type, by which he might be enabled to emboss other books; as a result, Charles Lowther, aided by a clever manservant, embossed the Gospel of St Matthew and several Epistles for his own use.
1824
Edinburgh
Death of the Rev. David Johnston, founder, and for thirty years secretary, of the Asylum for the Industrious Blind.
1825
Edinburgh
A Home for Blind Women, 1 Hill Place, to accommodate 25 blind women, was opened. It remained there until I876, and was the predecessor of the Thomas Burns Home.
1826
Glasgow
The Glasgow Asylum for the Blind, I00 Castle Street, C4, later known as the Royal Glasgow Asylum for the Blind, was opened.
(In I930 it had 384 workshop employees, and I94 trainees. Its Hostel accommodated 99 of its trainees, and 17 blind men were in its Home.)
London
The School for the Indigent Blind, Southwark, was incorporated by Royal Charter. Mat-weaving was added to the list of trades taught.
1827
London
Miss Susannah Bird, by her will executed in 1827, left £1000 Consols (reduced by legacy duty to £900), the income of which was to be distributed annually to six blind persons by the School for the Indigent Blind, Southwark.
(In 1930 Susannah Bird's Annuities were given to six blind persons by the Royal School, Leatherhead.)
Print, Raised
Books were printed in relief, for the first time--Roman capital letters--by James Gall of Edinburgh, who later introduced the art of embossed printing into England. In his early printing the letters had no curves, but were angular and with sharp edges.
1829
Berkshire
Yarnold's Charity for the Blind, administered by the Clerk of the Wokingham United Charities, was founded, to administer annual gifts not exceeding £5 each to two blind men and two blind women, preference being given to residents of Hurst and Ruscombeo
Print, Raised
Louis Braille invented the embossed alphabet, in France, now in general use throughout the blind world. It was adopted by L'Institution Nationale des Jeunes Aveugles in Paris in I854, soon after his death, and by Dr T R Armitage when founding the British and Foreign Blind Association, London, 1868.
1830
Pianoforte-Tuning
The first blind piano tuner is believed to have been Claude Mental, who, about this time, together with a fellow pupil at L'lnstitution Nationate des jeunes Aveugles in Paris, attempted to tune the piano on which they practised. The success which attended their efforts resulted in the beginning of regular instruction in tuning, and the opening up of piano- forte-tuning as a new avocation for the blind.
1831
Belfast, Ireland
Ulster Institution for the Deaf and Blind was founded at Belfast.
(In 1928 the Ulster Society for Promoting the Education of the Deaf and Dumb and the Blind, Lisburn Road, had 25 blind and 69 deaf and dumb inmates; in 1930 the blind pupils numbered 18 and there was 1 blind teacher.)
1832
America
The first two Schools for the Blind in America were founded.
- The New England Asylum for the Blind, new known as Perkins Institution and Massachusetts School for the Blind, was opened in Boston.
- The New York Institution for the Blind, now known as the New York Institute for the Education of the Blind, was opened in New York City.
Print, Raised
Edinburgh Society of Arts offered a gold medal value £20 for the best method of printing for the blind. There were nineteen competitors during the next few years. The medal was awarded to Dr. Edmund Fry, whose alphabet consisted of the ordinary capital letters denuded of their small strokes; it never attained any practical success.
1833
America
The Pennsylvania Institution for the Instruction of the Blind was opened in Philadelphia. Perkins Institution, the New York Institution, and the Philadelphia Institution were the three pioneer schools of the United States. They are incorporated and endowed.
York
Yorkshire School for the Blind was founded at York in memory of William Wilberforce, MP, the eminent philanthropist, who died that year. It was he who led Parliament to abolish slavery in the British dominions.
1834
Limerick, Ireland
The Limerick Asylum for Blind Females connected with Trinity Church, Limerick, was founded. (In 1930 there were three blind inmates.)
London
The Indigent Blind Visiting Society was founded by Lord Shaftesbury and Lord Ebury, for the propose of improving the condition of the blind resident in or near London by providing them with
Readers of the Scriptures at their own homes and elsewhere.
Guides when needed to take them to places of worship, and to the classes established by the Society.
Instruction.
Temporal relief.
(In 1930 about 600 persons were benefited.)
The School for the Indigent Blind built a wing on to the premises at Southwark, increasing the accommodation to 150. They decided that the pupils were only to be instructed in the Alston system of reading and writing.
1835
Edinburgh
A School for Blind Children was founded by James South Bridge; it was afterwards moved to St. John
London
William Thwaytes bequeathed £20,000, to the Clothworkers' Company for providing pensions for the blind.
York
The Yorkshire School for the Blind acquired property The King's Manor; its first superintendent was the Rev William Taylor, M.A., inventor of the Taylor Frame for Ariflmaetic and Algebra. Shortly afterwards the pupils started to make baskets, rope mats, knitted shawls, stockings, etc.
1836
London
Blind Man's Friend, or Day's Charity, was founded by a sum of £100,000 left by Charles Day (of the firm of Day and Marlin, blacking makers) for the benefit of persons suffering under the same affliction as he – “deprivation of light.” This Charity is now administered by the Clothworkers' Company, and £3520 is distributed annually in pensions.
(A new scheme of administration was framed by the Charity Commissioners in 19O8)
1837
Manchester
Henshaw's Blind Asylum, later known as Henshaw's Institution for the Blind, was founded in a building erected by public subscription in Old Trafford; it became one of the largest Institutions in the country.
(In 1930 it had 118 school pupils, I55 technical pupils, 194 workshop employees, 29 home workers, 64 residents its Homes, and 19 blind instructors, teachers, or persons otherwise employed.)
Norwich
Norwich Asylum and School for tile Blind purchased a number of books in the Alston system.
1838
Bristol
Bristol School, etc., moved to larger premises at the top of Park Street, with a residential school for boys. (These premises were vacated in I911.)
Exeter, Devon
A meeting was called by John Bacon in Exeter for the purpose of endeavouring to establish a School in the city for teaching the indigent Mind to read. A 1gfrs. Friend had already been teaching the Lucas System to a few blind persons, and it was largely through her that the School was founded; she remained its superintendent until her death in I875.
The Exeter Indigent Blind School started work in a room in the Athenaeum hired for twenty guineas a year. This became The West of England Institution for the Blind.
(In I930 there were 188 blind persons on the register of the Institution, including 73 elementary pupils, 8 technical pupils, 20 workshop employees, 50 home workers, and 4 otherwise employed.)
London
The London and Blackheath Association was founded for the production of books in the type invented by James Harley Frere; the Association ceased to exist within a short time.
Harry Osborne Cureton gave by deed, and later bequeathed, sums totalling £5,000Consols to the Goldsmiths Company, the interest there from to be used for the relief of poor aged blind men.
Mr. Lucas, a citizen of Bristol, invented an embossed type for the blind, and came to London to procure its more general use. The result was the founding of the London Society for Teaching and Training the Blind, in Hart Street, Bloomsbury. It moved shortly afterwards to Gloucester Street, Bloomsbury, and later to Swiss Cottage, NW3. Within two years the work had expanded, and included the teaching of basket-making, knitting, and netting.
(In 1930 it was responsible for the care of 600 blind persons : 83 in the elementary School, 106 in the technical School, 173 workshop employees, 5 typists, 230 home workers, and pensioners.)
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, Northumberland
Early in the year the Asylum for the Blind of Newcastle-upon-Tyne and the counties of Northumberland and was founded at the Spital near Westgate Street. Owing to differences of opinion over religious instruction a Asylum, known as the Northern Asylum for the Blind, Deaf, and Dumbo was established in June at Wellington Place, Pilgrim Street. The same year a public meeting was called and it was resolved that in order to celebrate Her Majesty's Coronation a subscription be entered into for the erecting a suitable building for the accommodation to be called The Royal Victoria Blind Asylum.
Print, Raised
The Society of Arts for Scotland presented its silver medal to John Atston “for his tables, with wood-cut illustrations, and his musical catechism, with tunes, printed in relief, and ex- hibited to the Society on the 16th and 30th May, 1838; and for his zealous, energetic, and benevolent exertions for the education of the blind.”
1839
Exeter
Exeter Institution changed its name to the West of England Society for the Instruction and Employment of the Blind, and moved to Paul Street; it was also decided that all new pupils were to be taught the Alston type.
Newcastle-Upon-Tyre
Two of the Blind Institutions established in previous year were merged into the Royal Victoria the Industrious Blind of the Counties of Northumberland Durham and the town of Berwick-on-Tweed, but the Asylum refused to come into the amalgamation as the ences on points of religious teaching could not be (See 1848.)
The books used for instruction were those of Mr John Alston of Glasgow. Basket-making, mat-making, and knitting were the staple industries taught, but included in a lengthy list of articles made were “hair-friction gloves for the cure of rheumatism, and for promoting the circulation of the blood.”
(In 1930 the Royal Victoria School for the Blind was looking after 156 blind persons, including 92 elementary pupils at Benwell Dene, 39 male technical pupils at Benwell Cottage, and 25 female technical pupils at Benwell Grange; 49 of the above were in the Institution's Hostels.)
1840
America
The first Workshop for the Blind in America was started at Perkins InstKution in Boston.
Cork, Ireland
The City and County of Cork Asylum for the Industrious Blind, Infirmary Road, was founded.
(In 1930 it had 48 blind persons on the register, including 20 workshop employees, 6 trainees, and 22 in its Home. Its Hostel accommodated 20 of the blind.)
Dundee, Scotland
A Fund was established for the benefit of blind persons of the name of Webster, Speed, Watt, & Johnston; this limitation was afterwards overcome by Mr JG Davidson giving £6,000 for helping others.
(In 1930 the Webster & Davidson Mortification for the Blind amounted to about £I8,000)
Exeter
Exeter Blind School started spinning and basket-making as industries for the blind.
Print, Raised
John Alston, Hon. Treasurer of Glasgow Asylum, who had been printing for three years in embossed Roman capitals, now printed the whole Bible; several other works followed, until his death in I846, then this work ceased. He also in- vented the Alston writing frame, now non-existent.
York
The Yorkshire School for the Blind started weekly concerts by its pupils.
1841
Brighton, Sussex
Brighton School for the Blind, Eastern Road, was for children of both sexes.
(In 1887 there were 47 inmates. In 1930 the then School for Blind Boys had 60 blind pupils and 1 blind teacher.)
Liverpool
The Catholic Blind Asylum was founded at 16 Islington; was then, and is still (in 1930), the only Blind England and Wales exclusively for Roman Catholics.
(In 1930 there were 204 blind persons on its register, including 84 in the elementary school, 37 in the technical school, and 83 in the Home)
London
The Hon Frances Harley assigned a certain property (since sold) for the provision of pensions. Harley's Charity now provides pensions of £20 each to thirteen blind persons.
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
Newcastle Asylum moved to larger premises in Northumber land Street (purchased for £2,300), where it remained for over fifty years.
Norwich
Norwich Asylum and School for the Blind, having now forty-nine blind persons, erected an additional building at a cost of £250.
1842
Exeter
The Committee of the Exeter Institution decided to acquire larger premises and issued a public appeal, with the result that, soon after, they were able to move to suitable buildings on St. David's Hilt.
London
The London Society for Teaching and Training the Blind started a special fund for embossing books; from that time onwards the Scriptures and secular works in Lucas type were sent all over the country, as well as to India, China, and the colonies.
York
The Yorkshire School for the Blind started hair-plaiting as an industry, but the work proved too fine for general use.
1843
Aberdeen, Scotland
Largely through the munificence of Miss Cruickshank, the Aberdeen Asylum for the Blind, Huntly Street, was founded, for looking after the welfare of the blind in the counties of Aberdeen, Banff, and Kincardine. Orkney and Shetland were added later.
(In I930 the Asylum had workshops and showroom at 50 Huntly Street. There were 71 blind persons employed in the workshops and 34 trainees.)
London
The Christian Blind Relief Society was founded. The name was changed about fifty years later to the National Blind Relief Society.
The Governesses' Benevolent Institution was founded. (In 186o, I863, I865, x872, z876, the Institution received sums of money for provision of one pension each to five blind governesses.)
Manchester
The Annual Report of Henshaw's Asylum stated that the Mind choir had memorized the whole of the psalms.
Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
The Midland Institution for the Blind was founded in a house in Park Street; later known as the Royal Midland Institution for the Blind, it looked after the welfare of the blind in the counties of Nottingham, Derby, Leicester, and Rutland. It had its origin in the gathering together of a few blind persons with the object of teaching them to read the Bible. Foremost in this pioneer work in founding the Institution were Miss Chambers (blind), and Miss Woods, a member of the Society of Friends, who took a deep interest in the Institution until her death fifty-five years later. Thomas Parr (blind) appointed schoolmaster, and held that post for forty years, and it was said of him “no one can exaggerate that his influence and teaching conferred on many generations of the young” blind/ (In 1930 there were 840 blind persons on the register, eluding 65 employed in the workshops, 76 trainees, workers, and 4 blind home teachers. Hostel accormodation was provided for 70 of the above.)
1845
Act of Parliament
The Poor Law Amendment 1845, enabled Parochial Boards to contribute towards any asylum for the blind This law applied to Scotland as well as England and
Gloucester
John Wintle, by his will, dated June, I845, left a sum of money, the income of which is £8 a year. John Wintle's Charity is distributed every Christmas to blind persons in Gloucester by the Trustees of the Consolidated Charities of St Michael’s parish, Gloucester.
Manchester
Henshaw's Blind Asylum added a new wing, including a concert hall and a workroom.
1846
Birmingham, Warwickshire
The Institution, later called the Birmingham Royal Institution for the Blind, was founded at Edgbaston.
William Harrold, a Birmingham merchant, conceived the idea of establishing the lnstitution, but died before the scheme was carried out; however, his daughter, Elizabeth, and her friend, Miss Mary Badger, rented a small house in Ruston Street, where the Institution was started. It soon after removed to larger premises in Ryland Street, and in the first annum report in 1848, the address was 113 Broad Street in addition to school subjects, knitting, straw-planing, and basket-making were taught. Miss Badger was the Hon. Lady Superintendent for forty-eight years.
(In 1930 there were 1900 blind persons on the register, including I76 residents, besides 30 in the Hostels, 40 day scholars, 203 workshop employees, 136 home workers, 28 other employees, and 44 adult trainees.)
1847
Brighton
Dr. William Moon founded Moon's Institute for the Blind at 104 Queen's Road, Brighton, for the printing and publishing of literature in "Moon Type" invented by him.
(In 1914, the Society became a branch of the National Institute for the Blind. In 1915 title was changed to the Moon Society. In 1930 the number of "Moon" productions was over 69,000.)
London
The London Society for Teaching and Training the Blind acquired the 96 years' lease of its present site at Swiss Cottage at a cost of £4,500, including building, and moved in 1848.
1848
Birmingham
Mr. James Taylor presided at a meeting held with a view to establishing the Birmingham Institution as a public charity. He was elected its first President. Shortly afterwards the Institution was moved to larger premises, Islington House, Broad Street, Edgbaston.
Exeter
Mr. R. W. Wyllie was appointed musical instructor at the Exeter School for the Blind; he introduced a plan of musical notation invented by himself, using Lucas's characters. Shortly afterwards the Institution acquired a printing press in order to extend its work.
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
The Northern Asylum for the Blind, Deaf and Dumb transferred all it’s blind to the Royal Victoria Asylum.
1849
Liverpool
The Catholic Blind Asylum moved to 20 St. Anne Street.
1850
Bath
The Institution for the Blind and Deaf and Dumb was founded; pupils of both sexes were received for elementary education. (In 1930 this Institution had long ceased to exist. See 1857)
London
The London Society for Teaching and Training the Blind decided not to admit boarders over fourteen years of age.
Manchester
Mr and Mrs GA Hughes were for twenty years Governor and Matron of Henshaw's Blind Asylum, Manchester. In I850 Mr Hughes took out a patent for the Hughes Typograph, which he confirmed to be the first typewriting machine, and which was designed primarily to enable the blind to communicate with the seeing.
(A Hughes Typograph was awarded a gold medal at the Great Exhibition in Hyde Park in 1851; one of these machines is in the Museum of the National Institute for the Blind, and another in the Science Section of the South Kensington Museum, where it is the oldest English model--the one older machine is American. M Foucault exhibited a writing machine for the blind at the Paris Exhibition in 1855.
The earliest patent for a typewriter was granted to Henry Mill in 1714 and the first practical typewriters were made in England, and the first practical typewriters were made in America in 1873)
1851
Census
The census figures for the year showed 1 blind person per 979 of the populations in England and Wales, 1 per 960 in Scotland, and 1 per 864 in Ireland.
Edinburgh
The School for Blind Children, founded in 1835, was moved to Gayfield Square, where it was known as The Edinburgh school for Blind Children.
Liverpool
Liverpool School moved to Hardman Street.
Manchester
Handel’s "Messiah" was performed by the choir of Henshaw's Blind Asylum.
1852
Birmingham
Birmingham Institution for the Blind moved to new premises in Carpenter Road, Edgbaston, built on a two-acre site at a cost of £7,000.
Braille, Louis
Death of Louis Braille, born 1809, in the village of Coupvray, near Paris; he lost his sight when three years of age. In 1819, he entered L'Institution Nationale des Jeunes Aveugles in Paris, and was a brilliant pupil, and a good player on the piano-forte and violoncello. The idea of a system of points based on Charles Barbier's invention occurred to him about I825, when still a pupil at school. In I829 a pamphlet was printed, setting forth the use and practice of his system of embossing, but it was not officially adopted until I854. He became a professor at the Institution where he had studied, and organist at the Chapelle des Lazaristes.
Exeter
Exeter Institution for the Blind built art extension at a cost of £370.
1853
Birmingham
Birmingham Institution for the Blind provided a blind organist and blind choir for St. James's Church, Edgbaston. (In 1915 the records show that forty of their pupils had obtained posts as organists.)
Nottingham
The Midland Institution for the Blind moved to larger premises in Chaucer Street, built to accommodate forty boarders.
Armagh – N Ireland
The Macan Asylum for the Blind was founded by Mr. Arthur Jacob Macan, whose father was blind.
(In I904 there were sixteen blind men resident in the Asylum; in I930 there were only seven.)
1854
Bristol
Bristol Institution for the Blind printed some raised Roman type.
London
Miss Elizabeth Gilbert, the blind daughter of Chichester started a scheme for helping seven blind make goods in their own homes.
1855
Birmingham
Birmingham Institution for the Blind built a new shop at a cost of £846, and started weaving and mat-making.
Exeter
Exeter Institution for the Blind carried out a extension. (The accommodation was then for twenty.
London
A Home Teaching Society was started in London by Graham of Clapham. (]The management was transferred the National institute for the Blind in 1915, and later transferred to the County Associations.)
Howard's Charity for the Blind of St. Marylebone founded by a bequest of £1000 by Charlotte Rebecca. The income is divided by the Rector of St. Marylebone, Christmas Eve, amongst the poor blind persons of the parish.
1856
Bristol
The Revo Edward Kempe Trust Fund was founded for the benefit of unmarried women who had been pupils School of Industry for the Blind, Bristol.
(In 1930, nine blind women received pensions, six each, and three of £3 15s. each.)
Carlisle, Cumberland
Carlisle and Cumberland Association for Promoting Reading of the Holy Scriptures amongst the Blind in Carlisle by Miss Graham of Edmund Castle. (The changed later. See 1872)
Cornwall
Cornwall Home Teaching Society, now the Cornwall County Association for the Blind, was founded.
(In 1930 there were 794 blind persons on the register, including 794 home workers, and about 290 pastime workers, and The Dowager Lady Robinson Fund provided pensions of £10 each to 34 of the blind.)
Hudderfield, Yorkshire
Huddersfield and District Blind Society was founded. (In 1930 there were 157 blind persons on the register, including 12 home workers.)
Liverpool
The Catholic Blind Asylum moved to 59 Brunswick Road, then on the outskirts of Liverpool. (There were twenty-one inmates°)
London
Ebury Street Classes for the Blind were started by the late Capt Alfred Chapman. (In 1907 weekly classes were still being held; apparently discontinued about 1910.)
Miss Gilbert's scheme developed and became the Association for the General Welfare of the Blind, with small premises in Bloomsbury.
(Later it became the Incorporated Association for the General Welfare of the Blind, Tottenham Court Road, W. In 1887 there were 67 workers and pupils, in 19I5, 97, whilst in 1930 the total number benefited was about 200.)
1857
Bath
The Blind School Home was founded for the support of twelve blind women, previously educated at the Institution for the Blind and Deaf and Dumb, Bath. (See 1897.)
Bristol
A Home Teaching Association was started at Bristol (amalgamated with School and Workshop in 1907).
Dublin
The Association for the Relief of the Indigent Blind, and Lending Library, Lower Sackville Street, was founded by Miss Pettigrew.
(In 1930 the address was 22 South Frederick Street. The Association had one home visitor, and gave weekly grants to about nine or ten blind persons.)
Edinburgh and South-east of Scotland Society for Teaching the Blind to Read at their Own Homes, Howe Street, Edinburgh, was founded.
This was the first Home Teaching Society in Scotland. (In 1930 there were 1059 blind persons on the register, including 5 home workers and 3 Braille copyists; 7,826 visits were paid to the blind in Edinburgh, the Lothians, Peebles, Roxburgh, Hawick, Selkirk, Oalashiels, and Berwick. There was a Free Library with 4,346 Braille and Moon books, the Jamieson Pension Fund with an income of about £1,323 a year, and the Jamieson Holiday Home in Kirkliston.)
London
The London Association for the Blind (at first Surrey Association for the Blind) was founded at 90 Peckham Road, SE, for teaching and employing blind persons making, basket-making, chair-caning, brush-making, (In 1887 it had 31 blind workers, in 1955, 38, in 1922, 104 and in 1930, 158 paid workers, 29 pupils, 16 in the “Ladder of Hope”, 7 pensioners, and 16 in its Home at High Salvington.
1858
Birmingham
Birmingham Institution for the Blind appointed a blind home teacher to teach the Moon System of reading; there were then about 80 blind to visit.
(In 1930 there were 1,244 blind persons on the visiting list, and 26,227 visits were paid by the 13 Home visitors.)
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
The Cheltenham Home Teaching Society was founded; it aftewards became the Cheltenham and Gloucestershire Society for the Blind and later the Cheltenham Workshops for the Blind.
(In 1930, there were 610 blind persons on the register, 3 home teachers, and 22 blind men and 4 women in the workshops, making baskets, brushes, and mats.)
An Institution for the Blind was started in Copenhagen, Denmark, by Johann Moldenhawer (1829-1908), who devoted most of his life to the service of the blind in his own and other countries.
Dublin
St. Mary's Roman Catholic Asylum for Female Blind was founded under the superintendence of Sisters of Charity. (In I904 there were 180 inmates from six to eighty years of age; in 1930 there were about 200 including a few young blind boys.)
St. Vincent's Home, Cabra, Dublin, was founded. (In 1930 there were 4 blind children in its elementary school.)
Leicester, Leicestershire
Leicester Association for Promoting the Genera Welfare of the Blind was established. Its name was later changed to the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Institution for the Blind. It was the outcome of a suggestion by Mr. Herbert Mackley (blind) to Mr. William Harris of Westcotes, Leicester, who called a meeting to consider the proposal, with the result that the Institution was started in a house in High Street. When the Institution was founded Mr. Harris became Hon. Secretary.
(In 1930 there were 338 blind persons on the Leicestershire County Register, 360 on Leicester County Borough Register, and 28 in the County of Rutland; 220 of the total received weekly monetary grants. There were 6 elementary and 30 technical pupils, 60 employed in the workshops, 24 home workers, and 4 blind persons otherwise employed; 9 of the above were residing in the Institution's Hostels and 4 women in its Home.)
London
The Society for Granting Annuities to the Poor Adult Blind was founded by Edmund Charles Johnson and his friend Viscount Cranborne. It commenced with an annual gift of £6 each to 3 blind persons.
(In 1929 the annuitants numbered 216, and its income was £1,604, the Chairman and Treasurer of the Fund being Nr. Stuart Johnson, son of the founder, who had died in I895.)
1859
Birmingham
Birmingham Institution for the Blind built a Master's house.
Dublin
St Joseph's Asylum and School for Male Blind was founded in Drumcondra, Dublin, controlled by Carmelite Brothers. (In 1904 there were 93 inmates, mat-making and basket-making being the industries carried on there. In 1930 there were 83 blind persons on the register, 38 of whom were in the workshops, 16 trainees, 17 in the elementary school, and 12 in the Home; 25 of the blind men resided in the Institution’s Hostel.)
Exeter
The Exeter Institution purchased nine cottages and a yard. Addtional workrooms, sickroom, etc, were built at a cost of £750.
Glasgow
The Mission to the Out-door Blind for Glasgow and the West of Scotland, 201 Buchanan Street, was founded, covering the area of Glasgow and the Counties of Ayr Argyll, Bute, Dunabarton, Dumfries, Kirkcudbright, Lanark, Renfrew, and Wigtown.
The Glasgow Ladies' Auxiliary, Bath Street, takes a special interest in visiting and helping the women and girls on the Roll of the Mission.
(In 1907 there were 1,567 blind persons on its register; in 1930 the number was increased to 5,570, including 202 pensioners. The Pension Fund income amounted to £1,206.
Liverpool
The Catholic Blind Asylum purchased part of the premises in Brunswick Road, which became the permanent Asylum; the remainder was purchased in lots during succeeding years.
Home Teaching Society was founded by Miss Wainwright for the area of Liverpool and Birkenhead.
(In 1930 the Liverpool Workshops and Home Teaching Society for the Out-door Blind, and the Birkenhead Society for the Blind, under one management, had 1,808 blind persons on their register, in Liverpool, Birkenhead, Bootle, Wallasey, and other parts of Lancashire and Cheshire, including 174 elementary and technical pupils, 183 employed in the workshops, and 21 home workers ; 15 women were in their Home and 7 in their Hostel. The Cornwallis Street Blind Annuity Fund distributed £500 amongst 21 annuitants.)
Sheffield, Yorkshire
A class was formed, by Mr Heath, for teaching the blind to read by means of Moon type; this developed and became the Workshops for the Blind of Sheffield, and later the Royal Sheffield Institution for the Blind.
(In 1930 the Royal Institution had 80 elementary pupils in its School and 13 Mind persons in its Home. The Workshops, managed by the Sheffield corporation, had 73 blind workers, 36 trainees, and 4 home workers.)
1860
Carmarthenshire, South Wales
Carmarthenshire Blind Relief Society was founded by Mrs. Naomi Morgan. (In I922 the Society was reconstructed; in 1930 there were 350 blind persons on the register.)
Devonport, Devon
Devonport and Western Counties Association for the Blind opened the Manor Lodge, Devonport, as a Home for the unemployable blind.
(In 1930 in the Home at Torr, Plymouth, there were 31 blind men and 34 blind women.)
London
The School for the Indigent Blind opened workshops for adults at their premises in St. George's Circus, Southwark.
Nottingham
The Midland Institution for the Blind commenced brush-making, in addition to the trades of basket-making making hitherto carried on.
Plymouth, Devon
The Institution for the Instruction and Employment Blind was founded in a portion of the old Plymouth Work- house, with 15 pupils. Besides the usual school subjects, mat and basket-making were taught. Amongst those who helped to start the Institution was Mr James Gale, a blind man, who was one of the most enthusiastic workers on its behalf. The Institution soon grew, and the name was changed to the South Devon and Cornwall Institution for the Instruction Employment of the Blind. (in 1930 the South Devon and Cornwall Institution for the Blind, North Hill, employed 37 blind persons in their work- shops, had 30 trainees and 30 home workers, and 6 were otherwise employed. Their Hostels accommodated 20 blind men and 3 women.)
Sheffield
The class started the previous year was extended to teach mat and basket-making premises being secured in West Street and some ten or twelve men employed. A Sunday class was also formed.
The workshop, shortly afterwards named the North of England Manufactory for the Blind, was founded by Miss Elizabeth Harrison, of Weston Hall, Sheffield.
1861
Bradford, Yorkshire
A Home Teaching Society was founded by Mrs. Ray, wife of the Rev. Richard Ray, a Wesleyan minister, who got together a snail committee for the purpose. This developed into the Royal Institution for the Blind, Bradford, later becoming one of the best in the country. (In 1870, 42 blind were employed; in 1890, 76 ; in 1920, 128 ; in 1930 there were 700 blind persons on the register, of whom 150 were employed in the workshops, 16 were trainees, and 20 were home workers. Hostel accommodation was provided for 16 women; and 15 men and 8 women were in the institution's Homes. About £600 a year was paid to 40 blind pensioners.
Canterbury, Kent
A School for the Blind was founded. (In 1872 the school had 6 pupils, but it apparently ceased to exist shortly afterwards.)
Census
The census figures for the year showed 19,352 blind persons in England and Wales, being a ratio of one in every 1037 of the population; 2820 blind persons in Scotland, being one in every 1086; 6879 in Ireland, being one in every 843.
Cheltenham
The Cheltenham Home Teaching Society started a small workshop in Grosvenor Street, with a blind instructor.
Liverpool
Liverpool Workshops and Home Teaching Society opened its first workshop in a large room under Hope Hall. (The Society shortly after moved to 37 Bold Street.)
London
The Braille system of reading and writing was introduced into the London Society for Teaching and Training the Blind by Professor Hippoylyte Van Landagen of the Belgian Institution.
Manchester
Henshaw's Blind Asylum added workshop accommodation for brush-making; this was soon discontinued, basket-making and mat-making being continued as before. Outside blind workers were now employed in addition to the inmates.
Pembrokeshire, South Wales
Pembrokeshire Blind Relief Society, Haverfordwest, was founded. (The Society was reconstructed in 1921. In 1930 there were 197 blind persons on the register.)
Plymouth
Plymouth Institution moved to larger premises in Street. The first resident inmate was received, and organ- and piano-teaching commenced; within four years, seven ex-pupils had obtained posts as church organists in the neighbourhood.
1862
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament was passed enabling Boards Guardians to maintain and educate blind children in schools.
Bradford
Bradford Home Teaching Society started a workshop in Rawson Place, where six men and four women were taught basket-making and knitting.
Brighton
Brighton Blind Relief and Visiting Society was founded by William Moon, LL.D. Obiect: to send a missionary to the homes of the blind, to lend books and teach the blind to read, and to help the needy. (In 1930 the Brighton Society for the Welfare of the Blind had 405 blind persons on its register.}
Cheltenham
The Cheltenham Home Teaching Society moved its work- shop to Winchcombe Street.
Exeter
Exeter Institution acquired an additional two acres of ground at a cost of £600.
York
Yorkshire School for the Blind extended its workshops and started an "Out-mates Department."
1863
London
The Alexandra Institution, 6 Queen Square, Bloomsbury, was founded by Edward Moore. It provided an industrial Home for the adult blind.
(In 1875 there were 21 inmates and 10 outworkers. The Institution ceased to exist many years ago.)
The Protestant Blind Society was founded by the late Thomas Pocock (Senior); the name of the Society was after- wards changed to the Protestant Blind Pension Society of the United Kingdom. In 1887 it became the Royal Blind Pension Society.
(It is interesting to note that the work was carried on by the founder's two sons, Alfred and Ebenezer Pocock, by his grandsons, Thomas, George, and Percy, and by his great- grandson, P. Laurence Pocock, the two latter being respectively Chairman and Hon. Treasurer in 1930, in which year 1091 pensioners were benefited and the income of the Society amounted to £16,833.)
South London Association for Assisting the Blind was started. (In 1887 classes were being held at Walworth Road, Brixton Road, and Kennington Road, and there were 228 members; in 1930 classes were held in Walworth Road only, and the members numbered 166.)
Sunday Afternoon Bible Classes were started: (In 1895 classes were held in Drury Lane and Cleveland Street, Euston Road; there were 90 members).
1864
Hull, Yorkshire
Hull Institution was founded as a Home Teaching Society by Alderman CR Lambert, a blind resident; there were 90 blind persons on the register, who were taught to read the Bible and other books in Moon.
(This became the Hull and East Riding Institute for the Blind, Beech Holme, Beverley Road. In 1930 there were 745 blind persons on the register, of whom 114 were employed in the workshops, 43 were trainees, 3 were home workers, and 5 were otherwise employed; its Home and Hostel accommodated 14 of their blind women.)
London
The London Society for Teaching and Training the Blind carried out considerable extensions to its building at Swiss Cottage, including a concert hall, printing shop, and additional dormitories.
The Phoenix Home for Blind Women, St John’s Wood started; the name was changed later to the Cecilia Home for Blind Women. (In 1950 there were fourteen blind inmates at the 111 Abbey Road, NW)
Somers Town Blind Aid Society (afterwards known as Hepburn Starey Blind Aid Society) was founded by Mrs Hepburn Starey. Obiects: to influence the blind for provide pensions, medical advice, entertainments, excursions, etc. (In 1905 it had 320 members, in 1922 it had 400 members, and in 1927 about 595 were benefited.)
Southsea, Hampshire
Hampshire and Isle of Wight School for the Blind was founded. (In 1930 there were 23 blind pupils in the school.)
1865
Cardiff, South Wales
Cardiff Association for the Blind was founded by Miss Shand in a small private house in Severn Road, Canton, with four pupils. It later became the Cardiff Institute for the Blind. Miss Shand acted as Secretary for the first twelve years.
Dundee
Through the generosiy of Mr Francis Molison, Dundee Institution was founded and provided with a new school and workshops at Dallfield House.
(In 1930 there were 172 blind persons being benefited, 60 in the elementary school, 44. technical pupils and 68 paid workers, and a Hostel accommodated 12 of their blind women.)
Kirkcaldy, Scotland
The Fife and Kiinross Society for Teaching the Blind at their own homes was established at Kirk Wynd, Kirkcaldy.
(In 1930 the Fife and Kinross Society for the Blind, 1 Townsend Palace, Kirkcaldy, had 532 blind persons on its register, including 14 home workers.)
London
Mr Jonathan Williams left £1000 to the School for the Indigent Blind, Southwark to provide annuities for six blind persons.
(In 1930 Jonathan Williams's Annuities, having been increased by small purchases, amounted to 1406 in 2.5 per cent annuities, the income of which was distributed by the Royal School, Leatherhead, to six blind persons.)
Newport, South Wales
The Newport and Monmouthshire Home Teaching Society was founded. (In 1930 the Newport and Monmouthshire Blind Aid Society had 829 blind persons on its register, including 9 employed in its workshops, 3 home workers, and 4 blind home teachers; 3 blind women were in its Hostel.)
Swansea
Swansea Society for Teaching and Helping the Adult Blind of Swansea and Neighbourhood was founded to teach the Moon System; there were then known to be about 7 blind persons in the neighbourhood.
(In 1930 the Swansea and South Wales Institution for the Blind employed 54 blind workers, 40 trainees, and 17 home workers; 12 were otherwise employed. Hostel accommodation was provided for 14 of the men and 17 of the women.)
1866
Alloa, Scotland
The Stifling, Clackmannan, and Lintithgow Society, Fenton Street, was established. (In 1907 there were 104 blind persons on the register, including 34 persons engaged in some form of industry or trade, and there was a library of 151 books ; in 1930 the Society for Teaching the Blind at their Homes in the Counties of Stirling and Clackmannan, 25 Mill Street, Alloa, had 229 blind persons on its register, including 7 home workers.)
Birmingham
Birmingham Institution for the Blind started brush-making.
Cheltenham
The Cheltenham Home Teaching Society moved its workshop in Winchcombe Street to larger premises in the same street, No 51.
Frere, James
Dealh of James Hatley Frere (born 1779) of Terrace, London; he held a commission in the Royal and afterwards became chief clerk in the Army Pay was the author of several religious books, and invented system of teaching the blind to read by means of raised
Hull
Hull Institute started a workshop in one room in Nile Street. (In 1870, eight blind men were employed, and sales amounted to £193.)
Leeds, Yorkshire
Mr John Wilkinson of Harrogate, himself blind, founded an institution for the Industrious and Indigent Blind at Leeds, which afterwards became the Leeds Incorporated Institution for the Blind, and the Deaf and Dumb. It was started with 6 blind workers in Basinghali Street but within a short time was moved to more suitable premises in Coolridge Street.
(In 1930 there were 940 blind persons on its register, including 22 in the elementary school, 56 in the technical 85 employed in the workshop, 29 home workers and 3 otherwise employed.)
London
The Association for Establishing Workshops for the was founded. (In 1875 about twelve blind persons were employed in its workshops in Bishopsgate Avenue, Camomile Street, chiefly occupied in making sacks and bags for coffee and rice Association ceased to exist many years ago.)
The Association for the General Welfare of the Blind a shop in Oxford Street. (Its workrooms were then in Euston Road,)
The Watercress and Flower Girls’ Christian Mission was founded by John A Groom. In 1907 the name was changed to John Groom's Crippleage and Flower Girls' Mission. It provided a Home and industrial training for blind and children at Clerkenwell. (In 1929 there were 20 blind children.)
Perth, Scotland
Society for Teaching the Blind to Read in the County and City of Perth was founded in premises in Welshill Terrace, Perth; this Society afterwards moved to South Methven Street.
(In 1930 there were 142 blind persons on the register, including 8 home workers.)
Swansea
Swansea Corporation gave the use of a room in the Assembly Rooms to the Home Teaching Society, and seven men and boys were employed at basket- and mat-making; they shortly afterwards moved to 5 Caer Street.
Worcester, Worcestershire
A College for the Blind Sons of Gentlemen was founded by the 1ate Rev RS Blair. It was first housed in an old building known as the Commandery, the ancient hospital of St. Wulf- stan.
Although this Institution only lasted three years, it was reconstituted in 1872, and afterwards became the Worcester College for the Blind.
(In 1930 there were 47 blind pupils in the College, besides two blind and two partially blind masters.)
York
The Yorkshire School for the Blind started brush-malting as an industry. Mrs. Markham's Fund for the Blind was founded for aiding former pupils of the Wilberforee (Yorkshire) School for the Blind to establish themselves in positions of independent industry. The capital invested was £800.
1867
Bolton, Lancashire
Workshops for the Blind were founded. (In 1887 there were 30 workers, in 1927, 57 workers. In 1930 there were 521 blind persons on the register, including 97 employed in the workshops, 6 home workers, and 14 living in the Institution's Home.)
Cardiff
Cardiff Institute moved to Byron Street, Roath, and started basket-making, soon followed by mat-making.
Exeter
Exeter Institution erected a small organ.
Leicester
Leicester Institution founded a home-teaching branch.
Liverpool
Liverpool Town Council gave a site of about a thousand square yards in Cornwallis Street, for the erection of for the blind, which was completed about three years.
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
Workshops for the Blind, Breamish Street, were founded (In 1930, 53 blind persons were employed.)
Home Teaching Society for the Blind in Newcastle, Gateshead, and neighbouring was founded. The first home teacher was Mr Wilkinson - blind.
(in 1930 there were 707 blind persons on the register, including 522 in Newcastle and 185 in Gateshead; there were workers and 2 blind home teachers.)
Preston, Lancashire
Preston Industrial Institute for the Blind was founded as the resuh of the efforts of Mr. John CatteralI, who for three years had been helping four blind men to be taught basket-making in a small cottage.
Mr. Thomas Seholefield (blind) filled the post of Manager with success, until his death in 1912.
(In 1930 there were 537 blind persons on the register, whom 46 were in the elementary school, 43 employed workshops, 21 trainees, 11 home workers, and 2 otherwise employed. Nineteen of these were accommodated in the Institution's Hostel.)
Stockport, Cheshire
Institute for the Blind, the Deaf, and the Dumb, St Petersgate, Stockport was founded.
(In 1930 there were I98 blind persons on the register, of whom 22 were employed in their workshop and 4 were home workers.)
1868
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament was passed enabling Boards of Guardians to send blind children to uncertified as well as certified schools.
Bradford
Bradford Institution built new premises at North Parade at a cost of £6,434. Later in the year, during a period of extreme financial anxiety, an anonymous gift of £2,000 was received. (A portion of the above premises was sold in 1926, but a large section of the original building is still devoted to social welfare work amongst the "outside blind.")
Cardiff
Cardiff Institution moved to Longcross Street.
Inverness, Scotland
The Society for Teaching the Blind to Read in the Northern Counties (afterwards known as The Northern Counties Institute for the Blind), was founded for the care of the blind in Inverness and neighbourhood.
(In 1930 there were 586 blind persons on the register, including 12 in the elementary school, 12 employed in the workshops, 6 home workers, and 5 otherwise employed.)
London
The British and Foreign Blind Association (now the National Institute for the Blind) was founded by Thomas R. Armitage, M.D., at his house, 33 Cambridge Square, W. At that time there was no work of nationaI importance undertaken on behalf of the blind, and occasional relief was almost all that they could hope for. The primary object of the Association was the employment and education of the Mind, and the provision of embossed literature. The Braille system was adopted, and the Association soon became the centre for supplying printed books, maps, music, frames for the writing of Braille, and other educational apparatus.
(In 1930 the National Institute for the Blind was carrying on its chief work at 224, 226, and 228 Great Portland Street, WI. Its many branch activities are mentioned in different parts of this book.}
Print, Raised
William B. Wait, Superintendent of the New York Institution, devised what became known as the New York Point system of reading and writing, a variation of the Braille system.
Worcester
The Society for Promoting Cheap Literature for the Blind was founded by the Revo W. Taylor. (This Society existed in 1884, but apparently ceased to exist soon after.]
1869
Barnsley, Yorkshire
Bamsley and District Association for Visiting, Teaching, and Training the Blind was founded. (In 1929 they had a shop and a depot in Market Street; 2 home teachers were employed, and 194 blind were being visited in the area of its County Borough and in the West Riding of Yorkshire, including 6 blind persons employed in its workshop and 10 home workers. In 1950 the Association was taken over by the Barnsley Corporation Blind Welfare Department. There were then 79 blind persons on the register of the Barnsley county borough and 1641 in the West Riding of Yorkshire.)
Exeter
Exeter Institution enlarged its workshops and kitchen.
Forfar, Scotland
Forfarshire Mission to the Blind (Angus and South Kincardineshire}, West High Street, Forfar, was established.
(In 1930 there were 215 blind persons on the register, of whom 121 were receiving financial help from the Mission, and there were 5 home workers.)
Gilbert, Miss Elizabeth
Miss Elizabeth Gilbert prayed a leading part in the drafting of a memorial, pleading the cause of the blind child, for presentation to Mr. Gladstone's Government. When Mr. Forster's Education Bill became law the following year the Mind were not mentioned, but largely through Miss Gilbert's action they were not debarred from the right to compulsory education.
London
A School and Home for Blind Children was started in Goldsmith's Place, Kilburn, N.W. (Records show that in I887 thirty children were being looked after; in I896 this Institution no longer existed.)
Sheffield
Sheffield Institution built commodious workshops and a retail shop in West Street, and bought some adjoining land for future needs.
Wakefield, Yorkshire
A meeting was called by the Rev CJ Camidge, Vicar of Wakefield, to hear addresses by Dr. Moon, of Brighton, and Sir Charles Dodsworth, Bart. (both blind), with the result that a society was started and a Bible-woman was engaged to visit the twenty or so blind people in the neighbourhood; a library of embossed books was provided. In due course the work developed, blind children being sent for instruction to the Schools at Leeds, Sheffield, and York.
(In 1930 the Wakefield and District Institution and Work- shops for the Blind had 341 blind persons on the register, including 9 employed in the workshops, 5 home workers, and 20 residing in the Institution's Homes.)
Worcester
Worcester College was converted into a Proprietary Institution, but languished for two years, and the Company was then wound up. (See 1872.)
A Home Teaching Society for the Blind was founded.
1870
Hull
Hull Institution started a reading class for boys and a knitting class for women; the latter was discontinued in three years' time owing to the difficulty of disposing of the articles,
Lanark, Scotland
St, Vincent's Schools and Hostel were founded at Smyllum, Lanark, but moved in 1911 to Tolcross, Glasgow. The Institution is for Roman Catholics.
(in 1930 there were forty blind children in the elementary school, and twenty women in the Hostel, these going to work daily at the Municipal Workshop, Possill Park, Glasgow.)
London
Hampton's Mission for the Blind was startled by James Hampton, a painter, who carried on the work practically single-handed till 1898, when a Commitee was formed.
Objects: to organize the work of charity among the blind poor of London by obtaining employment and giving grants, pensions, and many other forms of assistance.
(Became the South London Institute in 1907.)
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
Newcastle Asylum built addional dormitories at a cost of £456.
Rochdale, Lancanshire
The Rochdale and District Society for Visiting and instructing the Blind was startled in May, in the Chapel of the Destitlute, Whitehall Street, chiefly through the efforts of John Ashworth, the well-known Lancashire author of Strange Tales.
The first Sunday in May is still observed, more than fifty years afterwards, by a special service for the blind at the same chapel.
(In 1929 there were 189 blind persons on the register, including 14 home workers.)
1871
Belfast, Ireland
In 1870 Thomas Cathcarte, a labourer, on whom were dependent a wife and eight children, lost his sight during blasting, operations in a quarry. Miss Mary Hodson, daughter of the Rev J Hodson, was unsuccessful in her efforts to secure him training and employment. She interested some influential residents in the question of care of the blind, with the result that in 1871 the Association for the Employment of the Industrious Blind was founded at 6 Howard Street.
(In 1930 there were 128 blind persons employed in the workshops, and 21 home workers.}
Birmingham
Birmingham Institution erected a new workshop for chair- caning.
Cardiff
Cardiff Association for the Blind became the Cardiff Workshops for the Blind.
(In 1930 there were 398 blind persons on the register, 95 of whom were employed in the workshops.)
Census
The census figures for the year showed 21,590 blind persons (or 1 per I,052) in England and Wales, 3,021 blind persons (or 1 per 1,112) in Scotland, and 6,347 Mind persons (or 1 per 852) in Ireland.
Conference
The first of the Biennial Blind Conferences of the American Association of Instructors of the Blind, was held at Indiana- polls, America.
Directory
A Guide to Institution and Charities for the Blind was published by M Turner and W Harris, in which they stated:
a) That Moon type was being used by thirty-eight Institutions, Lucas type by seven, Roman type by four, Alston type by four, Frere type by three, and Braille type by four.
b) That in all Institutions the same general difficulties appeared to exist, the principal being the difficulty of selling the goods manufactured at such prices as would procure a ready sale, and cover the cost of production; consequently, in most instances there was a large surplus stock. In cases where the stock was wholly disposed of, observation led them to believe that sales had been secured by selling at a loss.
Liverpool
The Catholic Blind Asylum was taken charge of by the Sisters of Charity. Sister Mary Maxwell, a cousin of the then Duke of Norfolk, was appointed Superior, and under her devoted supervision the Institution flourished until, the inmates exceeded zoo. She retired in 1922.
Music
The British and Foreign Blind Association published first explanatory pamphlet on Braille Music Notation
Print, Raised
Braille books were printed for the first time from stereo- typed plates, by the British and Foreign Blind Association.
1872
Carlisle
Workshops for the Blind of Cumberland and Westmorland were established in West Tower Street.
(In 1930 the Cumberland and Westmorland Home and Workshops for the Blind, 22 and 24 Lonsdale Street, had 333 blind persons on their register, including 19 employed in the work- shops and to home workers: of the former 6 were accommodated in their Hostel.)
Note: In spite of the title there was no Home in existence.
Cockermouth, Cumberland
Hudson’s Charity was founded by a bequest from Isabella Hudson, giving a pension of about £3 6s. 8d. to three persons resident in Cockermouth.
Edinburgh
The Asylum for the Industrious Blind, having previously amalgamated with the Home for the Female Blind, HM Queen Victoria gave permission for the Institution to be known as the Royal Blind Asylum.
Mitford, Northumberland
The Northern Counties Blind Society was founded at Mitford. (See North Shields, 1924.)
Norwood, Surrey
The Royal Normal College and Academy of Music for the Blind was founded by the late Francis J Campbell (afterwards Sir Francis), with the assistance of Dr. Armitage and others. It was the first Institution of its kind in England.
(In 1930 there were 130 resident pupils, 90 of whom were receiving training as shorthand typists, pianoforte tuners, organists, music teachers, school teachers, or preparing for matriculation. It can justly be proud of the many successes of its past pupils in music, literature, and law.)
Worcester
Worcester College was reconstituted as a private school under the principalship of the 1ate Rev SS Forster.
York
Yorkshire School for the Blind founded a free scholarship to commemorate the talents and services of the Rev W Taylor, FRS, the first superintendent of the school (1836 to 1845).
1873
Congress
The first Congress of Teachers of the Blind was held in Vienna.
Doncaster, Yorkshire
Doncaster and District Home Teaching Association for the Blind is believed to have been founded about 1873.
(In 1930 there were 130 blind being visited within a radius of about eight miles from Doncaster.)
Inverness
The Northern Counties Institute extended the area of its work to include the care of the blind in Ross, Suthefland, and Caithness, and started a Home and Workshop in High Street, Inverness, for the education of blind children and the industrial training and employment of adults.
Sheffield
Sheffield Institution took over the Sheffield Home Mission and Sabbath School.
Swansea
The Swansea Society acquired 1 and 2 South Hill Place (now known as Northampton Place) for £2000 for an enlarged school and workshop, and took a showroom in Goat Street. (In 1878 there were 22 pupils, and 17 "out-mates" under instruction in the workshop.)
York
Yorkshire School for the Blind built an additional wing.
1874
Bradford
Bradford Institution erected additional buildings.
Bristol
A Home for Blind Women, presented by Miss Caroline Bush was established in Aberdeen Road. (Moved in 1905)
Charity Organisation Society
The Charity Organisation Society appointed a committee consider what could be done to improve the condition blind. After thirty-nine sittings, they pressed for Dent of a Royal Commission to secure the many reforms they considered necessary in order to provide better and more employment for the blind. (At this date only 150 workshop employees in London, and 800 in United Kingdom. In 1930 there were about 750 blind employed in the London workshops and 3,000 in England and Wales.)
Ipswich, Suffolk
Ipswich and Suffolk Institution was founded. (Changed, in 1920, to the Ipswich Society for the Blind. In 1930 there were 127- blind persons on the register, 13 of whom received pensions.)
Liverpool
A Home for Blind Children was established at Miller Street, Toxteth Park. (This was the first Home for blind babies of two years old or so; it was closed in 1912.)
London
The East London Home and School for Blind Children, Northumberland House. Wamazick Road, Upper Clapton, was founded.
(In 1887 there were 19 inmates; in 1922, 38; and in 1930, 55.
School for the Indigent Blind, Southwark, set apart the basement of about half the school for use as a workshop by ex-pupils.
Nottingham
The Midland Institution for the Blind began teaching Braille to its pupils.
Preston
Preston Institute opened new premises in Glover's Street, which enabled the work to be greatly expanded.
Swansea
The Swansea Society for Teaching and Training the Adult Blind changed its name to the Swansea and South Wales Institution for the Blind.
Wolverhampton, Staffordshire
The Wolverhampton, Dudley and Districts Institution for the Blind, Waterloo Road, was founded.
(In 1930 there were 499 blind persons on its register, including 39 employed in the workshops, 19 home workers, and 5 otherwise employed.)
1875
Accrington, Lancashire
Accrington and District Society for the Blind was founded by Richard Bond and James Towson. On the occasion of a blind boy, Thomas Fielding, aged 13, being sent away to be trained, a tea-party of thirty-two blind persons in the district was organized to give him a" send-off"; this tea-party became an annum event each January, and led to other services for the welfare of the local blind. (Three of the original company were present at the Jubilee Tea-party in 1925.)
Soon after the foundation of the Society Mr. John Ingham (blind) was appointed first visitor; he carried out his duties "ably and conscientiously" for thirty-two years. (See 1907.)
Chester, Cheshire
Chester Society for the Home Teaching of the Blind was founded.
(In 1930 there were 800 blind persons on the register, including 53 home workers and 20 pastime workers, and over 10,000 visits were paid to the blind in Chester, Cheshire, Denbighshire, and Flintshire.)
London
Blind Female Annuity Society was founded by Mrs. Annuities were granted to eight blind women. (This year taken over by the Royal Blind Pension Society in 1894).
Macclesfield, Cheshire
Macclesfield Society for the Home Teaching of the Blind was founded.
(In 1930 there were 136 blind persons on the register, including 8 home workers and 7 otherwise employed, in Macclesfield, Congleton, and neighbourhood.}
Oxford
Elizabeth Woodington, by her will dated 1875, left about £271, the income of which was to provide a pension blind person of Oxford.
(in 1930 the Oxford Municipal Charities, Haynes' and Woodington’s gave five pensions of £23 8s° each. See 1806.)
York
Death of Mr. Joseph Munby, who had been the Hon Secretary to the Yorkshire School for the Blind since its foundation in 1833, and was largely responsible for its foundation and support. His son, Mr FJ Munby, was appointed his successor,
1876
Colchester, Essex
Colchester Home Teaching Society for the Blind was founded for teaching the blind in their own homes. there were 148 blind persons on the register, and the Society's activities covered 56 towns and villages.)
Congress
A Congress of Teachers of the Blind was held in Dresden, Germany.
Dublin
The Richmond Institution received a legacy of £26,000, by the Rev E Pepper and shortly afterwards carried out considerable extensions.
Edinburgh
The Royal Blind Asylum took over the Blind School, which had existed separately, and opened a splendid Institution at West Craigmillar - the Royal Blind Asylum and School.
The women from the Home were also taken over.
Leeds
The Leeds Blind Institution amalgamated with the Yorkshire Association for the Adult Deaf and Dumb.
Leicester
Leicester Institution opened a Cottage Home for four elderly blind women.
London
The Association for the Promotion of the General Welfare of the Blind moved to Berners Street, W.
Manchester
Henshaw's Blind Asylum carried out further extensions.
Norwood
The Royal Normal College opened a large new building, with concert hall, schoolrooms, etc.
(The property in 1930 consisted of sixteen-and-a-half acres of ground, and also included a gymnasium, skating rink, swimming-bath, and rowing lake, a building for pianoforte tuning containing 40 pianos, besides 46 pianos and 5 organs for practising.)
1877
Leeds
The Institution for the Blind and the Deaf and Dumb moved to new premises in Albion Street, costing over £10,000, and providing accommodation for basket-making, brush- making, and chair-caning, besides a retail shop and a school for children. The Mind workers numbered twenty-six.
London
Workshop for the Blind of Kent was started at Greenwich by Major-General PJ Bainbrigge, RE for the purpose of employing blind men of Kent. (In 1887 it had 15 blind workers, in 1911, 20 ; and in 1930, 41.)
The London Society for Teaching and Training the Blind carried out further extensions at a cost of £4,300; also introduced into their School Braille musical notation, and Taylor's arithmetic by movable types.
Oxford
Oxford Society for the Blind was founded.
(In 1930 there were 188 blind persons on the register of the county and 121 on the register of the county borough.)
Plymouth
Plymouth Institution moved to larger premises on a freehold site on North Hill, containing 22,000 square feet of ground.
Sunderland, Durham
A workshop for the blind was opened at Villiers Street, Sunderland.
(In 1930 the Sunderland and Durham County Incorporated Royal Institution for the Blind, 23 and 24 Villiers Street, had 1,399 blind persons on the register, including 16 in the elementary school, 52 employed in the workshops, 17 trainees, 11 home workers, and 2 otherwise employed.)
1878
Act of Parliament
The Customs and Inland Revenue Act, 1878 (Section 21) exempted a blind person from the necessity of taking out a dog licence for a dog used as a guide.
Brighton
Brighton Blind Missionary Fund was founded by Dr W Tindal Robertson (blind), MP, of 9 Belgrave Terrace, Brighton. (Amalgamated 1909 with the Brighton Blind Relief Society.}
Coventry, Warwickshire
Coventry Society for the Blind was founded.
(In 1930 there were 140 blind persons on the register.)
Japan
The first School for Blind and Dumb in Japan was opened in Kyoto, followed soon after by one at Tokyo; for many years previously massage, acupuncture, and music had been set aside as occupations followed almost exclusively by blind persons in Japan.
Oldham, Lancashire
Home Teaching Society was founded at Oldham (Incorporated 1920).
(In 1929 there were 308 blind persons on the register; in 1930 the Society ceased to exist, and the work was taken over by the Oldham Municipal Council.)
Plymouth
Plymouth Institution built an additional workshop.
Print, raised
Joel W Smith, of Perkins Institution, Mass., U.S.A., devised a second American point system of writing, modelted more closely after the original Braille. This system, with certain modifications, about fourteen years later became known as Arnerican Braille. It was a close competitor of New York Point, which seemed likely to become the accepted system of the Continent.
1879
Aberdeen
Aberdeen Town and County Association for Teaching the Blind at their homes was founded.
(In 1930 there were 748 blind persons on the register: Aberdeen burgh 243, Aberdeen county I66, Banffshire 90, Kincardineshire 12, Orkney 85, and Shetland 152. There were 21 home workers and 2 other Mind employees. The office and library were at 112 Crown Street.)
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament was passed enabling Boards Guardians to subscribe towards the support of and Associations for the Blind.
Belfast
The Belfast Blind Association opened an additional Castle Street.
Carlisle
The Carlisle and Cumberland Association for the workshops in Lonsdale Road at a cost of £3,715. The shops were founded, and the greater part of the by Miss Harriet D. Johnson, the Hon. Secretary years, who died in 1903.
China
The Rev William Hill-Murray, an agent of the National Bible Society, started a school for the Blind in Peking (see the Braille Review, March 1916.)
One of the most difficult works that the Rev. Hill-Murray successfully undertook was the adaptation of Braille to the Chinese language, which consists of over 4,000 complicated characters. Dr Morrison, the first missionary to China had already noted that there were 420 distinct sounds in Mandarin-Chinese, the language of four-fifths of the whole Murray for his purpose found it possible to reduce to four hundred and eight sounds, each of which was presented by one or more Braille numerals. (Four examples may be given: the numeral 1 stands for A, 2 for ang, 108 for hsiang.)
Congresses
A Congress of Teachers of the Blind was held at Berlin.
A Universal Congress for the Amelioration of the Blind and of Deaf Mutes was held at Paris.
Dundee
Dundee Mission to the Out-door Blind, Castle Street, was established.
(In 1930 there were 563 blind persons on the register, including 6 home workers, and the address of the Mission was Caird Rest, 172 Nethergate, Dundee. There was a lending library with Braille and Moon books.)
Glasgow
Glasgow Asylum for the Blind started on an extensive rebuilding scheme.
London
Henry Gardner, of 1 Westbourne Terrace, W, died, and left £300,000, free of legacy duty, for the formation of a trust for the benefit of blind persons residing in England and Wales. Gardner's Trust for the Blind, 53 Victoria Street, SW, was thus created. A scheme of administration was drawn up and approved by the Court of Chancery in 1852, indicating that the income should be distributed as follows: two-ninths in instructing the blind in music; two-ninths in instructing the blind in trades, handicrafts, professions; two-ninths for pensions; three-ninths at the discretion of the committee.
Benefited in 1930: pensioners 247; by scholarships 84; other individuals 110; institutions 31. Henry Gardner also left £10,000 each to three blind institutions in London.
Sheffield
The Sheffield School for Blind Children, built at a cost of £15,000, was opened in Manchester Road, Sheffield. Mr. Daniel Holy gave an endowment of £26,000.
1880
Australia
An Industrial Blind Institution was founded at Sydney.
Birmingham
Birmingham Institution for the Blind discarded Lucas's system of reading, and substituted that of Braille.
Leeds
The Leeds Blind Visiting Society amalgamated with the Leeds Institution for the Blind and the Deaf and Dumb.
London
The Kensington Institute for the Blind was started by Mrs Arthur Cohen, from a nucleus of work that had been for four years.
(Thirty-three persons were employed in 1930, the then being known as the West London Workshops for the Blind.)
North London Home for Aged Christian Blind Men and Women was founded by Rev Henry Bright: and his former was blind, from birth. They continued in charge of the home till their deaths in 1919 and 1918 respectively. (in 1887 there were 37 inmates, in 1896, 93 inmates, and in 1930, 107 inmates at Hanley Road, Crouch Hill, N4, and 28 at branch home at Southend.)
The School for the Indigent Blind opened a junior school at Linden Lodge, Wandsworth Common. (Taken in 1902 by the London County Council.)
1881
Australia
Mr Alfred Hirst (blind), of Huddersfield, and later of Whitby, an enthusiastic Brallist introduced Braille into Australia.
Blackburn, Lancashire
The Blackburn and Darwen Society for the Blind was established as a small visiting society and for the instruction of the blind. (In 1930 there were 399 on the register, and 2 home teachers were employed.)
Census
The census figures for the year showed 22,831 blind (or 1 per 1,137) in England and Wales.
France
Maurice de la Sizeranne (blind) devised an abbreviated system of orthography for the blind, which has since generally employed in France, Switzerland, Belgium, and Canada, and has served as a basis for a similar method used in Germany, Italy and France.
Inverness
The Northern Counties institute purchased and adapted the old High School to provide increased space for school and workshop, and soon after they erected a shop and warehouse in Castle Street.
Leeds
Death of John Wilkinson (aged 81) President and Founder of the Leeds Institution; though himself blind, he was largely responsible for the development and success of the Institution for the first few years of its existence.
London
Charles Randell left £450 to the School for the Indigent Blind, Southwark, to provide annuities.
(In 1930 the Charles Rande11 Annuity Fund, administered by the Royal School, Leatherhead, provided annuities to three blind persons.)
Manchester
Henshaw's Blind Asylum introduced the Braille system into the school, one of the many improvements introduced by James McCormick (Governor 1876-1892).
Periodicals
Progress, a magazine in Braille type, the first monthly publication of its 1rind, was published by the British and Foreign Blind Association. (It is still produced by the National Institute for the Blind.)
Sheffield
Sheffield Institution for the Blind rebuilt the premises in West Street at a cost of £3,650, and bought further land.
South Africa
The Deaf and Blind Institute, Worcester, was founded by the Rev W Murray, under the auspices of the Dutch Reformed Church.
(In 1930 there were 120 blind pupils, the older ones being taught the usual trades, There were three hostels provided for the pupils. The Institute had a Braille printing but also imported books from England.)
1882
America
Home teaching was successfully introduced in Philadelphia by Dr William Moon.
Bangor, Carnarvonshire
The North Wales Home Teaching Society for the Blind founded. (In 1929 it looked after the blind of Anglesey, Carnarvonshire, Montgomeryshire, Merionethshire, and of Flintshire and Denbighshire.)
Burnley, Lancashire
The Burnley and District Society for the Blind was for visiting and helping the blind in their own homes.
(In 1929 there were 275 blind persons on the register
Congress
A Congress, of Teachers of the Blind was held at Frankfurt, Germany.
Dumfries, Scotland
Dumfries and Galloway Society, Rae Street, was mainly for home teaching. (In 1907 there were 106 blind sons on the roll, and 800 books in the Library. In 1930 it existed but no figures were available.)
Leicester
Leicester Institution moved to larger premises in Street.
London
Miss Blott (blind) started a school for children classes at Barnes. (in 1907 there were five pupils; in 1911, four; it apparently ceased to exist soon after.)
A Lending Library for adult blind readers was founded Fairfax Road, Hampstead, by Miss Arnold (blind), and Howden.
This Library was so successful that in later years it the nucleus of the National Library for the Blind, Street, Westminster.
Norwood
The Royal Normal College for the Blind opened the first Kindergarten for blind pupils.
Wolverhampton
A Workshop for the Blind was opened by the Wolverhampton, Dudley, and Districts Institution.
1883
Ashton-Under-Lyne, Lancashire
Ashton-under-Lyne, Stalybridge, Dukinfield and District Home Teaching Society for the Blind was established.
(In 1930 there were 280 Mind persons on the register.)
Belfast
Belfast Blind Association built new workshops and show- room, etc., in Royal Avenue, at a cost of about £6,000.
Cardiff
Cardiff Workshops for the Blind changed its name to the Cardiff Institute for the Blind, and built additional workrooms, sales-rooms, and library.
Conference
An International Conference was held at York, the first of its kind in the United Kingdom. (For Agenda see "Appendix III," page 191.)
France
Maurice de la Sizeranne founded the Valentin Haüy, a journal treating with questions relative to the blind-systems of education, methods of teaching, schools, works, etc., also the Louis Braille, a monthly journal printed in relief, in point print, after the Braille system.
Norwood
The Royal Normal College was provided with a swimming bath by the late Dr TR Armitage.
Nottingham
The Midland Inslitution for the Blind built a gymnasium.
Oldham
Workshops for the Blind, New Radcliffe Street Oldham, were founded.
(In 1930 there were 18 blind men employed, making brushes, baskets, and mats, in addition to the 15 Mind women employed in the women's branch started in 1904.)
York
Yorkshire School for the Blind started an "Out-pupils" Department for teaching a handicraft to such as had lost their sight over the age of sixteen.
1884
Australia
The Royal Institution for the Blind, North Adelaide, Australia, was founded; Mr Andrew Hendry was appointed manager.
Belfast
Belfast Blind Association started a Home Teaching Society and a Library.
Bradford
The Mayor Alderman F. Priestman, JP, was elected Chairman of the Bradford institution, a position which he held with much success for thirty-seven years.
Central Buying and Selling
Mr. Richardson-Gardner, in coniunction with Gardner's Trust drew up, a ''Central Aid" scheme for selling goods made by the Institutions and buying materials centrally. The scheme was, however, rejected by a large majority of the Institutions.
Durham, Co Durham
The Northern Countries Blind Society moved from Mitford to Durham.
Hull
Hull Institution was rebuilt at a cost of £800; cork fender making and chair-caning were started, and employment was found there for the first time for three blind women.
Royal Commission
A conference was called by the Duke of Westminster at Grosvenor House, London, for the purpose of discussing the condition and needs of the blind; this resulted in a Royal Commission being set up the following year. (See 1889.)
Swansea
The Swansea Institution, which had hitherto used the Moon system, adopted Braille.
1885
Bradford
Bradford School Board established a class for blind children at Carlton Street School.
Conference
An International Conference of Teachers and Friends of the Blind was held at Amsterdam, Holland.
Dundee
Through the generosity of Mrs. Molison, widow of the founder, Dundee Institution was provided with a splendid new building at MagdMen Green at a cost of over £10,000.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh Asylum and School for the Blind adopted the Braille system to the exclusion of all others.
Mrs. Jane Stobie Clark Pension Fund was established; it gives small amenities to thirty blind women.
Hull
Hull Institution opened a retail shop, but owing to the expense involved it was dosed in a few years' time.
London
Death of Miss Elizabeth MM Gilbert (born 1826), daughter of Ashurst Turner Gilbert, afterwards Bishop of Chichester. She became blind when three years old, as the result of scarlet fever. For her work see 1854 and 1856.
1886
Apparatus
Toothed wheel pencil and compasses for making raised diagrams were invented by Mr. Guy M Campbell of the Normal College.
Belfast
The Belfast Society for Home Mission Work among the blind was founded by Mrs RB Pim.
(In 1930, in addition to its home missionary work, Society had a home at Cliftonville with thirty-six mates and a Hostel with 15.)
Cardiff
Shand Memorial Fund was founded by Miss Shand, the Foundress of the Cardiff Institution, for workers at Institution.
(In 1930 there were seven annuitants, each receiving £5.
Leicester
Miss Sarah Barlow’s Charity for blind women was founded. Miss Barlow left a bequest of £3,500 Consols and the sum provides grants for ten blind women.
London
Kensington Institute for the Blind moved to Ball Street, Kensington.
Nottingham
The Nottingham Corporation added embossed books for blind to the public Free Library (believed to be the municipality to do so).
Periodicals
Dawn, a magazine in Moon type, was published quarterly Mr H von Niederhausern, Secretary of the Northern Association for the Blind, North Shields who died in fifty-five years of devoted service to the blind.
(In 1930 the circulation of Dawn in Great Britain, the United States, etc, amounted to about 200 copies quarter, and the embossing was still carried out by blind labour at North Shields, under the editorship of Miss Hunter.
York
Yorkshire School for the Blind purchased the freehold of its property and built additional workshops and schoolrooms.
1887
Cork
St Raphael's Home for the Industrious Female Blind, was established, under the care of Catholic Sisters.
(In 1915 it had fifty-six inmates. In 1919 it was closed owing to lack of funds, and most of the inmates were moved to St. Mary's Institution, Merrion, Dublin.}
Directory
The First Edition of Information with Regard to Institutions, Societies, and Classes for the Blind in England and Wales was published by Henry J Wilson, Secretary of Gardner's Trust for the Blind.
Exeter
The West of England Institution began teaching pianoforte tuning.
Halifax, Yorkshire
Halifax Society for the Home Teaching and Assistance of the Blind, afterwards known as the Halifax Society for the Blind, was founded.
(In 1930 there were 363 blind persons on the register, including 30 employed in the workshops, 14 trainees, 1 home worker, and 8 in the Institution's Home; 4 were residing in its Hostel.)
Inverness
The Northern Counties Institute moved its Home, school, and workshops to 38 Ardconnel Street, built at a cost of £1,650.
Leicester
The Wycliffe Cottage Home and Hostel was founded for the blind of Leicester. (In 1921 there were thirty-four inmates.)
London
By permission of HM Queen Victoria, the name of the Blind Pension Society of the United Kingdom was changed to the Royal Blind Pension Society.
The Fawcett Memorial Scholarship, of which the Cloth workers' Company are the Trustees, was founded.
It provides one scholarship (£50 per annum) for four tenable by a blind student of either sex, between 17 and 23 years of age, at any University in the United Kingdom.
Manchester
Henshaw's Blind Asylum, Old Trafford, as a result of a munificent bequest by Mr J Pendlebury, carried out a large extension known as the Pendlebury Extension, consisting of dormitories and workshops. (Inmates numbered 100.)
Norwood
Royal Normal College introduced roller-skating and cycling, and started a course of training for blind typists.
1888
Clerk, Blind
W H Illingworth, Headmaster of the Edinburgh School for the Blind, introduced the use of the Edison Bell phonograph for recording, and trained the first correspondence clerk.
(The phonograph used was similar to the modern dictaphone.)
Hollins, Alfred
Mr. Alfred Hollins (blind), Mus Doc, FRCO, was appointed Professor of Pianoforte and Organ at Norwood. Born at Hull in 1865, he was educated at York and Norwood, and at the age of nineteen was appointed organist of St John's Church, Redhill. (An account of his brilliant career appears in The Beacon, August 1924, with a portrait as he appeared seated at one of the largest organs in the world, built to his specification, and erected in the Town Hall, Johannesburg.)
India
Shirreff Braille was invented by Mrs Shirreff, wife of Rev FAP Shirreff, MA, Fellow of the the Punjab University. By a small alteration to ordinary Braille the Hindustani, Hindi, and Telegu languages could be suitably embossed for the education of the blind of India.
1889
London
The London Society for Teaching and Training the Blind built workshops for providing technical training and employment.
Music
An International Congress was held at Cologne with the object of the standardization of Braille music notation. England, France, Denmark, and Germany came to an agreement.
London
Thomas William Wing bequeathed £70,000, 2.5 per cent annuities to the Clothworkers' Company for the provision of pensions.
New Zealand
The first effort was made to ameliorate the condition of the blind in New Zealand. Mr JW Tighe (blind) was appointed teacher for the new Association, called "The Friends of the Blind."
Nottingham
The Midland Institution for the Blind, having purchased adjoining property, erected additional workshops on the Chaucer Street frontage.
Periodicals
Santa Lucia, a monthly magazine in the Braille type, edited by the Misses Hodgkin, was first published.
Royal Commission
The Royal Commission on the Blind, Deaf and Dumb etc, after sitting for four years, issued its Report.
(See Appendix II, page 187.)
Southampton Hampshire
Southampton Association for the Blind was founded, general assistance of the blind in the county borough Southampton. (Reconstituted 1921 and 1930.}
(In 1930 there were 228 blind persons on the register.)
Worcester
The Rev SS Forster secured a small endowment for Worcester College; a Trust Deed was drawn up on the lines of those of other public schools and a body of trustees governors appointed. The College was moved three outside the city to Powyke. Worcester College practically owes its existence and success to the work of Mr. Forster during the last nineteen years of his life. He died in 1891.
1890
Act of Parliament
The Education of Blind and Deaf Mute Children Act, 1890, made it compulsory for School Boards to provision either in schools of their own, or in approved voluntary schools, for the elementary education and training of blind children up to the age of sixteen where the parent was unable to pay and, where necessary the boarding of the children during such education and training.
Armitage, Dr TR
Death of Thomas Rhodes Armitage, MD, MRCP. Born in 1824, he lost his sight at the age of thirty-six. It was the founder of the British and Foreign Blind Association (now the National Institute for the Blind) and was connected with several other institutions for the blind. There are few, if any, men who have left behind them a greater record of service to the blind, especially in the cause of education. (See Braille Review, May, 1915.}
Bacup, Lancashire
The Rossendale Society for Visiting and Instructing the Blind was established in Bacup.
(In 1930 there were 75 blind persons on its register, including 8 home workers.)
Conference
A Conference for the Blind and their friends was held at Norwood. (For Agenda see Appendix III, page 191.)
London
The Association for the General Welfare of the Blind moved to its existing premises at 258 Tottenham Court Road.
Norwich
Norwich Blind Asylum was rebuilt at a cost of £5,320.
St Leonards-On-Sea, Sussex
Miss Hood opened a seaside Convalescent and Holiday Home for the Blind, at St. Peter's Road. It was a private enterprise of Miss Hood's, and never became registered under the Blind Persons Act.
(In 1907 there were 12 inmates; in 1922, 20; in 1930 the Home still existed.)
1891
Argentine
Blind welfare work was started in the Argentine by a blind man, Francisco Gatti. He afterwards opened a private school for the blind at Flores.
Belfast
The Belfast Association again extended its workshops and started bamboo furniture making as an industry for the blind.
Census
The census figures for the year showed 1 blind person per 235 in England and Wales.
Conference
A Conference of Teachers of the Blind was held at Kiel, in Germany.
Edinburgh
The Royal Blind Asylum started its first Braille printing press at the instigation of its headmaster, WH Illingworth.
Liverpool
Liverpool Children's Home was moved to Devonshire Sefton Park.
London
The Blind Tea Agency, Ltd, 37 Pratt Street NW1 started by Mr CE Dustow (blind) in order to find employment for blind persons selling tea, etc, on commission.
(In 1930 Mr JF Mutley (blind) was managing the business, and several hundreds of bind and partially blind men and women were acting as agents. This is not a charitable insti- tution, but a commercial undertaking.)
The London Society for Teaching and Training the Blind discontinued the embossing of Lucas type.
The Workshops for the Blind of Kent moved to larger premises in London Road, Greenwich, with accommodation for thirty-two workers. Mattress-making was added to the trades taught.
Manchester
Henshaw's Blind Asylum opened workshops for for the blind at the comer of Deansgate and Wood Street; the building cost about £9,000, and provided splendid new workshops for the workers, who were formerly in Bloom Street.
Periodicals
Playtime, a Braille monthly magazine for children, was published by the British and Foreign Blind Association.
Plymouth
Plymouth Blind Institution added another wing to the main buiding.
1892
Apparatus
The Hall Braille Writer was devised by FH Hall, Superintendent of the Illinois Institution for the Blind, Jacksonville, USA.
London
Deptford and District Society for the Welfare of the Blind was founded. It was afterwards absorbed as a branch of the Indigent Blind Visiting Society.
The London School Board started special classes for blind, deaf and dumb, and imbecile children. This was largely brought about by the persistent energy of the late Major- General FJ Moberly, R.E
Manchester
Henshaw's Blind Asylum, Old Trafford, having received a bequest of nearly £14,000 from Mr. James Nasmyth, built the Nasmyth extensions, consisting of a large concert hall to seat 500 persons, and kitchens. Inmates 180.
Periodicals
The Weekly Summary, the first weekly newspaper for the blind printed in Braille, was published by Miss ER Scott and Miss LT Bloxam.
Reading, Berkshire
The Reading Blind Aid Society was founded by Mr. Hugh Walford, and carried on by him and Miss Burnett until her death in 1925.
(An account of Mr. Hugh Walford's career appeared in The Beacon, July, 1925.)
1893
Act of Parliament
Elementary Education (Blind and Deaf Children) Act passed. This was one of the most important Acts passed for the benefit of the blind, and brought about the compulsory education of blind children from the age of five to sixteen.
All schools for the blind are certified under Section 2 of Act. The Act defined the word "blind," as "too blind to read the ordinary school books used by children.
Birmingham
Birmingham Institution for the Blind completed a big extension at a cost of £12,500, thus increasing the accommodation for resident pupils from 65 to 106.
Bradford
Bradford Institution for the Blind carried out extensions.
Brighton
The Barclay Home and School for Blind and Partially Girls was founded by the late Gertrude Campion (the Mrs Campion) in Brighton. The primary obiect was to industrial training. (In 1896 there were 5 inmates; 39 inmates; in 1907, 74 inmates; 1911, 94 inmates; 1930, 112 inmates, including 6 non-resident pupils and 21 non workers.)
Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire
Miss Godwin's Charity was started for giving pensions to blind persons in Hemel Hempstead. Five blind persons receive £10 each annually.
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight Society for the Benefit of the Indigent Blind and Alleviation of Diseases of the Eye likely to lead to Blindness was founded. Objects: home teaching and general assistance and relief.
(In 1930 there were 123 blind persons on the register.)
Leicester
The Wycliffe Society was founded for the general assistance of the blind in the town and county of Leicester.
National League of the Blind
The National League of the Blind of Great Britain and Ireland was established. It conducted a vigorous campaign for State aid, and freely criticized the voluntary institutions.
Nottingham
The Midand Institution for the Blind, in celebration of its Jubilee, set aside £3,000 to start an "Old Pupils' Scheme," for the assistance of ex-pupils in starting in a new career and carrying on business.
Periodicals
Hora Jucunda, a Braille monthly magazine, was published by the Edinburgh School for the Blind.
1894
Brighton
Death of William Moon, LLD (born 1818), founder of the Moon Society and Brighton Blind Relief Society, and inventor of the Moon type. He was a great benefactor to the blind. Moon type is extensively used in the Mind world by the aged, or those whose fingers are not sensitive enough to feel Braille.
Conference
A Conference was held at Birmingham. Discussions took place on the Elementary Education (Blind and Deaf Children) Act, 1893.
Gloucestershire
Gyde Charity, Stroud, was founded, to assist in the payment of school fees for blind, and deaf and dumb children. (Endowments £1,800.)
London
The London Society for Teaching and Training the Blind built an additional workroom for senior girls, and began printing in Braille.
The Royal Blind Pension Society took over the Blind Female Annuity Society.
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
The Royal Victoria Blind Asylum, Newcastle, moved to Benwell Dene, a beautiful house, with grounds of six acres, in the west of Newcastle, overlooking the river Tyne; the total cost, including alterations and extensions, was over £11,000. The name of the Institution was changed to the Royal Victoria School for the Blind.
North Shields, Durham
The Northern Counties Blind Society moved from Durham to Howard Street, North Shields.
Nottingham
The Midland Institution began to teach piano-tuning some of the Mind pupils.
York
The Yorkshire School for the Blind added a gymnasium and cloisters, and opened an Industrial Home for Blind women at Scarhorough.
1895
Cardiff
Cardiff Institute, hitherto for men only, decided blind women also a home teacher was engaged, a set aside, and a start made with six girls.
Congress
The Eighth General Congress of Teachers of the Blind held in Munich, Bavaria.
Liverpool
Liverpool Children's Home was enlarged by the purchase of the neighbouring house.
London
The sum of £1,000 was left to the School for the Indigent Blind, Southwark, by Edmund C Johnson (its late Chairman) for the provision of annuities.
(In 1930 the Edmund Charles Johnson annuities, adminstered by the Royal School for the Blind, Leatherhead, provided annuities for five blind persons.)
Kensington Institute for the Blind moved to 60 High Street, Notting Hill, W.
Manchester
Henshaw’s Blind Asylum started giving instruction in massage; its pupils were the first in this country this profession.
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
Newcastle School added another schoolroom in a temporary iron building.
Norwood
The Royal Normal College started a Training College Department for training blind people to become teachers.
(By 1930 the College had supplied teachers to Blind Institutions throughout the United Kingdom, as well as to Australia, Canada, Burma, Ceylon, and South Africa.)
Periodicals
The Craigmillar Harp, a Braille musical magazine published monthly, was started by the headmaster of the Edinburgh School for the Blind.
Gospel Light in Heathen Darkness was published in Braille type by Miss Lamb, Clapham Vicarage, Lancaster.
The King's Messenger (for children), was published in Braille type by Miss Lamb.
Recreation (for adults) published monthly in Braille by the British and Foreign Blind Association.
Preston
Preston Institution opened buildings on the Cottage Home principle at Fulwood, at a cost of about £8,000.
Whitby, Yorkshire
A Workshop for Blind Men was started by Mr Alfred Hirst (blind) at 2 Brunswick Street.
(In 1930 there were 13 blind persons on the register, including 3 employed in the workshop and 3 home workers. The address of the Institution was then Bagdale Mount, Whitby.)
1896
Cheltenham
The Cheltenham Home Teaching Society changed its name to the Cheltenham and Gloucestershire Society for the Blind.
Jerusalem
A Day School for the Blind was opened by Miss Ford, an American missionary; it afterwards became a Home for the Blind.
Liverpool
Liverpool Workshops were overcrowded, and an house in Cornwallis Street was purchased.
Northampton, Northamptonshire
Northampton and County Association for the General Welfare of the Blind was formed.
Norwood
The Board of Education recognized a department of the Royal Normal College, opened the previous year, as a training college for blind teachers of the blind, under the name of the Smith Training College.
Periodicals
The Church Messenger, published monthly in Braille, was started by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.
It contains sermons and extracts from religious papers.
Rochdale
The Rochdale and District Society for Visiting and Instructing the Blind was reconstructed. Up till this date its work had been chiefly of a religious nature, with a certain amount of relief work and instruction in Moon type, but in 1896 a committee was formed and a home teacher appointed, with a view to giving the blind fuller instruction. The first home teacher, Miss Renshaw, was replaced within a short time by Mr. A. Siddalt (blind), who up till 1930 had completed over thirty years' work there aa home teacher, and was then Chairman of the Northern Branch of the College of Teachers of the Blind, and Vice-Chairman of the Northern Counties Association.
Southend-on-sea, Essex
Miss Oallagher started the Middleton Holiday Home Blindo (See "Maldon" 1921.)
Taunton, Somerset
The Taunton Home Teaching Society for the Blind founded. (In 1930 it had 67 blind persons on the register.
Bath, Somerset
Bath Blind School Home was closed, and the Trust Fund, amounting to £7,127, was handed over to the Royal Blind Pension Society, London.
1897
Edinburgh
The Royal Blind Asylum extended its workshops in Nicolson Street, and gave up those in Abbey Hill.
Hanley, Staffordshire
The Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire Institution for the Blind was founded in Victoria Road, Shelton, Hanley, by a combination of School Boards.
(In 1930 the Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire Committee for the Care of the Blind, Victoria Buildings, Victoria Square, had 624. blind persons on their register, including 97 employed in the workshops, 30 home workers, and 11 otherwise employed.)
Sunderland
Sunderland and Durham County Institution for the Blind was granted the title "Royal" by H.M. Queen Victoria.
Swansea
Swansea Institution added schoolrooms, etc., enabling thirty-two pupils to be accommodated.
Tunbridge Wells, Kent
A Workshop for the Blind was founded at 75 Calverley Road. (In I93o~ Io blind men were employed, and 6 of these lived in the Institution's Hostel.)
1898
Birmingham
A Typewriting Office was opened in connection with the Institution at Edgbaston. Later in the year it was transferred to the centre of Birmingham; book-keeping and Braille- shorthand were also taught there.
Bradford
Bradford School Board built a special day school for the blind.
Cardiff
Cardiff Institute for the Blind lost its manager, who resigned after thirty-three years, and was succeeded by Mr DAR Jeffrey from Dundee Institute.
A Guild of Social Work among the Blind was founded, for visiting and relieving the blind in sickness.
Congress
The Ninth General Congress of Teachers of the Blind was held in Berlin.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh Club was started for reading aloud to its blind members.
Egypt
The first Egyptian school for the blind was opened at Alexandria, under the auspices of the Ministering League.
(In 1930 the school was still doing useful work.)
Hull
Hull Institute carried out considerable extensions, including the provision of new workshops, separating the men from the women, additional warehouse accommodation, and a Home for women.
Liverpool
Liverpool School acquired Wavertree Hall and about three- and-a-half acres of land, and erected new buildings for a school to hold seventy-five children, at a cost of about £30,000, of which £10,000 was given by Miss Hornby; the old school building in Hardman Street was thus reserved for the use of adults only.
London
Gardner's Trust started a lending library in Braille for University students.
Middlesbrough
Yorkshire Institution opened a workshop for the blind at Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough, afterwards known as the Cleveland and South Durham Institute for the Blind.
(In 1930 there were 897 blind persons on the register of the Institution: 206 in the county borough of Middlesbrough; 220 in its Yorkshire area, and 471 in its Durham area. Of these there were 47 employed in workshops, 25 trainees, 6 home workers, and 6 otherwise employed.)
Northampton
A Workshop was opened by the Northampton and County Association for the General Welfare of the Blind.
(in 1930 there were twenty-six blind persons employed in the workshops in addition to 10 home workers.)
Norwood
The Royal Normal College started a course for professional shorthand writers.
Periodicals
The Blind Advocate, a monthly paper, was published by the National League of the Blind for broadcasting its views on matters appertaining to the welfare of the blind.
The Blind, a quarterly magazine in ink-print, giving information regarding progress of work on behalf of the blind, was started by Mr. Henry J. Wilson, Secretary of Gardner's Trust.
Plymouth
Plymouth Institution opened an additional wing at a cost of £2,500, for the education of blind children.
Preston
Preston Institution extended its workshops.
Sheffield
Sheffield Institution opened Cottage Homes for nine blind persons in Selbourne Road, Crosspool; this was made possible by a legacy from Mrs, Overend, after whom the cottages were named.
Southend-on-Sea
The North London Homes for the Blind opened a branch at Wilson Road, Southend-on-Sea.
(In 1927 there were twenty inmates ; in 1929 the Home was removed to Westcliff-on-Sea.)
1899
Act of Parliament
The Elementary Education (Defective Children) Act defines Defective Children viz. Children not being imbecile and not merely dull or backward, who, by reason of mental or physical defects, are incapable of receiving proper benefit from the instruction in the ordinary public elementary school, but are not incapable by reason of such defect of receiving behests in special classes or schools.” This only affects the blind in so far as they are mentally or physically defective.
Adelaide, South Australia
Farming was started by the Adelaide Institution, partially blind.
Birkenhead, Cheshire
Birkenhead Society for the Blind was founded, although at the time only sixteen blind persons were known in the district ; yet four years later there were 156 blind persons on the books. (The Society was amalgamated with the Liverpool Workshops, Cornwallis Street in 1909)
Brighton
Handloom weaving was started as an industry at the Barclay Home for Blind Girls.
Glasgow
HM Queen Victoria conferred the title of " Royal" on the Glasgow Asylum.
Hull
Hull Institute opened the Rockliffe Home for Blind renamed after WC Rockliffe, MA, MD, an ophthalmic surgeon, and Hon. Secretary and Treasurer of the Institute for thirty-four years. (He died in 1930, aged 81.)
London
The Armitage Memorial Fund, of which the Clothworkers' Company are the Trustees, was founded, in memory of the late Dr. Thomas Rhodes Armitage. Pursuant to the terms of the Trust, the annual income of £122 is paid to the National Institute for the Blind for the purpose of cheapening or extending the publication of books, music, etc., in the Braille type.
The London Society for Teaching and Training the Blind built a new printing room.
The School for the Indigent Blind, Southwark, having abandoned a scheme for moving the school to Caterham Valley, the money raised for this purpose (£803) was invested and became the County Asylum Fund.
(In 1930 the Royal School for the Blind, Leatherhead, which administered the Fund, distributed the interest to five blind annuitants.)
The Young Women's Christian Association started a branch for befriending blind women.
(In 1930 this branch no longer existed.)
Northampton
George Phillips' Trust was founded, in connection with the local Association. Grants not exceeding 5s. weekly are made to the blind in Northampton.
(In 1930 there were 10 pensioners who received about £60 between them.)
Northampton Association for the Blind opened a retail shop in St Giles Street.
North Shields
Northern Counties Blind Society acquired adjoining premises (4 and 5 Howard Street) for extension.
Periodicals
Channels of Blessing, a free religious monthly magazine in Braille, was started by Mr. Edwin Norris (blind and deaf).
Shorthand
The Braille shorthand system was formulated by a committee of five offiicials of the Birmingham Institution for the Blind, under the Chairmanship of the superintendent, Henry Stainsby, who with the assistance of Mr. Alfred Wayne, designed the Braille shorthand typewriter, on which a speed of 120 to160 words a minute can be attained. (See 1911)
Swansea
Swansea Institution built two wings, providing accommodation for twenty additional beds, making rift), in all, at a cost of £615. They also rented a house as a Home for twenty blind workers.
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton Institution opened new workshops.
1900
America
The first day centre for blind children, in the United States, was opened in Chicago.
Brighton
The Barclay Home and School for Blind Girls was moved to larger premises, 23 and 25 Wellington Road.
Congress
An International Congress for the Amelioration of Condition of the Blind was held in Paris.
Huddersfield
A Workshop for the Blind was started by blind men. (This workshop has since been closed.)
India
An American Mission School for Blind Children was opened in Bombay.
London
The Guild of Blind Gardeners was founded by Mrs Adolphus Duncombe (biffed) with the obiect of teaching gardening to the blind, not to enable them to earn thefr living, but as a healthy and lucrative pastime. In 1925 it became affiliated to the NationalInstitute for the Blind; in 1928 the name of the Society was altered to Guild for Promoting Gardening amongst the Blind and Partially Blind (Myopes), but a reversion was later made to the original title.
The London Institute of Massage by the Blind was founded at 64 Lancaster Gate by Mr Henry Power, FRCS (Chairman); Mr. John Tennant (Treasurer), and Mrs. MacNicol (Hon. Secretary).
Manchester
The Manchester and Salford Blind Aid Society, 30 Tomnan Street, Deansgate, Manchester, was founded by Miss Isabel M Heywood, of Pendleton, and a small Home opened at the Crescent, Salford.
(In 1930 there were 1,390 blind persons on its register - 1160 in Manchester and 230 in other parts of Lancashire; of these, 82 were in its Homes, of which there were four at Pendleton and a Holiday Home at Southport. Of the above blind 8 were employed, 5 as collectors and 3 as home teachers.)
Music
A Revised Key to Braille Music Notation was published by The British and Foreign Blind Association. It was compiled by Miss Isabel C Western (now Mrs. S. A. Gray), whose life- long Braille musical research is invaluable.
North Shields
The Northern Counties Blind Society opened new workshops. (In 1930 the Tynemouth Blind Welfare Society, Howard Street, North Shields, had 14 blind persons employed in its workshops and 4 trainees.)
Sheffield
A Pension Fund was founded by the Blind Institution for residents of Sheffield.
(In 1930 there were 90 blind persons receiving regular pensions or allowances.)
York
Death of Anthony Buckle. The following is a copy of the brass memorial plate in York Minster--
"In loving memory of Anthony Buckle, B.A., for years Superintendent of ihe \¥ilberforce School for in this town. A graceful poet, an accomplished artist, Christian a sincere philanthropist, especially of those committed to his charge, for he was truly eyes to the tablet is erected by those who appreciate his work, his memory.-- June, AD 1900."
1901
Belfast
Belfast Blind Association carried out extensions workshops at a cost of over £2000. (110 blind persons then employed.)
Birmingham
Miss Edith Wood, a Gardner scholar at the Birmingham Blind Institution, obtained a situation as shorthand-typist with the Remington Typewriter Company. She was the first blind person to secure such a post.
Board of Education
Dr Alfred Eichholz, MA, MD (later CBE), was appointed by the Board of Education HM Chief Inspector of for the Blind. (This was the first appointment of solely for this purpose.)
Census
The census figures for the year showed 25,317 blind persons (or 1 per 1,285) in England and Wales, 3,253 blind persons in Scotland, and 4,253 blind persons in Ireland.
Congresses
An International Congress was held at Breslau, Germany. The Fouth Italian Congress for the Benefit of the Blind was held at Milan, Italy.
Egypt
An Institution for Blind Boys was founded at Zeitoun by Mrs Armitage., widow of Dr. Thomas Rhodes Armitage.
India
A Deaf and Dumb and Blind School was opened at Mysore. A music class for the blind was started at Madras.
Liverpool
The Catholic Blind Asylum opened a new branch school for sixty-five children (St Vincent School) at West Derby, near Liverpool, on a site of about twenty-five acres of land, and at a cost of about £15,000.
Manchester
Manchester and Salford Blind Aid Society acquired rooms in the old Eye Hospital.
Music
A Braille Music Lending Library was formed by Miss Isabel C. Western of Shortlands, Kent. (It was closed in 1904, and the books were purchased by the National Lending Library.)
The first Tutor on the subject of Braille Music Notation in any language was compiled by Mr. Edward Watson, formerly Director of Music at the Liverpool School for the Blind, and published in Braille by the British and Foreign Blind Association, and in letterpress by Messrs. Novello & Co. (No. 59 in the Music Primer Series). This Tutor, in its 1927 edition, is still the official school manual for the blind of the Empire.
Norwich
Norwich Asylum closed its elementary school, but continued a school for those above sixteen years of age, and an asylum for the aged.
Norwood
The Royal Normal College started entering its pupils for the examinations of the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal College of Organists.
Nottingham
The Midland Institution discontinued elementary education, and discharged all pupils under the age of sixteen. It also started handloom weaving as an industry for girls.
Portmouth
By the will of Mr. George J Scale, the Portsmouth Municipal Charities received £20,000 for granting annuities to nineteen blind persons.
Swansea
Swansea Institution built an additional workshop.
Wakefield
The Wakefleld and District Institution and the Blind, which had developed from the small Society started in 1869, opened a workshop at 158 Westgate.
York
The Yorkshire School for the Blind added an additional wing comprising a sanatorium, isolation block, and residence for the superintendent.
Mr AB Norwood, M.A., was appointed Principal of the School.
1902
Act of Parliament
The Secondary Education Act, 1902, was of great to the blind as well as to the seeing. It briefly The local Education Authority shall consider the needs of its area, and take such steps as stern desirable, after consultation with the Board of Education, to supply', or aid the supply of, education other than elementary.
Vocational training for the blind as a Government and rate- aided activity was an important outcome of this Act.
America
A Library and Reading Room for the Blind was started at San Francisco.
Australia
The Australian Government granted free postage for embossed literature for the blind.
Bradford
Bradford Institution carried out further extensions.
Chess
A Braille Chess Club was started by Mr. Francis H. Merrick at Shepperton, MiddIesex.
Conference
A conference was convened by the Committee of Gardner's Trust, and resulted in two committees being appointed, one on Uniform Braille and the other on Defective blind children.
(For Agenda, see Appendix III, page 192.)
Congress
An International Congress for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Blind was held at Brussels reader the patronage of H.M. the King of the Belgians, and H.R.H. Duke Charles Theodore of Bavaria, the eminent oculist.
Hanley
Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire Institution for the Blind opened workshops.
Llandevaud, S Wales
The Newport and Monmouthshire Blind Aid Society started a Home at Llandevaud. (This Home was closed about seventeen years later.)
London
The Blind Tuners' Federation was started. (In 1930 this no longer existed.)
The British and Foreign Blind Association moved from Carnbridge Square to 206 Great Portland Street. The same year it started an Employment Bureau.
The Claremont Central Mission, Pentonvflle, was started by the late W. H. Brown of Woodford Green; it works in conjunction with the London Congregational Union. A certain number of blind persons are taught basket-making and needlework, and the blind and others are brought together for a weekly meeting.
(In 1930 the Mission was still continuing its good work.)
London
"Eyes to the Blind Society" was founded in Chelsea by the late Miss Laura Douglas-Hamilton. Blind women were employed in machine and hand-knitting. (Taken over Barclay Workshops in 1922.)
The London County Council opened two schools for blind, one for boys, at Linden Lodge, Wandsworth accommodating forty resident and ten day pupils, the Elm Court, West Norwood, for girls, accommodating resident and ten day pupils.
The School for the Indigent Blind was moved from Southwark to Leatherhead, into a building designed to pupils, and one of the finest of such buildings in the country. The workshops were removed to Waterloo Road, SE1, became the Blind Employment Factory, with accommodation for about 100 workers.
Manchester
Manchester and Salford Blind Aid Society started department, which it handed over to Henshaw’s twenty years later.
Printing
The British and Foreign Blind Association started typing its Braille plates at 206 Great Portland hitherto this had been done in the workers' respective and sent to Cambridge Square when finished. This first important step towards getting a properly Braille printing worlds.
Hand presses were still in use, and it took about a week to emboss twelve volumes of twelve copies each. The staff then numbered about fifteen, but was doubled in the next three years.
Sunbeam Mission
Miss Beatrice Taylor, of Upper Norwood, started a blind branch of the Sunbeam Mission. (The Sunbeam Mission was founded in 1891 to draw out the sympathy of the upper and middle class children to the poor, paralysed, and suffering children in out" large towns.” In 1906 there were in the blind branch 350 voluntary Braille writers, who undertook to write one letter a month each to a blind child.) (See 1920.)
Swansea
Swansea Institution started machine-knitting as an industry for their girls, with a view to their being home workers. It also st arted a home workers' scheme for men.
(In 1930 there were seventeen home workers on the register.)
Temple, Archbishop
Death of Archbishop Temple, a keen worker in the interests of the blind. He was a member of the Royal Commission, 1886-9, and of the Committee of Gardner's Trust, 1885-93.
Worcester
Worcester College moved to beautiful new premises standing in four acres of grounds, and one-and-three-quarter miles south-east of the city; it has accommodation for twenty students. The cost of £10,000 was chiefly met by Miss Warrington, who gave £8,000 in addition to the site.
1903
Apparatus
Henry Stainsby and Alfred Wayne invented a small portable Braille writer designed for writing on both sides of the paper, and universally known as the Stainsby-Wayne Braille Writer. For the use of deaf-blind persons, a device can be added whereby, in place of the bell, the end of the line is indicated by a wire falling on the hands of the writer.
Birmingham
Birmingham Institution started machine-knitting, shampooing, and boot and shoe-making as industries for the blind.
Boyle, GR
Death of Mr GR Boyle (aged 59}, private secretary to Dr. Armitage, and later to Mrs. Armitage. He was in their service for over forty years, and was constantly at work on inventions for the benefit of the blind, especially in the pre-paration of relief maps for sale at a low price; he also recommended the publication, in Braille, by the British and Foreign
Blind Association of Mr Edward Watson's Braille Music Notation Printer. (See “Music, 1901.”)(His son, Arthur, who died in 1930, continued his work for many years. (See The New Beacon, Nov 1930.)
Bradford
Bradford Institution technical training was organized, and a new classroom was built.
Colne, Lancashire
The Colne Blind Prevention and Aid Society was founded.
Exeter
Exeter Institution started a Home Teaching Society and erected a gymnasium.
London
Kensington Institute for the Blind changed its West London workshops for the Blind.
Mechanic, Blind
Extract from The Blind: "William Parry, a resident Blaenavon, Mon, blind from childhood, has had a useful life of 71 years. As a screw turner in the ironworks he regularly employed up till two years ago, and has to maintain himself respectably. He taught in the School for sixty years, and for thirty years was a the church choir."
Middlesbrough
The Workshops founded by the York Institution at Middlesbrough were taken over by a local committee.
Nottingham
The Midland Institution acquired a new shop at Long Row, West Paisley, Scotland
Paisley and District Workshop was established.
Periodicals
The Braille Review, a monthly paper in ink-print, was started by the British and Foreign Blind Association. (Discontinued in December, 1916--The Beacon followed on in January, 1917.)
The Hampstead Magazine in Braille, was started by the London Society for Teaching and Training the Blind.
Poultry-Rearing
Captain F Pierson Webber (blind) advocated poultry rearing as a profitable industry for the blind; a few years later he recomrnended it more as a healthy occupation with a chance of profit. In I9o7 he obtained a certificate from University College, Reading, as having passed the most comprehensive course of practical and scientific instruction in poultry culture.
Rhyl, Flintshire
The North Wales School for Blind Children, Russell Road, Rhyl, was founded. (In 1930 there were fourteen blind children in the School.)
St Leonards-On-Sea
Miss Alice Meiklejon started a school for defective blind children. (In 1907 there were 2 pupils; in I9II, 22 pupils; in 1922, 24 pupils; since then this school has ceased to exist).
Walthamstow, Essex
Walthamstow Committee for the Welfare of the Blind was founded, and weekly classes for handicrafts were held. Later it became a sub-committee of the Essex Voluntary association.
1904
Aberdeen
The Aberdeen Asylum decided to close the educational and inmate deparment as insufficient children sought admission. (Henceforward the blind children were educated at Craigmitlar School, Edinburgh, and myopes at Rubislaw Special School.)
Birmingham
Birmingham Institution opened a showroom off New Street, and moved its typewriting offices there.
Brighton
The Barclay Home and School bought the neighbouring house, 27 Wellington Road, and all the girls (fourteen) the older Blind School at ]Brighton were moved there.
Brighton School for the Blind, Eastern Road, to look after boys in future; they had then about thirty two.
Bristol
Bristol Institution opened its first Hostel for Blind Women in Woodland Road, Clifton (See 1919.)
Dublin
The Richmond National Institution was enlarged, and brush-making was introduced. There were then thirty inmates and twenty-eight out-workers.
London
The Lending Library for the Blind, founded by Miss Arnold was moved to larger premises at Queen's Road, Bayswater The London County Council started a school for blind boys, at Stormont House, Hackney Downs with accomodation for twenty residential and ten day pupils.
Manchester
WH Hingworth, for twenty years Head Master at Edinburgh, and author of History of the Education (1910) was appointed Superintendent of Henshaw's Blind (An account of his career appeared in The New Beacon: 1924)
Nottingham
The Midland institution started instruction in woodworking.
Oldham
Miss M Lees started a workshop for women entitled Blind women’s Industries, at Werneth Hall, Frederick (In 1930 there were fifteen blind women employed there.)
Periodicals
The Mission Field, a monthly missionary magazine in Braille, was published by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, London.
The Braille Packet, a monthly paper, mainly literary, political, and scientific, was started by Miss Grimwood of Hove.
Postal Regulations
The Postmaster-General agreed to allow “papers impressed for the use of the blind,” not exceeding two ounces in weight, to be sent for ½ instead of Id.
In the same year free postage was granted in America, between library centres and readers.
Print, Raised
Specimens of Moon type in 419 languages were sent to the St. Louis Exhibition. The Pennsylvania Home Teaching Society were awarded a gold medal. Dr. Robert C. Moon, son of the inventor, was secretary of the Society.
Swansea
Swansea Institution purchased for 8,000 the freehold on which the Institution stands.
Wakefield
Wakefield and District Institution moved to 19 Queen Street.
1905
America
Death of Mr. H. L. Hall, founder and Superintendent of the Pennsylvania Working Home for Blind Men, and of the American Printing House for the Blind. He lost his sight in the Civil War.
The New York Association for the Blind was founded, its Secretary being Miss Winifred Holt (now Mrs. Mather) well known for her work in the prevention of blindness.
Bexley, Kent
A High School and Home for the blind of the upper and middle classes was started at Blendon Grove, Bexley. (In 1930 this school no longer existed.)
Birmingham Institution opened a Kindergarten at Harborne, bulk specially for the purpose, at a cost, including land, of £18,750. The Institution also carried out extensions and im- provements at the principal school Carpenter Road, at a cost of 3,000. (In 1930 it had forty-four resident pupils in the institution.
Brighton
The Barclay Home and School bought the neighbouring house 21 Wellington Road, and prodded a new isolation block.
Bristol
The Blind Home was transferred from Aberdeen Road Gordon Road, Clifton, and named the Clifton Blind Home.
Conference
An International Conference for the Blind and an Exhibition were held at Edinburgh; Mr. Henry Wilson was Chairman of the Conference Committee. (For full Agenda., see Appendix III, page 193.)
Corbett, Dr. Samuel
Dr Samuel Corbett (blind) was appointed Professor of Music at the Midland Institution, Nottingham. At the age of fourteen he was appointed organist and choir-master at Christ Church, Wellington, subsequently taking the degrees of Doctor of Music (Cambridge), and FRCO. Up to this date he was the only blind man who had taken a degree of Doctor of Music by examination.
Cornwall
The Dowager Lady Robinson's Fund for the Blind was formed by a bequest of £15,000 for the relief of the blind in Penzance and district. (In 1930 there were thirty-four pensioners each receiving £10)
Edinburgh
Mr. William M. Stone was appointed Superintendent and Head Master of the Royal Blind Asylum and School.
(In 1930 Mr. Stone was still holding the above posts, and was also a member of the Scottish Advisory Committee and an examiner of the College of Teachers of the Blind.)
Edinburgh and South-East Scotland Society
The Jamieson Fund, for granting ammities to blind persons, was founded by Andrew Jarnieson and his sister, Elizabeth Jamieson.
(In 1930 the income amounted to about £1,323.)
Glasgow
The Royal Asylum rebuilt and enlarged its workshops and fitted apparatus for sterilization and purification in the bedding factory.
London
The After-care Association for Blind, Deaf, and Crippled Children was founded, to "provide suitable wage-earning employment for physically defective children within the county of London, in order that as large a proportion as possible might become self-supporting:"
The Barclay Workshops for Blind Women were started in Praed Street, London, W, to give ernployment to blind women trained at the Barclay Home, Brighton, who wished to live in London. It was the first blind institution to make weaving the chief industry. All the workshops in London were asked to take the weavers, but as they refused to do so the Barclay Workshops were established. A joint committee was formed of members of the Barclay Home (Brighton) Committee, and the Barclay Workshops (London) Committee for dealing with matters of general policy. Mr. Godfrey F Mowatt, elected Chairman of this Committee.
(In 1930 the Barclay Workshops, 19-21 Crawford had 62 blind women on its register, including 55 paid 4 trainees, 1 pensioner, and 2 receiving free workroom accomodation.)
Manchester
Henshaw's Blind Asylum received £10,000 from the trustees of the late James Holden, of Rochdate, forming The James Holden Trust, providing fifty-five weekly grants to blind persons in the area.
(In 1930 the income from this fund was £380, half was used by Henshaw's Institution for general expenses, the other half paid to the Rochdale and District
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
Owing to a legacy of £10,000, by the late George Handyside, Newcastle Institution was able to build large new workshops facing Breamish Street.
Newcastle School replaced the iron building erected in 1895 by a stone building costing £6,000, consisting of classrooms, library, museum, etc.; the school was then certified for seventy-five pupils.
Nottingham
The Midland Institution for the Blind extended and new workshops. It was the first Institution to be by the Board of Education for grant-earring as a School.
Oxford
The "George Barker Memorial" was founded at Queen's College for blind students or those in danger of becoming blind, who intended to study for the Final Honours School of English Literature.
The emoluments of the Memorial are £50 a year tenable for at least four years from the date of matriculation.
Print, Raised
The Braille Rules for Literature, as revised by the British Braille Committee, were adopted and published.
Southport, Lancashire
Manchester and Salford Blind Aid Society opened a Home of Rest for twenty men and twenty women, in place of the small Home at St. Anne's. It also opened a new Braille Library.
Walsall, Staffordshire
Workshops were opened at Wednesbury Road, Walsall, where 6 blind men were employed at basket-making.
(In 1930 the Walsall, Wednesbury and District Society for the Blind had 228 blind persons on its register, including 30 employed in the workshops and 6 home workers.)
Worcester
The Rev Thomas Barnard, MA (blind) was appointed Head Master of Worcester College, in place of the Rev JB Nicholson, resigned.
1906
Act of Parliament
The Post Office (Literature for the Blind) Act, 1906, was passed, by which books in raised type can be sent through the post at reduced rates.
America
Death of Michael Anagnos in Rumania (born at Epirus, Greece, 1837). "A deep thinker, a wise counsellor, a prophet of good, a great-hearted lover of mankind, a true far-seeing leader of the blind along the right paths." He became Director of Perkins Institution, Boston, USA, in 1876, where he established the Howe Memorial Press and the special Reference Library in Blindness and the Blind. He was also the first person to realize the importance of Kindergarten training for blind children, and established such a school in 1883, raising an endowment fund of a million dollars for the work.
Bacup
Tile Rossendale Society for Visiting and Instructing the Blind started a pension fund for the needy blind in the Rossen- dale Valley. (In 1930 there were thirty-four blind pensioners helped, partly from this fund, and partly by the Council.)
Botanist, Blind
Mention is made in The Blind of an extraordinary man, John Grimshaw Wilkinson, of Burley, President of the Leeds Naturalist Club and Scientific Association; born in 1856, lie became a tradesman in Leeds, and lost his sight through neuralgia when twenty-two years of age. He afterwards studied botany and wrote several volumes in Braille on the subject. He could recognize any tree by touching or tasting the bark or leaf. He labelled the trees in Roundhay Park, and compiled for the Royal Agricultural Society a list of a hundred most destructive weeds with full details of how to detect and destroy them. In 1912 it was reported that he had complete acquaintance by touch and taste with over four .thousand species of plants, and frequently had plants referred to him from all parts of the country and from abroad, with a request to state their classes and lineage.
Bradford
Death of Miss AE Hotioway (born 1826), for forty-five years Hon Secretary of the Bradford Institution, and very largely responsible for its growth and progress.
Bradford Institution opened a training home in Springfield Place for teaching simple handicrafts to otherwise unemployable men.
Brighton
Barclay Home and School built a wing on to 27 Wellington Road, providing additional Workroom and dormitory accommodation.
Hull
The Hull Institute started training pupils in massage.
London
Barclay Workshops for Blind Women moved to larger premises at 246 Edgware Road, W.
The Viscount Cranborne Memorial Fund was founded by a gift of £500 from Lord Eustace Cecil, the interest of which is spent on cases on the waiting list of the Poor Adult Blind Pension Society.
Oldham
Oldham Council decided to allow blind people to travel on its trams for half-fare.
Periodicals
The Braille weekly edition of The Daily Mail started in December. This paper was later succeeded by The Braille Mail.
The Moon, Magazine, the first monthly magazine in Moon type, was produced by the Moon Society at Brighton.
Sheffield
The Sheffield Institution opened large new workshops at a cost of about £5,000.
Telephonist
Mr Henry Stainsby, Superintendent of the Birmingham Institution, secured for one of his pupils the post of telephone operator in a large manufacturing business in Birmingham.
Unions
A conference was held at Manchester on matters relating to the blind living outside Institutions and in their own homes, of which the outcome was the formation of the North of England Union of Institutions and Agencies for the Blind, embracing the six northern counties (Cmnberland, Durham, Lancashire, Northumberland, Westmorland, Yorkshire). Chairman, Mr FJ Munby, Hon. Secretary, Miss Isabel Heywood.
This was the beginning of a most important enterprise; six other Unions were formed during the next two years, covering the whole of England and Wales, and culminating in 1909 in the formation of the Union of Unions, known as the Union of Counties' Associations for The Associations in 1930 had voluntary agents in town or large village in the country, visiting the homes and reporting to their local secretaries any needs of the blind whom they visited. The county have many and varied duties, and are responsible for registration of blind persons, issuing of wireless licences, weekly grants, etc.
Whitby
Whitby Trust for the Blind was founded by Mr. Alfred Hirst with £500, which was invested for pensions for the blind of Whitby and neighbourhood. (In 1930 the income from investments amounted to about £78)
Worcester
Dr Corbett, of Droitwich, bequeathed £10,000 to Vorcester Municipal Charities, providing twenty £12 10s each, for the blind of Vorcester.
Gardner’s Trust presented its Students' Library to the College for the Blind, Worcester.
1907
Accrington
Accrington Society for the Blind became the and District Institution for the Blind and Prevention Blindness (including work for the blind of Accrington, Haslingden, Clayion-le-Moors, Church, and Oswaldtwistle)
(In 1930 there were 107 blind persons on the register.)
Act of Parliament
The Education (Administrative Provision) Act abolished the obligation of voluntary schools to provide at least one- third cost of maintenance from voluntary sources.
This for the first time enabled a local Education Authority to pay the whole cost of the maintenance and education of a blind child. Under the same Act the medical inspection of school children was first instituted.
Apparatus
The Stainsby-Wayne Braille Interpointing Machine was invented, and the Braille Interliner improved.
Bristol
Amalgamation of the Bristol School of Industry for the Blind with the Association for Home Teaching and Industrial Employment, thus bringing all the work for the blind in Bristol under the control of one committee.
Cambridge
HM Taylor, FRS (blind) founded the Embossed Scientific Books Fund. He himself wrote the first copies of works in Braille on Algebra, Sound and Music, Astronomy, Geology, Trigonometry, Chemistry, Mechanics, Electricity and Magnetism and other subjects.
Caswell Bay, South Wales
Mr Glyn Vivian (blind) erected a Home, The Glyn Vivian Home of Rest for the Blind, at Caswell Bay, near Swansea, and in addition gave £1,000 for its endowment. The lease for the land is for 990 years at a yearly rental of one shilling. The Home, which accommodates seven men and seven women, stands on two-and-a-half acres of land.
Congress
The Twelfth Congress of Teachers of the Blind was held at Hamburg.
Dundee
Dundee Institution added a gymnasium and music classroom.
Edinburgh
The Royal Blind Asylum built a new School and Women's Home at a cost- of 15,000.
Exeter
Exeter Institution erected new workshops at a cost of £1,550, of which £1,350 was given by Mrs. Maria Nosworthy, and 200 by Gardner's Trust. The School was then certified for forty-five pupils.
Hanley
Stoke-on-Trent Blind Institution opened additional shops at Hanley.
Lancaster, Lancashire
Lancaster Society for helping the blind of Lancaster district was established.
London
The Blind Women Workers' Annuity Fund, of which the Clothworkers' Company are the Trustees, was founded. It provides pensions to blind unmarried gentlewomen, who striving to contribute to their own maintenance. Annual income about £1330
The College and Association of Teachers of the Blind was founded "To quicken interest, stimulate thought, and en- courage research in education, and so benefit the education of the blind," and generally to help teachers to find suitable posts, and schools to find suitable teachers. First Chairman, Henry Jo Wilson.. (In I928 the title was changed to the College of Teachers of the Blind.)
Death of Mrs Dow at Betchworth. She (then Miss Howden) founded the National Lending Library in 1882, Miss Martha Arnold. She also started the Arnold Carriage Fund, and the Dow Blind Writers' Fund to give employment to blind persons in copying Braille books. She always took the greatest interest in the work, and lived to see the Library possessed of 8,500 volumes.
Julia Short Annuity Fund, of which the Clothworkers'Company are the Trustees, was founded; it provides a pension of £25 to a blind lady., who shall have been a teacher.
South London Institute for the Blind, formerly Hampton's Mission, opened premises at Borough Road, SE. The work consisted of: (1) An Employment Bureau; (2) A Polytechnic; (3) A Hostel for blind girls. At the opening ceremony the Rev., St. Clare Hill, Secretary, stated, that it was the first institution of the kind in Europe.
Norwood
The Royal Normal College gave a concert and gymnastic display at the Royal Albert Hall attended by the King and Queen, and the Prince and Princess of Wales.
Periodicals
The Matilda Ziegler Magazine for the Blind (monthly) was established in New York by Mrs W Ziegler.
The Outlook for the Blind, a quarterly inkprint periodical, was first published by Mr. Charles Campell. (In 1930 both the above were still being published.)
Southend-On-Sea
A new wing was added to the Southend Branch of the North London Homes, at a cost of about £1600.
Staffordshire
Alice Fenton, by her will dated November, 1782, left a twelfth part of the income derived from letting Cheddleton Grange Farm to form an annuity for one blind person in the county of Stafford.
(Alice Fenton Charity, administered by a Committee of the Staffordshire County Council, was not established till 1907, and in 1930 one blind person was receiving the income of £5 4s a year.)
Sweden
An International Association of Blind Musicians was established at Stockholm, with Herr Thilander as Secretary.
1908
Act of Parliament
The Education (Scotland) Act, 1908, empowered School Boards which made special provision for the education of defective children to require the parents of such children to provide efficient education for them up to the age of sixteen years. ("Defective" children is generally interpreted as including blind children.) School Boards were also empowered by this Act to make arrangements for the medical examination and supervision of school children.
Belfast
The Belfast Blind Association Workshops and shop were partially destroyed by fire, but were rebuilt.
Birmingham
Mr William Henry Thurman was appointed Secretary of the Birmingham Institution in place of Mr Henry Stainsby, who, after twenty-eight years' valuable service, was appointed Secretary-General of the British and Foreign Blind Association.
Birmingham Institution erected two new workshops at Harborne, each 100 ft by 45 ft, at a cost of £3,000; twenty-three mat looms, besides other equipment, were transferred there.
William Stevenson Trust was founded for the benefit of blind widows resident in Wandsworth.
(In 1930 there were thirteen pensioners receiving £10 each.)
Blackburn
Blackburn and District Workshops for the Blind was founded (in 1930 there were 53 blind persons employed, as trainees in the workshops, or as home workers.)
Bradford
Bradford institution opened a Training Home in Spring Bank for the teaching of simple handicrafts to otherwise unemployable women.
Canada
An Association, and Workshops for the Blind, were started in Montreal, chiefly through the enterprise of Mr PE Layton (blind), a former student of Norwood.
Chester
Chester Home Teaching Society extended its work to include Runcorn, Northwich, Altrincham, Crewe, etc.
Conference
An international Conference was. held at Manchester. Chairman, Henry J Wilson. (For full Agenda, see Appendix III, page 193.)
Darlington, Durham
Darlington Blind Welfare Society was founded. (See 1924.)
London
Dr Barnardo's Homes started a Home for Deaf, Dumb, and Blind at Downs Park Road, Clapton, E. (In 1930 there were about 20 inmates, including 3 blind women.)
The Blind Self Aid Tea Company, Minories, London, was started by the late Alfred Carr (blind).
(In 1920 the management was taken over by Mr JH Kreamer (blind). In 1930, 88 blind persons were employed as canvassers, selling tea.). This is a commercial undertaking, not a registered charity.
Rev. St. Clare Hill drew up a scheme for the amalgamation of London Workshops, which was approved by the majority, but the scheme never matured.
The National Institute of Massage (formerly the London Institute of Massage) became a tenant of the British and Foreign Blind Association, in Bolsover Street, W1; 21 trained masseurs and 36 masseuses were then on its register.
Professor MM McHardy, FRCS, became Chairman of both bodies. During his two years of office, he inaugurated a scheme for moving the Association to the large premises in Great Portland Street that it now occupies. He succeeded in raising a large sum of money, and lived to see the scheme for the building approved, but not completed.
Edith and Norman Lord Pension Fund founded, administered & by Gardner's Trust. The amount of the pension is £26 per annum. (In 1930 there were 30 pensioners.)
The Norman Lord Dinner Fund has a capital of £1000, and gives an annual dinner to about 200 blind guests.
Mr. Henry Stainsby was appointed Secretary-General of the British and Foreign Blind Association.
Manchester
Manchester and Salford Blind Aid Society moved their women to a larger home, The Elms, Eccles Old Road, Pendleton, with accommodation for thirty-five blind persons.
Shropshire
Shropshire Society for the Home Teaching of the founded. (See 1922)
Southsea
Moody's Charity for the Blind was started for giving pensions to blind persons in the county of Southampton. Six blind persons receive £8 each, annually.
Swansea
Swansea Institution leased two houses in Picton Place, thus making accommodation for seventy pupils.
Unions
Eastern Counties Union for the Blind was founded (afterwards the Eastern Counties Association) for the care of the blind in the counties of Bedford, Cambridge, and the Isle of El), Huntingdon, Lincoln, Norfolk, and Suffolk.
Midland Counties Union for the Blind was founded (after- wards the Midland Counties Association), for the care of the blind in the counties of Derby, Nottingham, Stafford, Leicester, Warwick, Worcester, Oxford, Buckingham, Hereford, Northampton, and Rutland.
North-West Counties Union for the Blind was founded (afterwards the North-Western Counties Association), for the care of the blind in the counties of Cheshire, Shropshire and North Wales.
South Wales and Monmouthshire Union for the Blind was founded (afterwards the South Wales and Monmouthshire Association) for the care of the blind in the counties of Cardigan, Carmarthen, Glamorgan, Monmouth: and Pembroke,
Western Counties Union for the Blind was founded (afterwards the Western Counties association) for the care of the blind in the counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucester, Somerset, and Wiltshire.
Union of Institutions, Societies and Agencies for the Blind the Metropolitan and Adjacent Counties, later known as the Metropolitan and Adjacent Counties Association, was founded for the care of the blind in the counties of Berks, Essex, Hertford, Kent, London, Middlesex, Surrey, and Sussex. Mr HJ Wilson was elected first Chairman; Mr. Stuart Johnson, Treasurer; Mr. Guy Campbell, Hon. Secretary. (In 1930 the name was changed to the South Eastern and London Counties Association for the Blind.]
York
Mr FJ Munby was presented with a testimonial to celebrate the fact that the post of Hon. Secretary of the Yorkshire School for the Blind had been held by him and by his father, the late Joseph Munby, for a total period of 75 years. (He remained Hon. Secretary until his death in 1914.)
1909
Bath
The Bath Home Teaching Society was established. (In 1930 there were 194 blind persons on the register.)
Bolton
A technical school was added to the Blind Institution. (In 1927 there were nineteen pupils. In I93o the school was under the control of the local Education Committee.)
Bradford
Bradford Institution occupied large additional workshop premises in Piccadilly as tenants under a 14 years' 1ease. Bradford Tramways Committee granted free passes to the blind for use on its cars.
Brighton
The Brighton Blind Relief Society took over the Brighton Blind Missionary Fund.
Cardiff
Cardiff Institution built a new workshop at a cost of £700, providing accommodation for forty to fifty additional workers.
Congress
An International Congress for the improvement of the Condition of the Blind was held at Naples.
Devon
The County Home Teaching Society for the Blind in Devon was established, mainly through the efforts of the Roy SF Harris, Vicar of Cotleigh. (See 1918.)
Exeter
Exeter Institution increased the accommodation for elementary education at a cost of £1,200, and took the children from the Plymouth Institution.
Hastings, Sussex
A fund was founded for the blind of Hastings and St. Leonards, of which the Clothworkers' Company, London, are the Trustees. Annual income about £440.
Liverpool
Liverpool Workshops, Cornwallis Street, were rebuilt, amalgamated with the Birkenhead Society for the Blind.
London
The Blind Social Aid and Literary Union was founded, to facilitate the employment of the blind and partially blind by giving publicity to their capacity and needs, and for the en- couragement of social intercourse. (In 1930 the membership numbered between thirty, and forty.)
The Lord Mayor (Sir Vesey Strong) presided at a meeting at the Mansion House in aid of the British and Foreign Blind Association.
The National Library started a section for Esperanto books.
New Zealand
The Jubilee Institute for the Blind was opened at Auckland.
Nottingham
The Midland Institution erected a boarding-house for girls. (In 193o there were 14 blind residents.)
Periodicals
The Braille Musical Magazine was started by the British and Foreign Blind Association (Editors, Mr HE Platt, Mr HC Warrilow, FRCO, and Mr W Wolstenholme, Mus Bac, Oxon, all of whom were blind).
Mr. Wolstenhohne, who was born at Blackburn in 1865, was educated at Worcester College; an account of his career appeared in The Beacon, November, 1924.. More about Mr. Platt is recorded under date 1913, and about Mr Warrilow under date 1916.
Plymouth
Plymouth Institution closed the department for elementary education, but its resident school was continued, with accommodation for 100 adult blind.
Travelling
A committee was formed to protect the interests of blind travellers. Hon. Secretary, TH Martin, Secretary, Society for Teaching and Training the Blind, London.
The Great Eastern Railway issued an order that no blind person might travel on its lines without a guide. After much heated controversy the order was withdrawn.
Unions
The Union of Unions was founded as a nucleus controlling body for the seven County Unions in England and Wales. Henry J Wilson was appointed Chairman, and Guy Campbell, Hon Secretary. (It afterwards became the Union of Counties Associations for the Blind in England and Wales.)
1910
Berkshire
Berkshire County Blind Society was founded. (In 1930 there were 355 blind persons on the register.)
Congress
A meeting of the blind was held in connection with the Third Esperanto Congress at Cheltenham.
Devon
North Devon Blind Society was founded. (In 1930 this Society existed as a local committee only.)
Eastbourne, Sussex
Eastbourne Blind Society was founded for the general assistance of the blind in the county borough of Eastbourne. (In 1930 there were 79 blind persons on the register.)
Hove, Sussex
Mr. Brookfield started a Home for the Blind. (In 1911 there were four residents, and in 1915 two ; in 1922 it had apparently ceased to exist)
Keighley, Yorkshire
Keighley and District Institution for the Blind formally although for many years the work had been on in an informal manner. (In 1930 there were 163 blind persons on the including 5 home workers; 1 home teacher was employed).
London
The London County Council gave free passes for its trams to all blind persons, if accompanied by a guide.
The London Society for Teaching and Training the Blind opened a machine-knitting department for the senior girls.
Mr HC Preece (blind), was appointed Travelling Secretary to the British and Foreign Blind Association, with the object of popularizing the Association and raising funds.
The Surrey Association for the Blind enlarged its premises at 90 Peckham Road. The name was changed to the London Association for the Blind.
Manchester
Henshaw's Blind Asylum opened the Mary Ann Scott Memorial Home and Workshops, known as Hayesleigh; a very valuable addition and not far from the main building in Chester Road. It was given by Mr CH Scott, who afterwards left £3,000 for its endowment.
Newton Abbot, Devon
Newton Abbot Care of the Blind Society was founded. (In 1930 this Society existed as a local committee only.)
Nottingham
The Midland Institution started bedding- and mattress- making as additional industries for its blind workers.
Periodicals
Comrades, a monthly magazine in Braille for boys and girls, was started by the British and Foreign Blind Association.
Pontefract, Yorks
Pontefract-with-Osgoldcross Blind Visiting Society was established. (In 1930 this Society no longer existed.)
St Leonards-On-Sea
Miss Alice Meiklejon started a Home for defective blind women in connection with the School she had started in 1903. (In 1915 there were five residents; in 1922 it apparently no longer existed.)
Stockport
Mr George Walthew's Bequest was founded for persons over sixty years of age. The income of the fund is about £23 Ios., which is distributed to about fifty blind persons on Christmas Eve.
Torquay, Devon
Torquay and District Society for the Blind was founded. (In 1930 there were 194 blind persons on its register, and 46" border line" cases.)
Museums – c.1910
Mr Charlton Dens, MA, Director of the Sunderland Public Libraries, Museum, and Art Gallery, was a pioneer in encouraging and assisting the blind to study, by means of touch, the exhibits in the Sunderland Museum. Thanks to his example, many other museums throughout the country afterwards 15 provided similar facilities.
1911
America
Education Law in New York State made the education of the blind compulsory.
Bournemouth, Hampshire
Bournemouth and District Blind Aid Society was founded. (In 1930 there were 147 blind persons on the register.
Bradford
Bradford Institution was granted the title" Royal" by HM King George on the occasion of its jubilee.
Brighton
The "Moon" Pension Fund was established for the necessitous blind of Sussex.
(In 1930 the Fund, under the management of the Brighton Society for the Welfare of the Blind, distributed five pensions of £6 each and three of £3 each, to eight blind persons.)
Bristol
The Bristol School was moved to a beautiful new building at Westbury-on-Trym, and the workshops to a large new factory in Museum Avenue.
The Institution was given the title of “Royal” by HM King George, and became the Royal School of industry for the Blind, Bristol.
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire Blind Association was founded. (In 1930 there were 318 blind persons on the register.}
Cambridgeshire
Cambridge Society for the Blind was established by the efforts of Mr HM Taylor, FRS (blind). (Became the Cambridgeshire Society, 1921. In 1930 there were 203 blind persons on the register.)
Census
The census figures for the year showed 26,366 blind persons in England and Wales, 3,317 blind persons in Scotland, and 4,312 blind persons in Ireland.
(These figures cannot be relied upon for purposes of comparison, as the returns only asked for those who were totally blind.)
Conference
An International Conference for the Blind was held at Exeter; Mr. Henry J Wilson (Chairman). (For full Agenda see Appendix III, page 194.)
Glasgow
St Vincent's Schools and Hostel were moved from Lanark to Tollcross, Glasgow.
Gloucester, Gloucestershire
Gloucester City Blind Society was founded. (In 1930 there were fox blind persons on the register.)
Harris, William
Death of Mr William Harris. He had joined the Committee of the Leicester Institution in 1864, and from that time devoted the greater part of his life to the service of the blind. He visited Institutions all over the world, and became one of the greatest authorities on the subject. The International Congress in Paris in 1879 awarded him a gold medal. He brought out the first Guide to Institutions and Charities for the Blind in 1866 (privately), and for circulation in 187I and 1884, and did much other good work for the cause.
India
The number of blind in India was stated to be 443,653, or 142 per 100, 000 of the population.
Italy
The number of blind in Italy was stated to be 28,357.
Leatherhead, Surrey
The School for the Blind was given the title " Royal" by HM King George V.
London
The first fast-running electrical press for the reproduction of Braille literature was installed at the British and Foreign Blind Association. Up till then, all paper had to be wetted before embossing, but with the new presses dry heat was used instead.
East London Workshops for the Blind were started at Plaistow, E (In 1915 there were seventeen workers making baskets and brushes; the workshops apparently ceased to exist a few years later.)
James Mew's Charity for the Blind, of which the Cloth- workers' Company are the Trustees, was founded. It provides two pensions of £10 and one of £5 to poor blind persons between twenty and fifty years of age.
Workshops for the Blind of London Federation Board was founded, with offices at 60 Great Portland Street, W. Seven out of the nine workshops for the blind i oined the Federation.
A traveller was appointed to obtain orders for these work- shops.
Chairman: Mr Henry J Wilson; Hon Secretary: the Rev Dr HG Rosedale.
Nottingham
The Midland Institution, Nottingham, was granted the title of “Royal” by HM King George.
Periodicals
The Braille Literary Journal was started by the British and Foreign Blind Association.
Shorthand
The Braille Shorthand System was revised, and additional contractions added, by a committee appointed by the British and Foreign Blind Association, consisting of Miss HC Russell, Mr Herbert D Black, and Mr Maurice J Myers. (See Braille Shorthand, published by the National Institute, price 6d.)
Warwickshire
The Warwickshire Association for the Blind was founded. (In 1930 there were 308 blind persons on the register.)
Wimbledon, Surrey
A Depot for the sate of work made by the blind was started by Miss Hastings at Church Road (has since ceased to exist).
1912
Accrington
Accrington Workshop was moved to 32 Bank Street.
Apparatus
The Optophone, invented by Mr EE Fournier d'Albe, of Paris, was exhibited at the Optical Exhibition, South Kensington.
The object of this invention was to enable a totally blind person to read ordinary print by means of the ear. With the aid of a selenium cell and an intermittent source of light, the different shapes of the letters were made to produce different notes, which could be heard with the aid of head-phones.
The apparatus was too costly, and too difficult to be practicable.
Glasgow
The Royal Asylum completed the reconstruction of its buildings.
Gorleston-On-Sea, Norfolk
The Education Authorities of Norwich, Yarmouth, Lowestoft, Norfolk, East Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Isle of Ely, and Essex established the East Anglian Institution for Blind and Deaf children. The buildings cost £11,000, and stand in six acres of ground.
Kirkliston
The Edinburgh and South-east Scotland Society opened Jamieson Cottage, Kirkliston, as a Holiday Home in place of a temporary house they had rented at Ratho for the nine years.
(In 1930 the Home was still being used. From May to September six blind persons were sent in batches for a fortnight's stay.)
Leatherhead
Mrs Hawksley gave a sum of £5,000 to the Royal School, Leatherhead, to found the Arthur Hawksley Pension Fund. (In 1930 there were 12 pensioners.)
Liverpool
The Home for Blind Children, Devonshire Road, Liverpool, founded in the year I874, was closed.
London
Barclay Workshops for Blind V/omen moved to larger premises, 233 Edgware Road, W. The London Society for Teaching and Training the Blind built a showroom and carried out further extensions, at a cost of £4,000.
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
Bequest of £12,ooo for the blind of Newcastle, and neighbourhood, from the late John McKie Elliott, commenced life as a bricklayer's lad, and went blind life; became a master, and amassed a large sum of courage and perseverance.
The Charity of John McKie Elliott, deceased, for the blind, Rectory Road, Gateshead, was established. (in 1930 this private charity had 31 blind persons on its register.)
Norwood
Guy Marshall CampbeI1, FCTB, FRGS, was appointed Principal of the Royal Normal College in place of his father Sir Francis Campbell. (An account of his life appeared in The Beacon, December, 1925.)
Parliamentary Bills
Two Bills were introduced into Parliament to provide for the technical education, employment, and maintenance of the blind.
Peterborough, Northamptonshire
Peterborough Society for the Blind was founded. (In 1930 there were 89 blind persons on the register.)
Sittingbourne, Kent
Sittingbourne Local Association for the Welfare of the Blind was founded for the assistance of the blind in Sittingbourne, Milton Regis and district. (In 1930 there were 35 blind persons on the register.)
Worthing, Sussex
Worthing Society for Befriending the Blind, 93 Rowlands Road, was founded. (In 1930 there were 70 blind persons on its register, and a Social Centre had been established.)
1913
Act of Parliament
The Education (Scotland) Act, 1913, empowered School Boards to provide medical and surgical treatment for school children {n need of such treatment.
America
Day centres for partially sighted children were opened in Boston and Cleveland. The movement, now known as sight- saving, has since spread widely in the States.
Birmingham
The Mary Hadley Pension Fund for Women was founded for the benefit of persons connected with the Royal Institution. (In 1929-30 the sum of £104 was paid in pensions.)
The Royal Institution transferred its Brush Department to new workshops at Harborne, built at a cost of over £5,000.
Birmingham
Mr HE Plait (blind), assistant instructor of 1902, was appointed chief instructor at the Birmingham Institution. Mr Platt was born at Worcester in 1856, was educated at the Birmingham Institution. (An his career appeared in The Beacon, April, 1925.)
Bolton
Bolton Blind Institution built a new school and a cost of about £5,000.
Buckinghamshire
King Edward Memorial Pension Fund was founded provides 2s a week to a blind person in each of the divisions of the county.
Cardiff
Cardiff Institution started making ships' cork (in 1929-30 it sold 5,828 fenders; seven of the employed making coal-bags.)
Clergy
The Blind (No 63), published a list of twenty-clergy of the Church of England.
Conference
A Conference of Schools took place at Derby, at which it was decided to approach the Board of Education with a view to obtain increased grants.
Exeter
Exeter Institution enlarged the classrooms, enabling five pupils to be accommodated instead of forty- improvements increased the outlay to £3,000.
London
Flat machine knitting was started as an industry London Association for the Blind, and in time became Association’s chief industry for employing blind. (In 1930 it had 82 blind women engaged on this whom were paid workers and 4 pupils.)
Manchester
Henshaw's Blind Asylum took an additional house for a College for Music.
Moslem
A scheme on behalf of the blind in non-Christian and Moslem countries was set on foot by Miss IM Heywood.
Newport
Newport and Monmouthshire Blind Aid Society established workshops at Albert Terrace, Newport, and at Llandevaud. (See 1917.)
North Shields
The Northern Counties Blind Society carried out further extensions in Howard Street, North Shields.
Periodicals
The School Magazine (monthly), was published in Braille by the British and Foreign Blind Association.
The Teacher of the Blind, a quarterly ink-print publication containing articles on the education of the blind, was started by the Association of Teachers.
Preston
A bequest of £5,000 was received by the Homes for the Blind, Fulwood, under the will of Alderman WB Roper, JP The sum of £2,000 was used for the erection of a boarding house and £3,000 for an endowment fund.
Worcester
Mr GC Brown, M.A., was appointed Head Master of Worcester College. (An account of his career appeared in The Beacon, April, 1928.)
1914
Worcestershire
The Worcestershire Association for the Blind was founded. (In 1930 there were 388 blind persons on the county register and 144 on the Worcester county borough register. There were five handicraft classes and social centres established.)
York
The City Corporation granted free tram passes to the blind.
Board of Education
Board of Education issued revised regulations by which they agreed to pay certified schools for the blind £7 a year for each day pupil who put in fuI1 attendance, and £13 for each boarder.
Bournemouth
Bournemouth and District Blind Aid Society started a pension fund. (In 1930 it had three pensioners receiving a total £19 I0s.).
Brighton
Death of Miss Adelaide Moon (69), daughter of the late Dr William Moon. For many years she had carried on the work of the Moon Society established by her father; she also founded the Moon Pension Society. The Moon Society was taken over by the National Institute. The Barclay Home and School started a workshop for blind women at Brighton, and built an additional workroom and a chapel.
Conference
An International Conference for the Blind was held in London (Mr HJ Wilson, Chairman). (For ruff Agenda see Appendix III, page 95.)
Departmental Committee
As a result of a motion by Mr. AJ. Wardle, MP for Stockport a departmental committee was appointed in May by the President of the Local Government Board to consider the present condition of the blind in the United Kingdom, and the means available for (a) their industrial or professional training, and (b) their assistance; and lo make recommendations.
Derbyshire
The Derbyshire Association for the Blind was founded. (In 1930 there were 683 blind persons on the county register and 174 on the register of Derby county borough.)
Dundee
Their Majesties, King George and Queen Mary, visited the Dundee Institution for the Blind. The John Ferguson Bequest was founded by a legacy of £5,000 from David Ferguson of Leith to the Institution, for the provision of pensions for the blind.
Leeds
The Leeds Embossed Book Fund, of which the Clothworkers' Company are the Trustees, was founded, with money collected in Leeds.
Pursuant to the terms of the Trust, the annual income of about £68 is paid to the National Institute for the Blind, for the vision of Braille literature, music, maps, apparatus, etc., for the benefit of the blind of Leeds and district.
Lincolnshire
The Lincolnshire Association for the Blind was founded. (Terminated 1920.)
London
The Armitage Fund for the Employment of Blind Workers, of which the Clothworkers' Company are the Trustees, was founded by Miss Armitage, daughter of Dr TR. Armitage. Pursuant to the terms of the Trust, the annual income of about £112 is paid to the National Institute for the Blind.
The Armitage Indigent Blind Visiting Society Fund, of which the Clothworkers' Company are the Trustees, was founded, with the object of promoting the education and employment of the blind. Annual income about £62.
HM King George V, accompanied by HM the Queen, opened the new premises of the British and Foreign Blind Association at 224, 226, 228, Judd Street, W; at the same time the name of the Association was changed to The National Institute for the Blind.
Mr C Arthur (afterwards Sir Arthur) Pearson was elected the first President of the National Institute for the Blind.
Death of John Fletcher Little, MOB, MRCP. He took a prominent part in founding the National Institute for Massage by the Blind, and in training blind persons to become mas- seurs or masseuses.
London Society for Teaching and Training the Blind started boot-repairing as am industry for the blind.
London
Norwich Asylum built a new workroom for girls and a new salesroom.
Norwood
Death of Sir Francis Campbell, first Principal of the Royal College, Norveood; born in Tennessee, USA, in 1832, he lost his sight owing to an accident when a young child. At the age of ten he was sent to a Blind School at Nashville, where he later became music teacher. At the age of twenty-two he narrowly escaped being lynched for his activities as an oppo- nent of slavery.
After many adventures and hardships he met the late Dr. Armitage, and shortly afterwards with his help founded what is now the Royal College for fine Blind, Norwood. Later he was made a Doctor of Laws by the Glasgow University. In 1909 he received a knighthood. In 1912 he relinquished his post of Principal of the College and was succeeded by his son, Mr Guy Marshall Campbell.
Oxford
Oxford Society started a Home Workers' and Sales Depot.
Periodicals
The Light Bringer, published quarterly in Braille, by the Margaret Dudley Braille Lodge of the Theosophical Society, was started. It contains articles on theosophical, philosophical, and kindred subjects.
Suffolk
East Suffolk Association was founded. (In 1930 there were 373 blind persons on the register.) (See 1923, 1929.)
West Suffolk Association was founded. (Terminated 1920.)
(In 1930, 128 blind persons in the area were being cared for by the County Council.)
Todmorden, Lancashire
Todmorden Society for the Blind was established for the general assistance of the blind of the district. (In 1914 there were 12 blind on the register, in 1929, 34.)
Yeovil, Somerset
Yeovil Care of the Blind Society was established. (In 1930 this Society existed as a local committee only.)
York
Death of Mr FJ Munby (born 1837), Hon. Secretary of the Yorkshire School since 1875. The same post had been held by his father from the foundation of the school in I833 until his death in 1875.
1915
America
A strong committee for "men blinded in battle" was formed in New York with the Hon Joseph H Choate as President. The work was under the direction of Miss Winifred Holt (later Mrs Mather) with headquarters in Paris; she started by opening a "Lighthouse" or care-centre for the blind at Bordeaux, followed by two more "Lighthouses," one at Paris and one at Svres.
Bradford
The Odsal School for the Blind, a residential school for blind children, was established by the Bradford Education Committee and opened by Mr C Arthur Pearson. (No longer used for the Mind.)
Brighton
The National Institute for the Blind opened a Home at Queen's Road, Brighton; it was first used for soldiers blinded in the Great War, and afterwards for women. (In 1930 it had 18 blind women residents.)
Cardiff
Cardiff Institute opened a new wing, consisting of 4 work-rooms, offices, etc., thus enabling the number of workers to be increased from 67 to about 100. That year 51 men and 20 women were being employed.
Conference
HM Taylor, IVLA, FRS, presided at a Conference at the National Institute for the Blind, to consider the question of embossing suitable books of an educational character.
Dundee
HSVL King George granted the title of "Royal" to the Dundee Institution,
Edinburgh
Scottish National Institution for Blinded Soldiers and Sailors, Newington House, Edinburgh, was opened by the Royal Blind Asylum and affiliated with St. Dunstan's, London. (By 1930 over 120 blinded ex-service men had been trained at Newington House, and in that year 6 were still under training, and 44 were employed in the workshop, in addition to 20 in its workshop at Glasgow.)
Hebrew
A Braille Hebrew Grammer was compiled, and the Book of Ruth, transcribed in Braille by the Rev NF McNeile, MA, and published by the National institute.
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire Association for the Blind was founded for the registration and general assistance of the blind in the county. (in 1930 there were 457 blind persons on the register.)
London
The Association of Workers for the Blind was formed; Miss MMR Caraway and Mr JM Ritchie were appointed joint. Hon. Secretaries. (In 1930 this Association no longer existed.)
London
The London Home Teaching Society was moved to 228 Great Portland Street, and affiliated with the National Institute for the Blind.
The National Institute for the Blind took over the National Institute of Massage, and founded the National Institute for the Blind School of Massage, Mrs Chaplin Hall (formerly Secretary to the National Institute of Massage) being appointed Secretary to the newly formed organization. Blind students were henceforward prepared for the examinations of the Chartered Society of Massage and Medical Gymnastics (formerly the Incorporated Society of Trained Masseuses).
For the duration of the Great War the School devoted all its energies to training blinded soldiers and sailors.
The London Society, Swiss Cottage, was incorporated under the Companies' Act with the title The London Society for Teaching and Training the Blind; Mr JM Ritchie, MA, of Henshaw's, was appointed Principal in place of Mr TH Martin.
St. Dunstan's Hostel for Blinded Soldiers and Sailors was founded by the National Institute for the Blind, under the personal management of that brilliant organizer, Mr CA (later Sir Arthur) Pearson at Mrs Lewis Hall's House, Bays- water Hill, in February. On 26th March, the sixteen blinded soldiers were moved to larger premises, St. Dunstan's, Regent's Park, generously lent by Mr Otto Kahn. (The Institution took its name from the house, and the house from its clock, which was bought by the previous owner, the Marquis of Hertford, from the old church of St. Dunstan's in the city, when it was pulled down.) No 21 Portland Place was also lent for blinded officers. Probably no other institution of its kind in the world has ever reached such large proportions and become so world- renowned in such a short space of time. Its blind !eader never spared himself in encouraging the blinded soldiers and sailors and in raising money to provide for their training and needs.
Somers Town Blind Aid Society changed its name to the Hepburn Starey Blind Aid Society.
Manchester
Henshaw's Blind Asylum, Old Trafford, opened the Gresham Home for thirty blind men, and the Birch Avenue Home for thirty blind women.
Norwood
HM Queen Alexandra opened a new Technical School and presented prizes at the Royal Normal College, Upper Norwood.
Nottingham
Mr HW Pine resigned his post of Secretary and Superintendent at the Royal Midland Institution after thirty-six years.
Mr WH Bennett was appointed Trades Manager. (He became Secretary and superintenden in 1917}
Periodicals
St Dunstain’s Review, a monthly magazine in ink-print, was published by St Dunstan Hostel for Blinded Soldiers and Sailors. It contained articles chiefly about this Institution's work, and was for the amusement and interest of men blinded in the War.
The National Institute for the Blind published the Journal of the Incorporated of Trained Massacre.
Russia
Two Institutions for blinded soldiers were opened Petrograd (now Leningrad).
Stourbridge, Worcestershire
Stourbridge Institution for the Blind opened workshops in Bank Street. (In 1930 ten men were employed)
Sunderland
Sunderland and Durham County Institute was in danger of having to close through lack of funds Mr CA Pearson attended a local meeting, and promised £1000 from the National Institute for the Blind, provided that the £4,600 required was raised. This was quickly done, and an additional £2,600 was also collected to pay off its mortgage.
War pensions
The following Royal Warrant was issued: "An officer who has lost the sight of both eyes as the result of wounds received in action shah be granted not less than £300 a year in wounds- pension and retired pay, taken together, provided that the total loss of vision occurs within five years after the wound, is solely attributed to it."
Worthing
The London Association for the Blind started a Convalescent Home at High Salvington, near Worthing, for blinded soldiers; it was shortly afterwards used for the civilian blind. (In 1930 it had 16 blind inmates.)
York
Yorkshire School for the Blind suffered a heavy loss in the death of Mr AB Norwood, who had been its Principal since I9oI. The Rev CF Hardy, M.A., Principal of the Bristol School, was appointed as his successor.
1916
Bradford
Bradford Institution purchased 12 Spring Bank and extended its Women's Home, opened in 1908.
Canada
The first School for the Blind in British Columbia was opened in Vancouver at the house of Mrs. CE Burke (blind).
China
The First Annum Convention on the Education of the Blind and Deaf of the East was held in Korea. (The number of blind in China was estimated at over 1,000,000, a figure which probably would be even larger but for the infanticide of girl babies, and especially of those who are blind.)
Library
Association Valentin Haüy, Paris, and the National Library, London, arranged for a free interchange of books.
London
The National Library was moved to larger premises at Tufton Streets Westminster. The Carnegie Trustees £2,000 for books, £9,000 for building', £1,500 for £1,500 towards the reduction of ground rent. The then possessed 23,000 volumes, and the circulation 300 volumes a day. The Library (apart from the cost postage) is now made free to all readers.
The Rt Hon Lord Shaw, of Dunfermline, was elected Chairman of the National Library.
The National Institute handed over its 8,000 volumes the Home Teaching Branch, and the Catholic Truth handed over its collection of embossed books to the Library.
St Dunstan’sHostel carried out considerable enlargements.
Music
Mr HC Warrilow, FRCO (blind), was organist and supervisor of the Music Department a the National Institute for the Blind. He was previously organist at Dartford, and subsequently held the important post of organist at St. Barnabas' Church, Oxford, (An account of his career appears in The Beacon June, 1926)
Uniform Type
A National Committee was formed and met under the Chairmanship of Mr C Arthur Pearson to consider proposals made by the American Commission on Uniform for the Blind.
Birmingham
A Joint Trading Committee was formed for the Birmingham and Wolverhampton Societies to enable the Institutions to trade in friendly co-operation.
1917
Boston, Lincolnshire
Boston Society for the Blind was founded. (See 1920)
Brighton
The National Institute started a Convalescent Home for Blinded Soldiers, at St. George's Road, Brighton, in connection with St. Dunstan's.
Bristol
Mrs Rose Anna Leir left a sum of money, the income of which was to be given, at the discretion of the Trustees, primarily to poor soldiers, natives of Bristol, blinded or partially blinded during the Great War, 1914-18.
(In 1930 the Bristol Municipal Charities, as Trustees of the Leir Fund, distributed the whole income of 1930 to three charitable funds not connected with the blind, as there were no suitable blind cases.)
Bury, Lancashire
The Bury and District Civilian Blind (Voluntary) Committee was formed. (It ceased to exist when the Bury Society was established in 1922.)
Coil-Winding
The Crocker-Wheeler Co., of New York, started twenty blind workers on electrical coil-winding and insulating.
Departmental Committee
The Report was published of the Departmental Committee appointed in 1914; this led, in December, to the appointment by the Rt Hon W Hayes Fisher, MP, President of the Local Government Board, of an Advisory Committee. This Committee, under the Chairmanship of Stephen Walsh, MP and Vice-Chairmanship of HJ Wilson, was appointed to advise the Board on matters relating to the care and supervision of the blind in England and Wales. A special department for the blind was created at the Local Government Board. (The latter was shortly afterwards renamed the Ministry of Health).
London
The London Knitting Industries, Ltd., was started in Soho by Miss Rothwell, for employing blind girls trained at the Elm Court School, West Norwood. (In 1921, 35 were employed; the work was discontinued shortly afterwards, and most of the workers taken over by the London Association for the Blind.)
The National Institute for the Blind started a hostel for blind women, at Langham Street, W1, chiefly for their oven blind employees. (in 1922 there were 47 inmates; in 1927 the Kostel was removed to Oval Road, NWL)
St Dunstan's After-care Department: was started under the management of Capt Ian Fraser; St. Dunstan's also carried out further extensions. (An account of Capt. Fraser's career appears in The Beacon, 1915.)
The Workshops for the Blind of London Federation decided to discontinue its work.
Newport (Mon.)
Newport and Monmouthshire Blind Aid Society workshops to Charles Street, Newport. (See 1916)
Periodicals
The Beacon , a magazine devoted to the interests was published by the National Institute for the Blind. The Indian Association of Workers for the Blind quarterly magazine—Light to the Blind published by Mr PNV Rau, Mysore.
St Helens, Lancashire
St. Helens and District Society for the Welfare of the Blind was established (in 1930 there were 230 blind persons on the register including 16 employed in the workshop, 4 home workers, and 1 home visitor.)
Scottish National Federation
A Federation, called The Scottish National Federation Institutions and Societies for the Blind, was formed fifteen Institutions and Societies for the Blind in Since its inception the Federation has held annually, and has played a. prominent part in every for the welfare of the blind.
A lecture was delivered by Sir Arthur Pearson at the Royal Society of Arts on blinded sufferers from the War and their future employment. The chair was taken by the Rt Hon W Hayes Fisher, MP, President of the Local Government Board, who stated that after the Egyptian War, blinded soldiers were granted 7s. per week as pension, after the Boer War 7s 6d per week. Men blinded ill the Great War received not less than 27s per week irrespective of personal earnings, and an allowance of £1 weekly for a guide if necessary, together with allowances for children. Officers blinded received not less than £300 a year.
Wigan, Lancashire
Wigan and District Workshops for the Blind were founded, in Millgate, Wigan. (In 1930 there were 22 employed in the workshops, 2 home teachers, and 270 blind persons on the register.)
Worcester
Mr Godfrey F Mowatt was appointed Hon, Secretary of Worcester College.
Act of Parliament
The important Education Act (1918) restated and enlarged the powers of Local Education Authorities in regard to every type of education, including that of the blind. It reinforced the provisions for medical inspection and treatment of school children, thereby laying the foundation of much preventive work in blindness; further, the Government grant to blind schools was materially increased. Under this Act the vocational training of the blind became an obligation on the Local Education Authority.
The Education (Scotland) Act, 1918, raised the age up to which provision had to be made under the Act of 1890, to eighteen years, and empowered Local Education Authorities to facilitate, e.g. by bursaries, the attendance of qualified children or young persons (including blind) at secondary schools, University, or other approved institutions.
1918
Advisory Committee, England and Wales
Mr Godfrey Mowatt and Mr Ben Purse both blind were appointed on the advisory committee to the local Government Board.
Advisory Committee, Ireland
The Irish Advisory Committee on the Welfare of the Blind held its first meeting. (Sir Thomas J Stafford, Bart, CB, Chairman.)
Advisory Committee Scotland
The Scottish Advisory Committee on the Welfare of the Blind held its first meeting. (Sir David Pautin, Chairman.)
Apparatus
Lady Algernon Percy invented a system of communicating with the deaf-blind, by using the Morse code and a series of small hammers which tap the fingers of the persons addressed.
Australia
Death at the age of fifty-seven of Mr. Andrew W Hendry, founder and manager of the Royal Institution for the Blind, North Adelaide. He lost the sight of one eye through an accident when thirteen years of age, and about ten years later he became totally blind° His handicap merely inspired him to greater things; his whole life was a triumph over his affliction.
Canada
Dressmaking was started as an industry for the blind by the Canadian National Institute for the Blind. (See The New Beacon, January, 1926)
Chorley Wood, Hertfordshire
The National Institute for the Blind opened its first Sunshine Home for Blind Babies.
Counties Unions
The President of the Local Government Board asked the seven Counties Unions to act as Local Advisory Committees.
Devon
The Devon County Association for the Blind was founded. (In 1930 there were 993 blind persons on the register.)
Dewbury, Yorkshire
Institution for the Blind of Dewsbury, Barley and District, was founded by Mr Joe Kaye at Daisy Hill, Dewsbury, for teaching and training the blind of the district and enabling them to earn a livelihood. (In 1929 there were 260 blind persons on the register, 15 in the workshops and 7 pupils being trained.)
Dorset
The Dorset County Association for the Blind was founded. (In 1930 there were 449 blind persons on the register.)
Gloucestershire
The Gloucestershire County Association for the Blind was founded. (In 193o there were 610 blind persons on the register.)
Hartlepool, Durham
A fund for the training and after-care of the blind was instituted by the Mayor of West Hartlepool. Useful work on behalf of the blind had previously been set on foot by the Rev WJ Knowlden, Vicar of St. Aidan's.
Life insurance
Life Insurance Policies were granted by the Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada to the blind, on equal terms with the sighted. (Several other Insurance Companies have since followed its example.)
London
The Braille and Servers of the Blind League was founded, by William Burgess—
a) For the provision and maintenance of social clubs for the adult civilian blind throughout Great Britain.
(b) For the provision of Homes for blind mentally defective children.
The name was later changed to the Servers of the Blind League.
In addition to the social activities undertaken by the clubs, the League provides holidays, clothing, medical relief, bread and coal tickets, and outings to the sea and country, for necessitous blind persons. (In 1930 there were 17 clubs open, including 9 in London, with a total membership of about 2,500. There was Home for mentally defective children at Reigate.)
The London Association for the Blind took additional premises for showroom and workrooms in Rochester Row, Westminster, and started the first of a series of hostels for Blind Women, at Bessborough Street, Westminster. (In 1930 there were 64 blind residents in its various Hostels.) Miss Ethel Winifred Austin died. She had been Secretary of the National Library for the Blind since 1906, and worked there up to the time of her death. During her secretaryship the Library was greatly improved and enlarged, and she was largely responsible for the many improvements effected. She organized lectures and concerts at the Library. By her efforts the collections of books belonging to the London Home Teaching Society, the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel and the Catholic Truth Society were incorporated in the National Library, and the Library of the Manchester and Salford Blind Aid Society was taken over and made a branch of the National Library. She organized the teaching of reading and writing Braille at St. Dunstan's, and was a member of the Advisory Committee on the, Blind.
The National Institute received £11,000 from the of the late H F Bailey. The Bailey Bequest was founded, and the income applied-- Five-elevenths to sick and poor blind persons. Five-elevenths to general purposes of the Institute. One-eleventh to blind knitters.
Dr Alfred Washington Guest Ranger, MA, DCL (blind), Chairman of the National Institute for the Blind since 1923, was knighted for his services to the blind. (Sir Washington was senior partner in the firm of Messrs Ranger, Burton & Frost, Solicitors, and the first blind man to earn the distinction of DCL An account of his successful career appeared in The Beacon June, 1924, and March, 1929, obiit.)
St. Dunstan's work was extended; 1,500 blinded soldiers were being looked after. West London Workshop for the Blind purchased the free- hold of its premises, 60 High Street, and the neighbouring premises, 58 High Street, Notting Hill, W.
The National Library for the Blind established a northern branch in St John Street, Manchester, at a cost of £5,000, of which the Carnegie Trust provided £3,000. This branch serves the eight northern counties of England, and supplies 65 public libraries. The Manchester and Salford Blind Aid Society handed over its books to the Library. (In 1918 readers numbered 136, and volumes 8,000; in 1930 there were 33,364 volumes in the Library, the circulation had reached 79,407 volumes per annum, and the readers numbered over 3,000.)
Manchester and Salford Blind Aid Society opened a Home, Oaklands, for thirty aged blind men, next to its Women's Home in the Eccles Old Road, Pendleton.
Periodicals
Nuggets, a popular weekly magazine in Braille, was published by the National Institute for the Blind. (It has since been discontinued.)
Somerset
The Somerset County Association for the Blind was founded. (In 1930 there were 882 blind persons on the register.)
Sound Locating
The War Office invited the services of blind men to use sound-locating instruments in connection with searchlight stations.
Staffordshire
The Staffordshire Association for the Welfare of the Blind was founded. (In 1930 there were 727 blind persons on the register.)
Union of Counties Associations
The title of the Union of Unions was changed to Counties Associations for the Blind, and the seven Unions also changed their names to Counties Associations.
1919
Advisory Committee
Go Locker, Lampson, MP, was appointed Chairman of Advisory Committee on the Welfare of the Blind in place Stephen Walsh, MP.
Argentine
The Argentine National Society for the Blind at Buenos Aires ceased to exist, leaving 8,000 blind persons uncared for.
Australia
A Free Library for the Blind at Melbourne was opened.
Bedfordshire
Luton and District Committee was founded (renamed in 1927 the South Bedfordshire Society.)
Birmingham
Birmingham Institution opened a Hostel to accommodate eighteen blind women (In 1929 this was changed into a hostel for men, and in 1930 there were 13 blind residents.)
Bristol
The Royal School of Industry moved its Women's Hostel larger premises at Tyndalls Park, Bristol. (In 1930 it had 18 residents.)
Croydon, Surrey
The Bates's Charity was founded by a bequest of £9,000 from the late Edward George Bates. The interest (about £45o) provides pensions for about thirty- five blind persons resident in the borough of Croydon. The charity is administered from the Croydon Town Hall.
Herefordshire
The Herefordshire County Association for the Blind was founded. (In 1930 there were 170 blind persons on the register.)
India
The estimated number of blind persons in Indian villages was 600,000, almost uncared for.
Liverpool
The Liverpool Workshops and Home Teaching Society started a Home for Aged Blind Women at Aigburth Road. (In 1930 there were 15 inmates). Death of Mr Charles A Hartley (born 1857), member of the Local Government Board Advisory Committee, Works Manager, and later General Manager of the Liverpool Work- shops.
During the last thirty-two years of his life he worked unsparingly for the good of this Institution, and many of its developments were due to him.
London
The Association for the General Welfare of the Blind was extended by the purchase of neighbouring premises, 257 Tottenham Court Road. The Barclay Workshops moved to 21 Crawford Street, W, thus obtaining a showroom for the first time.
Mr PM Evans, LLD, MA, Clerk to the Clothworkers'Company, was appointed Chairman of the Union of Associations and the Metropolitan and Adjacent Counties Association, in place of Mr HJ Wilson, resigned. The Clothworkers'Company allow the meetings of the Union to be held at its Hall in Mincing Lane, and have been most liberal with grants and hospitality. (An account of Mr. Evans's career appeared in The Beacon March, 1927.)
London Association for the Blind took additional premises in Churton Street, Westminster. A Hostel for Blind Men was started in Waterloo Road, SE, by the Royal School for the Blind, Leatherhead. Sergt AM Nicholls, who was blinded in the War, and lost both hands, was taught at St. Dunstan's to typewrite efflciently with artificial hands.
London Society for Teaching and Training the Blind, bulk workshops in Eton Avenue, near by, at a cost of £4,000.
Massage
The Association of Certificated Blind Masseurs was founded under the auspices of the National Institute for the Blind and St Dunstan's Hostel for blinded soldiers and sailors; President, Sir Arthur Pearson, GBE; Chairman, Mr Percy L Way, CSMMG, BPA, FRCO; Secretary, Mrs F Chaplin Hall.
For an account of the career of Mr Way, a blind graduate of Durham University, see The Beacon, April, 1926. (In 1929 the number of certified masseurs and masseuses on the register of the Association was about 100 civilians and 112 ex-soldiers).
Ministry of Health
In August, the Ministry of Health issued important regulations authorizing grants to registered Institutions the Blind, for the following services --
- Workshops, £20 per head per annum for each blind fully employed.
- Home Workers, £20 per head per annum for each person fully employed.
- Homes, £13 per annum, per inmate.
- Hostels, £5 per annum, per inmate.
- Home Teachers, not exceeding £78 per head per annum.
- Book Production, 2s 6d per volume, 2d per magazine, periodical, or sheet of music.
- County Associations to receive £20 for each 100 registered blind persons in their area.
The Minister of Health instructed the secretaries of all County Associations to send him a monthly return, giving him names of new cases of blindness, particulars of deaths, changes of address or occupation, children leaving school, etc.
Mr. Miles Priestley, Bradford, and Mr WH Thurman, Birmingham, were appointed the first two Inspectors of blind welfare of the Ministry of Health. (An account of Mr. Priestley's career appeared in The Beacon, October, 1926.)
Periodicals
The ink-print magazine, The Blind, ceased to exist, after being a faithful chronicle of the work of the blind for twenty- two years.
Pontypridd, South Wales
Pontypridd and District Institution for the Blind started work at Llanover Road as a branch of the Swansea and South Wales Institution for the Blind.
Swansea
A Hostel for Blind Men was opened at Carlton Terrace. (In 1930 there were 14 blind residents.)
Tunbridge Wells
A Hostel for Blind Men employed in the workshop was opened at 75 Calverley Road. (In 1930 there were 6 blind residents.)
Wiltshire
The Wiltshire County Association for the Blind was founded. (In 1930 there were 571 blind persons on the register.)
1920
Act of Parliament
The Blind Persons Act, 1920, will long be remembered, as it made it the duty of the County Boroughs and County Councils to provide for the welfare of the blind, and extended the Old Age Pension to blind persons at fifty years of age instead of seventy. It also made it illegal for any appeals to be made for the blind excepting by a charity registered by its local County or County Borough, and contained a definition of blindness narrower than the definition applied to the children under the Education Acts. In addition it placed on Local Education Authorities the duty of providing or wise securing the technical education of capable blind persons. This Act, with slight modifications, also applies to Scotland.
Batley, Yorkshire
Institution for the Blind of Dewsbury, Batley, and District appointed two home visitors. A basket workshop was established in Batley, with two pupils, and a register of blind persons was compiled.
Bedfordshire
The Bedfordshire County Association and the Bedford and District Society were both founded. In 1927 the work was divided between the North Bedfordshire County Association and the South Bedfordshire Society for the Welfare of the Blind. (In 1930 the former had 185 blind persons on its register, and the latter 225, including 11 home workers.)
Boston
Boston Society was reorganized to include the town Holland (Lincs.) and became the Boston and Holland Society. (In 1930 there were 139 blind persons on the register.)
Bradford
Mr WH Tate, JP, was appointed Chairman of the Institution. (Since 1891 lie had been a member of the committee, and the Hon Choir Master of the Institution from 1880 onwards, lie became a member of the Advisory committee of the Ministry of Health in 1927, and of the of the National Institute for the Blind in 1927.)
Brighton
Brighton Blind Relief and Visiting Society started a training centre for basket-making, chair-caning, etc. (In 1921 there were 13 workers ; in 1923 this training centre was closed.)
Bristol
The Royal School of Industry undertook the work of agency for the Blind Persons Act Committee, and started a Home Industries Scheme in Bristol and adjacent counties. The Home for Blind Women at Clifton was taken over by the National Institute for the Blind.
Buckinghamshire
The Tyringham Club Blind Pension Fund was founded. It provides g pension of £5 17s 6d a week to one blind person residing in north Buckinghamshire.
Cardiganshire, South Wales
The Cardiganshire Blind Association was founded. (In 1930 there were 172 blind persons on the register.)
Centralisation of Collections
A Conference was held at the Clothworkers' Hall (Mr HJ Wilson in the Chair), to consider the desirability of the centralization and unification of all collections made on behalf of the blind.
Cheltenham
St. Dunstan's opened Suffolk Hall, Cheltenham (given by Mr WA Bankier) as a Hostel for blinded soldiers.
Demonstration
Two hundred blind men marched from Manchester to London and held a demonstration in Trafalgar Square, calling on the Government to take steps to improve the general condition of the blind.
Essex
Essex County Association for the Blind was founded. (It ceased its activities in 1922, was re-formed in 1924, and reconstructed in 1928.) (See 1924.)
Grimsby, Lincolnshire
The Grimsby Society for the Blind was founded. (In 1930 there were 120 blind persons on the register.)
Guernsey
The Guernsey Association for the Education and of the Blind was founded. (In 1930 there was no institution for the blind on the Island, but the Association provided pensions of £12 each to eight blind persons, besides sundry grants, and paying for the education of several persons in Schools and Workshops. Prevention of blindness was not overlooked, 143 cases being dealt with under this head.)
Ipswich
Ipswich and Suffolk Institution altered its title Ipswich Society for the Blind.
Kent
The Kent County Association for the Blind was the registration and general assistance of the blind in the county of Kent. (In 1930 there were 1,453 blind persons on the register.)
Kesteven, Lincolnshire
The Kesteven Blind Society was founded. (In 1930 there were 153 blind persons on the register)
Leicester
The Leicester Institution was incorporated and became the Leicester (Leicestershire and Rutland) Incorporated Institution for the Blind. Its activities included training, technical education, employment, home teaching, supervision of home workers, relief and registration.
Lincoln, Lincolnshire
The Lincoln Blind Society was founded. (In 1930 there were 93 blind persons on the register.) The Lincolnshire Blind Association was dissolved.
Liverpool
A Hostel was opened in Kelvin Grove for women working at the Cornwallis Street Workshops. (In 1930 there were 7 inmates.)
London
Barclay Workshops for Blind Women purchased the lease and rebuilt the neighbouring premises, 1 Little Durweston Street. A hostel for Men and Boys was started by the London Association for the Blind, at Denmark Hill, SE.
Massage Library started by the National Institute for the Blind; its first Librarian was Dr J Lloyd Johnstone, MRCS, LRCP (a qualified blind masseur).
Mr Ben Purse (blind), was appointed Head of the After care Department at the National Institute for the Blind. (An account of his interesting career appeared in The Beacon, August, 1925.)
The first Reading Competition was held at the National Library for the Blind, for the prize founded by Mr WH Dixon, in memory of Miss Ethel Winifred Austin, the first Librarian. Turner House, a Hostel for Blind Women, was started by the Church Army at St. George's Square, NW. (In 1930 there were 31 inmates.)
Newcastle Upon Tyne
Royal Victoria School for the Blind purchased and equipped Benwell Grange as a training centre for young women, at a cost of about £12,000.
Nottingham
The Royal Midland Institution opened a Hostel in Chaucer Street. (In 1930, 36 blind youths resided there.)
Oldham
The Blind Women's Industries was taken over by the Home Teaching Society.
Rhondda, South Wales
The Rhondda Institution for the Blind was founded in Pontrhondda Road, Llwynypia, S Wales, the usual trades being carried on in the workshops. (In 1930, 27 men and 8 women were employed in the shops, besides 7 men and 5 women under training.)
St Leonards-on-Sea
Bannow, a beautiful house, standing in its own grounds given by the Dickens Fellowship, and opened by St Dunstan’s as a hostel for Blinded Soldiers.
Suffolk
The West Suffolk Blind Association was dissolved.
Sunbeam Mission
The Sunbeam Mission was taken over by the Church Army, with the exception of the bhnd branch; the management of this branch was still retained by Miss Beatrice Taylor, the foundress, under the name of “The Letter-Friend Society for Blind Children” until 1916, when, owing to Miss Taylor's leaving Norwood, the Society ceased to exist.)
Weston-super-Mare, Somerset
Weston-super-Mare Blind Society was founded. (In 1930 this Society existed as a local committee only.)
1921
Act of Parliament
The whole of the Education Acts previously passed consolidated into a single statute. Since this date all references to statute are made to the 1921 Act.
America
The American Foundation for the Blind was established in New York City. It is a national organization whose purpose is to collect information, to promote legislation, and to assist in increasing the efficiency in work for the blind in all particulars.
Bolton
A Home for the blind was started by the Blind Institution at Bolton. (In 1930 there were 14 inmates)
Cambridgeshire
Cambridge Society was reorganized and became the Cambridgeshire Society for the Blind.
Cardiff
The Cardiff Institution opened a Hostel for Blind Women, in Howard Gardens. (In 1930 there were 7 blind residents)
Chester
Mr and Mrs G Hayes presented Hoole Bank, Chester, to the National Institute for the Blind, and it was opened as a Home for blind persons, of gentle birth, in reduced circum- stances. (See 1928.)
Chorley Wood
The National Institute for the Blind opened a College for, the education of blind girls to public school lines, at the Cedars, Chorley Wood, Hertfordshire, a beautiful mansion presented by Mr and Mrs J H Batty, Miss Phyllis Monk, MA, was appointed Principal. (in account of her career appeared in The Beacon, 4 February, 1929. In 1930 the pupils numbered thirty-eight.)
Darlington
A workshop was opened, with six workers, at Wood's Yard, Blackwellgate. (Apparently ceased to exist before 1930.)
Dog Guides
An article appeared in the Swiss Messenger of the Blind stating that dogs were being trained to lead the war-blinded German soldiers, and that the German sheep dog, the Dobermann, and the Airedale terrier were particularly amenable to training, bitches more so than dogs. (See The Beacon, February, 1921.)
Dublin
The Rochfort Wade Hostel for Blind Women was opened in Blackhall Street, Queen Street. (In 1930 there were 18 blind women in this Hostel.) The Irish Association for the Blind was founded by Mr HJP Neary with an once at 35 North Great George's Street.
The Association has carried out much press propaganda and distribution of leaflets, and publishes “The Blind Citizen” a quarterly magazine in Braille. The Association helps the blind in other ways, which are necessarily of a linked character. (No report or accounts are published.}
Eastbourne
The Eastbourne Society for the Social Welfare of the Blind was reconstructed.
Halifax
Halifax Society for the Blind opened a workshop at Street. (in 1930 the workshops were at Shircoat Moor Road, Savile Park, Halifax, and a showroom at 13 Bull Green). (See 1887.)
Harrogate, Yorkshire
Harrogate and District (including Ripon) Society for the Blind was founded. (In 1930 about 150 blind persons were benefited)
Hastings
Hastings Voluntary Association was founded for the registration and general assistance of the blind in borough of Hastings. (In 1930 there were 183 blind persons on the register)
Leeds
The Leeds Incorporated Institution for the Blind Deaf and Dumb started a Home Workers' Scheme with 12 blind workers. (In 1930 it had 29 blind home workers.)
London
The London Association for the Blind moved from Rochester Row and Churton Street to large new premises in Warwick Street, Westminster. The Committee decided to name the building Rosedale House, after the Rev HG Rosedale, DD, FSA, FRSI, their Hon Treasurer, who had been chiefly responsible for the enormous development of the work. (An account of Dr. Rosedale's career appeared in The Beacon, October, 1927.)
The Barclay Workshops started a Technical Training Department. The Greater London Fund for the Blind was started by the National Institute for the Blind in conjunction with the work- shops for the blind in London, for collecting money within a radius of twenty miles of Chafing Cross. The money was administered by a joint committee. (In 1927 the County and County Borough Associations were brought into the scheme.)
The London Society for Teaching and Training the Blind started a Home Workers' Scheme for the counties of Middlesex, Herts, Berks, Bucks, and London (north side of Thames). (In 193o there were 230 home workers on the register.)
The National Institute for the Blind started a Home-workers' Scheme in the counties of Sussex, Surrey, Kent, Hampshire, and London (south side of the Thames) with headquarters first at Redhill, and afterwards at Reigate. (In 1930 there were 260 home workers on the register.)
The National Union of the Professional and Industrial Blind of Great Britain and Ireland was formed, with the object of regulating the relationship between employer and employee, protecting the interests of the blind, and giving greater facilities for their employment. Mr RD Smith was elected President, and Mr Ben Purse, Hon Secretary (both blind).
The blind world suffered a great loss by the retirement of Mr Henry J Wilson from the secretaryship of Gardner's Trust, a post he had held since its foundation in 1882. He had been responsible for numerous activities for the benefit of the blind. (An account of his career appeared in The Beacon, March, 1925.)
Maldon, Essex
The Middleton Holiday Home for the Blind was moved from Southend-on-Sea to Maldon.
Manchester
Manchester and Salford Blind Aid Society moved premises in Tonman Street. The name of Henshaw's Blind Asylum was changed to Henshaw's Institution for the Blind.
Music
“Selected Works of British Blind Composers” was published in ink-print by the National Institute for the Blind on the suggestion of Sir Arthur Pearson.
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
The Newcastle and Gateshead Home Teaching Society for the Blind started a Home Workers' Scheme. (in 1930 it had 24 home workers.)
Northamptonshire
The Northamptonshire Association for the Blind was founded, (In 1930 there were 345 blind persons on the county and 132 on the register of Northampton County Borough.)
Nottinghamshire
The Nottinghamshire County Association for the founded. (See 1927)
Pearson, Sir Arthur
Death of Sir Arthur Pearson, Bart. (born 1866), President of the National Institute for the Blind and Chairman of St. Dunstan's; in 1917 he was in the first list of those receiving the honour of Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire. (See The Braille Review; October, 1915, and The Beacon, January, 1922.)
Pembrokshire
The Pembrokeshire Blind Relief Society was reconstructed.
Register of the Blind
The Register of the Ministry of Health showed 34,894 blind persons (or 1 per 1,082) in England and Wales, 4,528 blind persons (or 1 per 1,078) in Scotland.
Sheffield
By command of His Majesty the King, the Sheffield Blind Institution became the Royal Sheffield Institution for the Blind.
Southampton
Southampton Association for the Blind was reconstructed.
Sussex
East Sussex County Association and West Sussex County Association were founded for the registration and general assistance of the blind within their areas. (In 1930 the former had 381, and the latter 276 blind persons on their respective registers.)
West Hartlepool
A workshop was opened in Church Street. (See 1923.)
York
Thomas Jackson Trust was founded; it provides pensions of 15 per annum to six blind women resident in Yorkshire.
1922
Aberdare, South Wales
The Aberdare Blind Welfare Committee was established to work in conjunction with Merthyr and Pontypridd. It became an independent Committee in 1925. (In 1930 there were 113 blind persons on its register.)
Berkshire
The Berkshire County Blind Society was reconstructed with its head office at Reading, and sub-committees for Newbury, Windsor, Maidenhead, and Wokingham.
Brighton
Barclay Home and School moved its workshops to larger premises at 31 Wellington Road.
Bury, Lancashire
The Bury Society for the Blind was founded. (In 1930 there were 100 blind persons on the register.)
Carmarthenshire
Blind Relief Society was reconstructed.
Hampshire
The Hampshire Association for the Care of the Blind founded for the registration and general assistance of the blind in the county. (In 1930 there were 553 blind persons on the register.)
Huntingdonshire
The Huntingdonshire Society for the Blind was founded. (In 1950 there were 104 blind persons on tile register.)
Lindsey, Lincolnshire
The Lindsey Society for the Blind was founded, (In 1950 there were 262 blind persons on the register.)
London
The Blind Employment Factory, Waterloo Road, SE, was enlarged to take 140 workers. “Eyes to the Blind Society” amalgamated with the Barclay Workshops. The investments belonging to the Society became the nucleus of the Eyes to the Blind Pension Fund which was then established by the Barclay Workshops Committee, (The annual income of the Fund in 1930 amounted to £171 10s.)
Sir Robert Jones Bart, KBE, CB, FRCS, etc, was elected President of the Association of Certificated Blind Masseurs. London Society for Teaching and Training the Blind and West London Workshops amalgamated.
Mr Godfrey F Mowatt, JP (blind), was appointed Treasurer of the National Institute for the Blind, Chairman of its Standing Committee, and a member of the Central Council for the London Blind. (An account of his career appeared in The Beacon, February, 1925.)
St. Dunstan's decided to separate from the National Institute for the Blind and carry on, independently, its work for soldiers and sailors blinded in the War.
Luton, Bedfordshire
The Luton and District Committee started a workshop and training centre at Williamson Street, Luton. (In 1930 this workshop, belonging to the then South Bedfordshire Society for the Welfare of the Blind, had 11 blind workers.)
Middlesex
The Middlesex Association for the Blind was formed, but not fully established till 1924. (In 1931 there were 1,371 blind persons on the register.)
Music
After many years of unremitting research and exhaustive experiment, the National Institute for the Blind announced that the music notation system had been perfected, and that it was possible to transcribe any music, however complicated, into Braille.
Norwich
Norwich Asylum and School changed its name to the Norwich Institution for the Blind.
Periodicals
The Horizon, a monthly magazine in Braille type, on matters affecting the life and labour of sightless workers, was published by the National League of the Blind of England.
The first weekly newspaper in Moon type, “The Moon”, was produced by the Moon Society, Brighton.
Portsmouth
The Portsmouth Voluntary Association for the Blind was founded. (In 1930 there were 50 blind persons on the register.)
St Helens
St. Helens and District Blind Society opened small shops. (In 1930, 220 blind persons were employed in the shops.)
Shropshire
The Shropshire Association for the Blind was took over the work of the Home Teaching Society, 1908. (In 1950 there were 316 blind persons on the register of the Association.)
Southend-on-Sea
Southend-on-Sea Voluntary Care Committee was formed for the registration and general assistance of the blind county borough of Southend. (In 1930 there were 136 blind persons on the register.)
South Shields, Durham
South Shields Institution for the Blind, 11-17 Keppel Street, was founded. (In 1930 there were 316 blind persons on the register, including 12 employed in the workshops and 8 trainees.
Surrey
The Surrey Voluntary Blind Association was founded for the registration and general assistance of the blind in the county. (In 1930 there were 717 blind persons on the register.)
Tynemouth
Tynemouth Social Committee for the Blind was formed Mr M Pearey whose son was blinded in the Great War. (See 1924)
1923
Barrow-In-Furness, Lancashire
Barrow and District Society for the Blind, Duke Street was founded, for the care of the blind in North Lancashire and the south part of the counties of Cumberland and Westmorland, although some organized work had been carried on since 1906. (In 1930 there were 273 blind persons on the register, in- cluding z7 home workers and z5 otherwise employed.)
Bournemouth
The Bournemouth and District Blind Aid Society was reorganized, and became the Bournemouth Blind Aid Society.
Brighton
The Brighton Blind Relief and Visiting Society changed its name to the Brighton Society for the Welfare of the Blind, and closed its training centre.
Centralisation of Collections
Mr PM Evans, ChMrman of the Union of Counties Associations for the Blind, together with a number of prominent workers among the blind, drew up a scheme whereby there would be a new agency for collecting money for the whole of the blind Institutions and Societies in England and Wales. An agreed sum would be set aside for national purposes, and each county area would have to supply its quota for the "National Share" in proportion to the population of that area; the remaining portion, probably 70 per cent to 80 per cent, would be distributed amongst local institutions and societies.
The scheme, after many meetings and much discussion, was abandoned. (See 1926.)
Cheltenham
The Cheltenham and Gloucestershire Society for the Blind changed its name to the Cheltenham Workshops for the Blind.
Croydon
The Croydon Voluntary Association for the Blind was formed--started as a separate body in 1925. (In 1930 there were 319 blind persons on the register.}
East Ham, Essex
East Ham Welfare Association for the Blind was formed for the registration and general assistance of the blind in the County Borough of East Ham. (In 1930 there were 172 Mind persons on the register.)
Edinburgh
The Royal Blind Asylum built additional classrooms technical training, at a cost of £3,500.
Glamorgan, South Wales
The Glamorgan Blind Association was founded. (In 1930 there were 1,400 blind persons on the register)
Isle of Ely, Cambridgeshire
Isle of Ely Society for the Blind was founded. (In 1930 there were 66 blind persons on the register.)
Leeds
Leeds City Council purchased Chapetown Barracks for purposes connected with the welfare of the blind.
Leicestershire
Leicester Institution opened additional premises, Arthur Wakerley having given an acre of land on which build.
London
Barclay Workshops for Blind Women purchased the lease of the neighbouring premises, No. 20 Crawford Street, the “Eyes to the Blind” workers moved there and ceased work under the latter name.
The Ex-service Men's Fund was started by Captain EBB Towse, VC, under the auspices of the National Institute for the Blind for the training and after-care of men who are blind or may become blind on returning to civilian life after discharge from HM Forces, and for the blind dependants of service and ex-Service men. The Board of Admiralty, the Army Council, and the Air Council, and many units of Forces have given this fund their support. (This Fund for men ineligible for help from St. Dunstans.)
Death of Mrs Hepburn Starey, aged eighty-two, founder of the Society named after her; for over fifty years she was its Hon Secretary. Captain EBB Towse, VC, CBE, was appointed Chairman of the National Institute for the Blind in place of Sir Washington Ranger, DCL, MA, resigned. (An account of Captain Towse's career appeared in The Beacon July, 1924.) Mr H Michael Whitfield, BA (Lond), CSMMG (blind), elected Chairman of the Council of the Association of Certificated Blind Masseurs.
Maldon
On the death of Miss Gallagher, the Indigent Blind Visiting Society took over the Middleton Holiday Home for the Blind, a combined permanent home for blind women and Holiday Home for blind men and women. (In 1930 there was accommodation for forty-three Mind persons.)
Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales
The Merthyr Tydfil Institution for the Blind was founded; men were employed hi basket-making and mat-making at the workshops in New Road, Dowlais, South Wales. (In 1930 there were 210 blind persons on the register, and 3 home teachers were employed.)
National Union of the Professional and Industrial Blind
Mr WH Dixon was elected President of the National Union of the Professional and Industrial Blind. (In 1899 he had been appointed lecturer in Political Science at Ruskin Hall.)
Oldham
Oldham Home Teaching Society's area was extended to include the districts of Middleton, Chadderton, Bardsley, Lees, and Shaw; there were 269 blind on the register, and a third home teacher was appointed.
Pearson, Sir Arthur (The Late)
The Arthur Pearson Memorial Fund, inaugurated in 1921, was closed, after raising £28,738 (net). Two and a half per cent was given to Pearson's Fresh Air Fund, and of the balance one- third to the National Institute for the Blind, one-third to St Dunstan's, and the remainder to other charities for the blind in Great Britain and the Colonies.
Periodicals
“The Tribune”, a monthly magazine in Braille, was published by the National Union of professional and Industrial Great Britain and Ireland (Editor, Mr Ben Purse). The object of the magazine was to improve the social conditions of the blind.
Preston
Preston Institution opened the Roper Hostel for Fulwood, designed to accommodate twelve blind men twelve blind women. (In 1930 the Hostel was occupied by ten men and nine women)
St John’s Guild
St John’s Guild for the Blind was founded by the Rev CF Waudby, “to bring the light and fellowship of the Catholic Faith into the lives of the blind.” (In 1930 devotional books were sent out from its library, a Braille magazine was published, and besides the London branch, there were branches at Birmingham, Bristol, York- shire, Leigh-on-Sea, Bournemouth, Sunderland, Nottingham, St Albans, Warlord, and Wednesbury, and a Guest House for blind ladies was being maintained at St Albans.)
Southport
The National Institute for the Blind opened its second Sunshine Home for Blind Babies, at Southport Lanes.
South Shields
South Shields Institution opened a workshop in Keppel Street.
Suffolk
East Suffolk Association and Ipswich Society amalgamated.
Warrington, Lancashire
The Warrington, Widnes, and District Society for the Blind was established, with workshops at Museum Street,Warrington. (In 1950, 15 blind persons were employed in the workshops; 18 were being trained; there were 281 on the register, and 3 home teachers.)
West Ham
The London Society for Teaching and Training the Blind opened a branch workshop at Pelly Road. (In 1930 it employed 24 blind workers.)
West Hartlepool
The Hartlepools Workshops for the Blind opened new workshops in Avenue Road, West Hartlepool, built at a cost of about £3,000. (In 1929 there were 82 blind persons on the register, 16 of whom were employed in the workshops and 4 under training; there was one blind home teacher.)
1924
Barrow-In-Furness
Barrow and District Society for the Blind undertook the Home Teaching services for the blind south of the river Esk, thus allowing the Cumberland Institution, Carlisle, to improve its services for the blind in its reduced area.
Boston, Lincolnshire
Sunniholm, a Home and Hostel for Blind Women, was opened at Boston. (In 1930 there were 7 permanent and 7 temporary residents.)
Bradford
Bradford Institution erected magnificent new premises for men's workshops at Frizinghall, at a cost of £45,000, and also commenced a Home Workers' Scheme.
Croydon
The Lansdowne Social Club, 23 Wellesley Road, was founded by the Croydon Voluntary Association for the Blind, with the object of providing a meeting-place and suitable recreation for the blind.
Darlington
The Darlington Society for the Blind was founded, superceding the Society established in 1908. (In 1930 there were 124 blind persons on the register, including 5 home workers, and 8 otherwise employed.)
Essex
The Essex Voluntary Association for the Blind was again for the registration and general assistance in the county of Essex. (In 1930 there were 1,061 blind persons on the register.) (See 1928)
Ipswich
A Workshop for the Blind was opened by the Ipswich Blind Society, (In 1930, five blind persons were employed at the workshops, and 4 at home.)
Leamington, Warwickshire
The National Institute for the Blind opened its Sunshine Home for Blind Babies, at Leamington.
London
The London Association for the Blind started the facture of stair-rods and knitting-needles as an blind. (In 1930, 11 blind men were employed making knitting- needles, 9 as paid workers, and 2 as pupils. The manufacture of stair-rods had been discontinued.)
Manchester
Manchester and Salford Blind Aid Society opened an additional house in Eccles Old Road, Pendleton, to accommodate twenty blind women.
Mat-Making
Messrs EM Downs & Son, Glemsford, produced form of mat loom specially useful for blind home workers.
Merivale, Miss Judith
Miss JA Merivale was appointed Chairman of the Midland Counties Association for the Blind; she was the first Hon Secretary in 1908.
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
The Newcastle and Gateshead Home Teaching Society opened a shop for home workers' goods in Pilgrim Street.
North Shields
The Northern Counties Blind Society, 4-6 Howard Street, North Shields, ceased to exist after over fifty years' work, the whole time under the management of Mr H von Niederhausern.
Stourbridge
Stourbridge Institution opened a retail shop in Market Street.
Stratford, Essex
The London Society for Teaching and Training the Blind opened a branch workshop in Naples Street. (In 1930 it employed 15 blind persons.)
Tynemouth
Tynemouth Social Committee for the Blind and the Northern Counties Blind Society, together with the Borough of Tyne- mouth Blind Persons Act Committee, formed a new Society, known as the Tynemouth Blind Welfare Society and Northern Counties Library, Howard Street, North Shields. (In 1930 there were 90 blind persons on the register, in- cluding 14 employed in the workshops and 4 trainees. The monthly magazine Dawn was being published, and the Free Lending Library contained 7,000 volumes for some 220 readers in Northumberland, Durham, Cumberland, and the North Riding of Yorkshire.)
Wakefield
The Child Memorial Home for the Blind, Sunny Lawns House, Sandy Walk, was founded by Miss Elizabeth Child, who gave the Home in memory of her brother, Thomas Child. The Home was opened two years later. (In 1930 there were 20 inmates, 11 men and 9 women.)
1925
Blackpool, Lancashire
Blackpool and Fylde Society for the Blind was formed. (In 1930 there were 275 blind persons on the register.)
Bristol
Bristol Institution started a Social Club for the able blind of both sexes. (In 1930 there was a daily average attendance of five to eighty persons.)
Carlisle
Cumberland and Westmorland Home and Workshops the Blind started a Home Workers Scheme. (In 1930 it had 10 home workers.)
Croydon
Croydon Voluntary Association for the Blind, formed 1923, started registration and general assistance of within the county borough of Croydon.
Dog Guides
Extract from the Westminster Gazette -
With characteristic thoroughness the Germans are now granting “degrees” to dogs that have qualified as blind men's The central training school for these animals, all Alsatians, is at Potsdam.
Liverpool
The Catholic Blind Asylum added a further twenty-acres to St Vincent’s School, West Derby.
London
Barclay Workshops purchased the lease of 19 Crawford Street and entirely rebuilt this property shortly afterwards. London Society for Teaching and Training the Blind a factory for Women’s Industries at Belsize Crescent, Hampstead, and a Hostel for senior blind pupils at Belsize Park Gardens.
Mr HC Preece (blind) elected President of the Union of the Professional and Industrial Blind. (An account of his career appeared in The Beacon, May, 1926.)
The blind suffered a great loss in the death of Stainsby (born 1859}, Secretary-General of the National Institute for the Blind, and a great benefactor to the blind his invention of Apparatus and great knowledge of requirements of the Blind. (an account of his very busy life appeared in The Beacon, February, 1926.)
Middlesbrough
Cleveland and South Durham Institute for the Blind built new workshops, providing accommodation for 100 workers and twenty trainees, at Middlesbrough, at a cost of £12,000, including land and equipment.
Ministry of Health
Miss Winifred Bramhall was appointed Inspector on the Blind Department Staff of the Ministry of Health, and gave up her post of Secretary of the Northern Counties Association, and her membership of the Ministry of Health Advisory Committee.
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
Royal Victoria School purchased and equipped Benwell Cottage at a cost of about £12,000, as a hostel and training centre for young men, and others, "who had lost their sight late in life.
Periodicals
The Seeker, a quarterly magazine in Braille, devoted to Christian mysticism and comparative religion, was started by the Margaret Dudley Braille Lodge of the Theosophical Society.
Reading, Berkshire
Owing to the death of Miss Burnett, Mr Hugh Walford decided to discontinue the Reading Blind Aid Society. The Reading Association for the Welfare of the Blind was then formed. (In 1930 there were 158 blind persons on the register.)
Reigate, Surrey
The Braille and Servers of the Blind League opened the Ellen Terry National Home for Blind Mentally Defective Children, at Reigate, named after their first President. (In 1930 the Home was full, with 18 blind children.)
St Leonards-on-Sea
The National Institute for the Blind opened a Convalescent and Holiday Home, Bannow, at Quarry Hill, with accomodation for fifty men and women. (This building was previously used by St Dunstan's.)
1926
Act of Parliament
Wireless licences were granted free of charge to blind persons.
Burnley
The Burnley and District Society for the Blind received a bequest of £2,585 from the late Thomas Clayton, and opened the Thomas Clayton Memorial Workshops for the Blind, which they handed over to the Burntey Corporation.
Centralization of Collections
A scheme for the centralization of collections, drawn up by Mr GH Roberts, Chairman of the Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Health, Dr PM Evans, and Sir Michael O'Dwyer, Vice-Chairman of the National institute for the Blind, and approved by the Advisory Committee, was agreed to by the National Institute
The scheme provided for enlarging the Council of the National Institute by electing additional representatives of local agencies flaroughout the country, and provided that agreements, where possible, be entered into in each area, deciding in each case whether the local society or the National Institute should be the collecting agent; the money thus collected to be distributed in agreed proportions. See the Sixth Report of the Ministry of Health Advisory Committee, Pars 50 and 51. (in 1930 the number of local societies that had entered into agreements on the above lines was 89)
Cornwall
The Cornwall Home Teaching Society, now seventy years old became the Cornwall County Association for the Blind.
Dog Guides
Mrs D Harrison Eustis started a school at Vevey in Switzerland for training dogs to lead blind men. (See The Beacon, September, 1929)
Leatherhead
Death of the Rev James Win St Clare Hill, FRAS, FCTB, for thirty-four years Principal of the Royal School for the Blind, Leatherhead. (An account of his life appeared in The Beacon, July, 1926.) The Rev EH Griffiths RN, was appointed as his successor.
London
The Charity Commissioners prepared a scheme, handing over the administration of the National Blind Relief Society to the Metropolitan and Adjacent Counties Association for the Blind. The income at this date was about £150 from endowment, and £800 from subscriptions and donations. (In 1930 the income from endowments had increased to over £1,000, subscriptions and donations amounted to about £500, while the number of pensioners was 130.)
Sir Alexander Diack, KCIE, CVO, CBE, was appointed Secretary-General of the National Institute for the Blind. (See The Beacon’s July, 1928, August, 1929.) The National Library for the Blind bought adjoining premises in Great Smith Street, and carried out a big extension.
The Henry Stainsby Memorial Gift Fund for the Blind, administered by the National Institute for the Blind, was founded. The income, about £63, provides gifts to pupils of recognized Institutions and Colleges for the blind on completion of their training. The gifts take the form of Braille writers, watches, and other useful appliances, suitably inscribed.
Marks Tey, Essex
The London Association for the Blind started tile-making and brick-making at Marks Tey, as an industry for the blind. (In 1930 two blind men were employed making tiles at Marks Tey and two in brickfields at Dorking.)
Ministry of Health
The Ministry of Health issued revised regulations the definition of blindness. (Circular No. 681.) Mr ED Macgregor relinquished his post as Blind Department at the Ministry of Health. He was first person to fill that post, and was previously Local Govermnent Board Advisory Committee on the Welfare of the Blind. In both positions he did invaluable work.
Mr FR Lovett was appointed to succeed him. Mr WH Bennett was appointed an Inspector Department of the Ministry of Health, in place of Priestley, who succeeded Mr. Bennett as Secretary and manager of the Royal Institution, Nottingham.
Newport
Newport and Monmouthshire Blind Aid Society moved workshops to the present address, 199 Chepstow Road, port. The Swinnerton Memorial Home was opened in the same buildings, and named after the former President Treasurer, the Rev James Swinnerton.
Northampton
Northampton and Northamptonshire Associations amalgamated forming the Northamptonshire (Town and County) Association for the Blind.
Nottingham
The Royal Midland Institution opened another Hostel (In 1930, 20 blind men resided there.)
Postage Rate
A reduction was made in postage rates for embossed literature, making it possible to send 2 lb (instead of 1 lb.) This was of great value for the furtherance of study in schools for the blind, and very greatly value of the literary study in schools for the blind, and very greatly increased the value of the National Library.
South Shields
South Shields Institution acquired adjoining extended their workshops for mats, baskets, ships' fenders, bedding etc. with suitable sale-shop and offices.
1927
Bedfordshire
The Bedfordshire and District Blind Society was reorganized and named tile North Bedfordshire Blind Society.
The Luton and District Committee became the South Bedfordshire Blind Society.
Brighton
Death of the Hon. Mrs. Campion, founder and for twenty- five years Chairman of the Barclay Home for Blind Girls, Brighton. (An account of her life appeared in “The Beacon”, February, 1928.)
Cheltenham
The Cheltenham Workshops for the Blind were taken over by the Gloucestershire County Association for the Blind, a body appointed by the County Council.
Leeds
Leeds Blind Persons Act Committee assumed financial responsibility for the relief of all necessitous blind persons, but continued to work in conjunction with the Blind Institution. Leeds Blind Institution opened a Technical Training School for sixty blind students.
London
The Association for the General Welfare of the Blind opened large additional workshops off the Euston Road, to accommodate about 100 workers and pupils. The Braille and Servers of the Blind League separated the Braille portion of its work, and altered its name to the Servers of the Blind League. Death of Sir R Ellis Cunliffe, MA, Chairman of the London Society for Teaching and Training the Blind and for nearly forty years a teader of voluntary work amongst the blind. (An account of his life appeared in The Beacon, February, 1927.)
The Greater London Fund extended the scope of its work and was registered as a separate charity, administered by representatives of the National Institute for the Blind, National Library, the London workshops, and county borough associations within twenty miles of Cross. The Harry Weedon Memorial Fund was inaugurated by the Greater London Fund for the Blind in compliance with wishes of the Printing and Kindred Trades Blind Aid committee, to perpetuate the memory of Mr Harry Weedon, its late Secretary, who was to a large extent the founder of the Blind Aid Committee. The purpose of the fund is the relief of blind printers and other persons reported from time to time by the Blind Aid Committee to the administrators of the Greater London Fund. The Committee has been a generous supporter of the Greater London Fund since The National Institute for the Blind opened a Hostel for seven blind women at 13 Oval Road, NW.
Manchester
Henshaw’s Institution carried out large extensions to their premises, Hayesleigh.
Music
A complete exposition of modem Braille Music Notation (1922 revision} entitled “Key to the Braille Music Notation”, 1922, was, published in Braille by the National Institute for the Blind, and in ink-print by Messrso Novello & Co.
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
Royal Victoria School added a wing at a cost of about £8,000, increasing the dormitory accommodation by 28 beds to a total of 145; play hall, reading room, etc., were also pro- vided.
Northampton
Northampton Association Workshops were greatly enlarged.
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire County Association was dissolved, and the work taken over by the Royal Midland Institution, Nottingham.
Periodicals
“The Braille Radio Times”, the first wireless journal in the work for the blind, published weekly, was produced by the National Institute for the Blind.
Pontypridd
Pontypridd and District Institution for the Blind was recognised by the Ministry of Health as a separate and independent body. (in 1930 there were 165 blind persons on the register; 31 were employed in the workshops, 3 were otherwise employed and there were 19 trainees.
Registration
A uniform system of registration was adopted throughout England and Wales to determine the actual and ordinary residence of blind persons for registration purposes.
Sheffield
Sheffield Corporation took over the workshop, sale-shop, home visiting and the care of the unemployable blind. The work of the Sheffield Institution has since then been confined to the school, to social welfare work and the Overend Cottage Homes, Selborne Road.
Swansea
Swansea Institution opened a Hostel and Workshop for blind women at Pentrepoeth Road, Morroston, Swansea. (in 1930 the hostel had 17 residents)
Taylor, H Martyn
Death of Henry Martyn Taylor, JP, MA, FRS, FRAS, FCTB (born 1842), the blind man who founded the Embossed Scientific Books Fund. He was an important member of the Braille Committee, invented useful apparatus for the education of the blind and was a member of the Council of the British and Foreign Blind Association. (An account of his life appeared in “The Beacon”, July 1927).
Towse, Sir Beachcroft
Captain EBB Towse, VC, CBE was made a KCVO by HM the king in recognition of his valuable services to the blind and to the ex-service men.
1928
Advisory Committee
The Rt Hon Lord Blanesburgh, GBE was appointed Chairman of the Advisory Committee on the Welfare of the Blind, in place of the Rt Hon GH Roberts, deceased.
Breconshire, South Wales
The Breconshire Association for the Blind, established a few years previously , ceased to exist. (In 1930 there were 91 blind persons on the register being looked after by the South Wales and Monmouthshire Counties Association for the Blind.)
Brighton
The Barclay Home for Blind Girls purchased the freehold property, 22 East Street and opened a showroom there.
Chester
The National Institute for the Blind closed its Home for the Blind at Hoole Bank Chester and moved the male inmates to its Home at St Leonards and the females to a new Home at Leamington which was presented to the Institute by Mr JG Wilson of Durham. (In 1930 the future use of Hoole Bank was still undecided.
Chorley Wood
The Sunshine Home for Blind Babies, Chorley Wood was burnt down on 30th September. As a result of an appeal by Sir Beachcroft Towse in the Press, Court Grange, Abbotskerswell, a beautiful house in S Devon, was promptly given to the National Institute for the Blind by the Rev AT Dence. ON 25th October, the babies were moved there. (in December 1930, the babies were moved to Sunshine Home, East Grinstead and the future use of the Abbotskerswell House was undecided.)
Lowe, Arthur L
Death of Mr AL Lowe, MA, LLB, CBE, FCTB (age 66) for many years chairman of the Birmingham Institution and the Midlands Counties Association for the Blind and a member of the Central Advisory Committee on the Welfare of the Blind. (An account of his life appeared in “The Beacon”, September 1924.)
Pontyprodd
Pontypridd and District Institution for the Blind acquired new premises, Holly House, Merthyr Road, thanks to a grant of £25,000 from the Miners’ Welfare Fund.
Reigate
The National Institute for the Blind moved the headquarters of its Home Industries Department from Redhill to Reigate and opened a showroom there.
Ritchie, Dr JM
Ediburgh University conferred the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy upon Mr JM Ritchie, MA, FCTB, Secretary of the London Society for Teaching and Training the Blind, for his thesis “The History of the Education of the Blind.”
St Albans, Hertfordshire
St John’s Guild for the Blind took over the management of St Raphael’s Guest House for Blind Ladies at Blenheim Road, St Albans at the request of the Foundress, Sister Mary Elizebeth SSJD. (in 1930 it had six permanent blind residents and beds were kept for temporary guests of whom there were 26 during the year.)
Tynemouth
Tynemouth Welfare Society rebuilt its workshops.
West Ham, Essex
West Ham Association for the Blind was founded for the registration and general assistance of the blind in the country borough of West Ham. (In 1930 there were 389 blind persons on the register.)
Essex
The Essex Voluntary Association was re-formed and became the Essex County Association for the Blind.
Glasgow
The Scottish National Institution for Blinded Sailors and Soldiers, Ediburgh, opened a branch workshop at 2 Queen’s Street Glasgow. (In 1930, 20 blind ex-service men were employed there.)
Leeds
Large new buildings were provided by the City Council in Roundhay Road to accommodate 200 blind men and women workers and 60 trainees. The cost of the whole scheme, including site, buildings and equipment was £45,000.
London
Captain Sir Beachcroft Towse, VC KCVO, CBE, broadcast an appeal from the BBC Wireless Studio on behalf of the Greater London Fund for the Blind, resulting in donations amounting to £3,143. Mr W McG Eagar was appointed Secretary General of the National Institute for the Blind in place of Sir Alexander Diack who resigned through ill-health. (An account of Mr Eagar’s career appeared in “The Beacon”, June 1928.)
The Macgregor Prize Fund of which the Clothworkers’ Company are the trustees was founded. It provides an annual prize of £4 4s to a blind or sighted home-teacher on the result of a competitive examination. The National Institute for the Blind opened a Hostel at 9 Oval Road, NW for 12 blind women.
Death of Rev HG Rosedale, MA, DD, FSA, FRSL age 65; he was largely responsible for the great growth of the London Association for the Blind and for many of its activities. Captain G Pollard, OBE, the Secretary of the Association who for some years past had been jointly responsible with Dr Rosedale for planning many of the improvements, continued to carry on the work.
1929
Act of Parliament
The Local Government Act, 1929, effected changes in the Welfare of the Blind Grant System, whereby voluntary agencies, after Ist April, 1930, should receive from the County or County Borough Councils the financial assistance hitherto received direct from the Ministry of Health. The Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1929, made similar provisions, but for the purpose of the Blind Persons Act, the County of Kinross was combined with the County of Perth, and the County of Nairn with the County of Moray.
Birmingham
Birmingham Institution for the Blind opened a Home for blind women at Gravelly Hill, North Erdington, named Cowley Home, in memory of its late General Superintendent and Secretary, Mr RG Cowley. (In 1930 there were 17 blind residents.)
Congress
An International Congress in Vienna was organized by Dr C Strehl of Marburg-Lahn, attended by representatives of Institutions and Societies for the blind from about twenty nations.
Edinburgh
The Royal Blind Asylum opened the Thomas Burns Home for Blind Women, to accommodate forty inmates, at Alfred Place, Mayfield Terrace. (In 1930 it had 39 blind inmates.)
Effingham, Surrey
The Royal School for the Blind, Leatherhead, opened a Home for blind women at Effingham. (In 193o it had 47 blind inmates.)
Glamorgan
Glamorgan County Council Institution for the Blind was founded. (In 1930 there were 90 blind pupils--82 elementary and eight technical; two Hostels were planned for the near future.)
League of Nations Report
A Report on the Welfare of the Blind in various countries was compiled by the Health Section of the League of Nations; Mr FR Lovett of the Ministry of Health, London, Go Hawley of the Department of Health for Scotland responsible for the major part of this work.
London
The Association of Workshops for the Blind was formed to promote the co-operation of the workshops throughout country and to help in joint marketing, etc. Dr JM Ritchie MA was appointed its first Chairman, and Captain Willans, DSO, MC (Secretary of the Association General Welfare of the Blind, London), its Hon Secretary. The Metropolitan Society for the Blind was registered as a separate Society, but remained affiliated with the Metropolitan and Adjacent Counties Association for the Blind. (In 1930 there were 6,268 blind persons on the register in the County of London, and 15 in the City of London.)
The Workshop for the Blind of Kent opened an additional workshop in London Road, Greenwich, to accommodate twenty workers.
Manchester
Henshaw's Institution started furniture-making as an additional industry for its blind workers.
Merthyr Tydfil
The Merthyr Tydfil Institution started a Machine Knitting Department and Salesroom at 33 High Street.
Ministry of Health
The Ministry of Health decided to recognize, for grant-earning purposes, a five-day week in Workshops for the blind, the Barclay Workshops, London, having found, after over a year's trial, that the output of work was greater, and the health of the workers better, as a result of the Saturday's complete rest.
Music
Monsieur Raverat arranged an International Congress in Paris to endeavour to secure international uniformity of practice as regards the meaning and use of the actual notation symbols used in Braille music. Mr. PT Mayhew (blind) and Mr. Edward Watson represented Great Britain. As a result of the Congress, uniformity was established in fourteen countries in Europe and North and South America.
Periodicals
The American Foundation for the Blind, New York, published a list of 152 periodicals, produced in different countries—
Chinese Braille 1
English Braille, Grade 1.5 26
English Braille, Grade 2 25
English Moon type 4
English New York Point 7
English Ink-print 20
Esperanto Braille 2
Finnish Braille 1
Finnish Ink-print 1
French Braille 13
French Ink-print 3
German Braille 28
German Ink-print 10
Italian Braille 3
Japanese Braille and Ink-print 1
Mexican Ink print 1
Norwegian Braille 2
Norwegian Ink-print 1
Polish Braille 1
Rumanian Braille 1
Yugoslav Braille 1
”Santa Lucia”, the Braille Magazine started in 1889, was discontinued owing to the death of Miss Hodgkin, one of the Editors. The Teacher's Forum, a bi-monthly periodical in ink-print and Braille, was first published by the American Foundation for the Blind.
Plymouth
The Devonport and Western Counties Association for Promoting the General Welfare of the Blind moved its Home from Manor Lodge, Devonport, to Torr, Plymouth, a large detached house standing in its own grounds, with accommodation for seventy inmates.
Rhondda
The Rhondda Institution started coalbag-making and chair- upholstering as additional industries for their blind.
St Helens
St Helens Society opened new premises built at a cost of £4,500 and comprising commodious workshops, sale-shop, offices, and a large social centre.
Suffolk
The East Suffolk Society and Ipswich Society were re- organized as separate bodies. (In 193o there were 373 blind persons on the East Suffolk register and I27 on the Ipswich register.)
Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex
North London Homes for the Blind moved their seaside branch from Southend to Westcliff--Crowstone Home for the Blind, Chalkwell Esplanade. The new Home was designed to accomodate forty inmates. (In 1930 there were 28 inmates)
Wigan
Wigan opened new workshops to accommodate forty persons. The name of the Institution was changed to Wigan, Leigh and District Workshops for the Blind.
Wireless Sets
"British Wireless for the Blind Fund was established, with the object of providing, as far as practicable, a wireless set for every blind person in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland; President, HRH the Prince of Wales; Hon Treasurer, the Rt Hon Reginald McKenna; Chairman, Sir Beachcroft Towse; Vice-Chairman, Captain Ian Fraser.
An appeal was broadcast, from all stations of the British Broadcasting Company, on Christmas Day, by the Rt Hon Winston Churchill, with very encouraging results. (Mr Churchill broadcast a second appeal on Christmas Day, 1930.)
1930
America
The degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa was conferred by the University of Pennsylvania on Edward Allen, Director of Perkins Institution, Mass, in recognition of nearly half a century's devoted work on behalf of the education of the blind.
Brighton
The Barclay Home and School for Blind Girls built an additional playroom at a cost of about £1,500.
Bristol
The Royal School of Industry opened Southmead House as a Hostel for Technical Students.
Congress
The ninth Congress of Esperantists took place at Oxford, in August. Forty-seven blind members from seven different countries were present.
East Grinstead, Sussex
Frampost, East Grinstead, was purchased by the National Institute for the Blind for £6,500 as a Sunshine Home for Blind Babies, in place of the Home at Chorley Wood burnt down in 1928. The babies were moved from their temporary Home in Devonshire.
Edinburgh
The Edinburgh Society for Teaching the Adult Blind to Read moved to larger premises at 4 Coates Crescent.
Gibraltar
Canon CE Bolam, FR.Hist S (blind), Hon Canon of Lincoln Cathedral, and Hon. Chief Chaplain of the National Institute for the Blind, visited Gibraltar, and formed a small committee with a view to looking after the blind and founding a permanent Blind Society there. The civilian population was about 17,000, and 37 blind cases were already known.
Liverpool
The Catholic Blind Asylum built a large new wing, providing a large playroom, classroom, etc. The cost, including furniture and equipment, was nearly £24,000.
London
In the autumn of 1930 the London County Council a resolution that they would appoint no more blind to their Schools for the Blind. The National Institute for the Blind, the College of Teachers of the Blind, and National Union of the Professional and Industrial strongly opposed the action of the Council, and the National Union of the Professional and Industrial Blind strongly opposed the action of the Council and the matter was subjudice at the close of 1930.
The name of the Metropolitan and Adjacent Counties Association for the Blind was changed to the South Eastern and London Comities Association for the Blind. The National Institute for the Blind started a Museum in the Armitage Hall, at Great Pordand Street. The Museum, although by no means complete, already contains several hundred exhibits of early and modem type, apparatus, games, maps, models, etc, collected from many different countries.
Manchester
Mr WH Thurman was appointed Director and of Henshaw’s Institution for the Blind.
Norwood
The Royal Normal College announced that, since 1901 twenty-nine of their ex-pupils had been awarded the honour of FRCO, and sixty-seven ARCO, besides five first-class and seven second-class music prizes, in competition with seeing candidates.
The Home Teaching Society founded in 1878 was taken over by the Municipal Council.
Periodicals
A Braille monthly edition of Punch was published by the National Institute for the Blind. “The Venture”, a Braille magazine for Scouts and Guides, edited by Miss Jean Robinson “The Venture” a Braille magazine for Scouts and Guides, edited By Miss Jean Robinson (blind) and Mr WJ Merridan of the Royal Normal College, Norwood, was published by the National Institute for the Blind.
Print, Raised
The National Institute for the Blind started a high speed rotary printing press, the first used for embossed type in this country, the output of this machine of 4,000 sheets (ie 16,000 pages) an hour being five times as fast as the platen machines previously in use.
Regional Supervisor
Mr EV Bradshaw, the Secretary-manager of the North Staffordshire Workshops for the Blind, was appointed Joint Regional Supervisor of Blind Welfare in the six northern counties. The position was the first of its kind.
Reigate
The Servers of the Blind League opened an extension of the Ellen Terry National Home for Blind Mentally Defective Children, to accommodate twelve girls between the ages of 12 and 16, the old part of the Home being reserved for boys and girls under the age of 12.
Sheffield
The City of Sheffield opened new workshops for the blind in Sharrow Lane.
Tennant, John
Death of Mr. John Tennant, age eighty-two, Chairman of the Indigent Blind Visiting Society, of whose Committee he had been a member for forty years. He was also Vice- President of the National Institute for the Blind, and one of founders of the National Institute for Massage.
Winter, Miss
Miss Agnes Winter retired from the post of Non. Secretary (Counties Branch) of the Metropolitan and Adjacent Counties Association for the Blind, after over ten years of valuable service. During this period, owing very largely to her efforts, fourteen County and County Borough Associations were started, bringing the total to twenty-three out of a possible twenty-four required to cover the whole of the counties and county boroughs in the area.
Appendix I - The Prevention of Blindness
Abbreviations
c. = circa (about); the approximate date only can be given.
ft. = floruit (flourished) ; the time at which he is thought to have reached his maximum.
P&T = Power & Thompson (Sir D'Arcy Power, KBE, MB Oxon, FRCS Eng, and CJS Thompson, ME), from whose book Chronologia Medics, a number of items have been copied.
Before 3500 BC
PTAH. “Father of the Mighty Fathers,” “Father of Beginnings,” and “Creator of his own Image.” He was the chief god in Memphis, where a magnificent temple was erected to him, and where, with Sekhet and I-em-Hetep, he formed one of the great triad of deifies. His healing powers are chiefly associated with the blind and deaf. (P&T)
2500 BC
PEPI-ANKH of IRI practised as oculist and magician at the 2501 BC court of one of the Kings of the Sixth Dynasty. His funeral “stele” was discovered near the Pyramids of Giza a few years ago.
Fl. 500 BC
Alcmaeon (Alkmaion) Of Crotona, a pupil of Pythagoras, is said to have discovered the optic nerves and taught that the brain was the seat of the intellect lie was the first to extirpate the eyeball. (P&T)
c. 300 BC
Herophilos of Chalcedon (Alexandrian School of Medicine) a pupil of Praxagoras and Chrysippos, and the father of BC systematic anatomical investigation. He was the first to distinguish between the two coats of the eye, and probably the first to describe the lens. (P&T)
c.250 BC
Apollonios of Memphis (Alexandrian School of Medicine) wrote on the pulse, surgery, and diseases of the eye. (P&T)
c.20 BC
Demosthenes the Oculist (Herophilan School of Medicine) wrote a liber ophthalmicus, which was greatly esteemed. (P&T)
c.300 AD
London. Caius Silvius Tetricus, a Roman oculist, practising in London, made preparations for the relief of the eyelids, inflammation of the eyes, and the removal weals from the eyeball; one of Tetricus's tablets of “scented unguent,” impressed with his stamp, was recently discovered fifteen feet below the surface of the soil near London Bridge. The eye trouble prevalent in his day m the Roman provinces was attributed, probably correctly, to the immoderate use of hot-air baths. (See “The Daily Telegraph” 31st July, 1931.)
936-1013
Albucasis, Spanish-Arabian physician born near Cordova. He wrote what was the leading surgical textbook until the time of William of Salicet (1201-77). Among the operations described in it is that for cataract. (P&T)
Fl. 1050
Ali Ben Isa or Jesus Haly (Arabian School of Medicine). Writer of a Book of Memoranda for Eye Doctors, which has been preserved entire. He was the leading ophthalmic surgeon of the eleventh century (P&T)
1284
Venice The Guild of Glass Makers was founded in Venice, providing against the use of glass instead of crystal in the manufacturing of spectacles (roide da ogli). (Prof C Foligno, Magdalen College, Oxford.
1285
Salvino Degli Armati and Spina of Florence are said to have invented spectacles (P&T)
1535 - 1606
Georg Bartisch Surgeon and court oculist to the Elector of Saxony. He was the author in 1583 of The Augendienst, an illustrated book on ophthalmic operations, and a skilful operator on the eye, He distinguished between the various forms of cataract, and operated in many ophthalmic diseases. He sought to show that many of the delusions about witch- craft were attributable to errors of the sight. (P&T)
c.1580
Prosper Alpino, a Venetian, gave the first exact records of the prevalence of ophthalmia in Egypt.
c.1600
Maria Collinet was the first to conceive the idea of removing metallic particles from the eye by means of a magnet. She was the wife of Fabricus Hildanus (1560-1624), a surgeon of Hilden, near Düsseldorf. (P&T)
1688-1752
William Cheselden, surgeon and oculist. Surgeon to Queen Caroline and to St Thomas’s and Chelsea Hospitals, introduced the formation of an artificial pupil by a by a simple incision of the iris made with a needle introduced through the sclera. (P&T)
1705
Pierre Brisseau, of Tournay, Professor at Douay, was the first to demonstrate by dissection the clouded lens in cataract. (P&T)
1724
Operation first performed for the removal of an infected tear-passage of an eye.
1745-1818
Joseph Barth, of Malta, oculist to Joseph II of Austria, the first to give separate lectures on ophthalmology. He founded an ophthalmic hospital. (P&T)
Jacques Daviel (France) introduced a new method of dealing with senile cataract by the removal of the opaque lens (the cataract) from within the eyeball.
1798
Dr Edward Jenner (of Berkeley, Glos.), discovered vaccination as a preventive of smallpox, a disease responsible for much blindness. (In 1849, Dr. Augustin Prichard, Hon Surgeon to the Bristol Blind Asylum, inquired into the causes of blindness of a hundred of the inmates, and found that thirteen had lost their sight from smallpox.)
1804
The Royal London Ophthalmic Hospital, Moorfields, was founded by John Cunningham Saunders, FRCS. It was the first hospital in Great Britain devoted solely to diseases of the eye, and from it has sprung practically every eye hospital and school in the Empire, and the Ophthalmological Society of the United Kingdom. Its Hospital Reports were the first serial ophthalmic publications.
1846
WTG Morton (America) was one of the first persons to use ether as an anaesthetic regularly, although Dr CW Long (America) had made some use of anaesthetics previous four years. The use of anaesthetics made operations to the eyes more practicable. (Although this is the first use of anaesthetics in surgery, Wa T’O (221-264), father of Chinese surgery, said to have used a mixture of Indian hemp and other stances to produce anaesthesia for operating. P&T)
1851
Herman Von Helmholtz (Germany) introduced the Ophthalmoscope, the instrument by which the interior of the eyeball can be seen, and its diseases viewed and identified. An Englishman named Babbage is said to have invented a similar instrument four years earlier, but did not publish the fact.
1856
Von Graeffe introduced the operation of tridectomy for the treatment of glaucoma. This was an epoch-making event, although there have been many improvements in the treat- ment of this disease since.
1865
Sir Joseph Lister (later Lord Lister) introduced antiseptic methods in surgery. (Although this is the first use of antiseptics in modern surgery, Theodorius or Theodoric of Cervia (1205-1298), founder of the surgical school of Bologna, taught that pus was not necessary in the healing of wounds. He ranks as a pioneer in aseptic surgery. P&T)
1879
Albert Neisser discovered the organism--gonococcus--a venereal disease causing many cases of blindness from ophthahnia neonatorum.
1880
The Society for the prevention of blindness and the improvement of the physique of the Blind was founded. (Dr Roth, 48 Wimpole Street, W1 was the Hon Secretary in 1887). (In 1907 Mr H J Wilson wrote : “It is much to be regretted that the Society for the Prevention of Blindness has ceased its beneficial work.” Dr Roth was then dead.)
1882
Crede of Leipzig introduced a method of curing ophthalmia neonatorum by means of nitrate of silver. (Prior to the discovery, about 30 per cent of the pupils in blind schools were there by reason of this disease.)
1883
Heredity. The following are extracts from a paper read at the Conference at York, by Dr Roth, Hon. Secretary of the Association for the Prevention of Blindness--In twenty-one marriages in which one of the parents was blind, there were forty-nine children, eight either blind or some defect of the eye. Dr Daumas, in Paris, found among 1,168 blind, 68 in whom the trouble was hereditary. Stratield mentions a mother who had cataract in her second year; five out of her eight children had cataract in infancy. Cunier has known a family in which, since 1637, that is for 246 years, spasmodic oscillation of the eyeball is hereditary; 125 members of the family have suffered from it.
Regarding consanguinity, an American committee of medical men found in 893 marriages amongst members of the same family, 40 per cent of the children to be deformed or diseased; therefore it is probable that congenital blindness might be produced by a similar cause.
1884
Aurep and Carl Koller of Vienna used cocaine as a local anaesthetic in eye diseases.
The Ophthalmological Society, London, sent a deputation to the President of the Local Government Board, urging him to issue instruction cards to those in charge of new-born children, pointing out the danger of purulent ophthalmia in the new-born and the necessary for prompt treatment.
The request was refused on the ground of expense (estimated at the rate of 2d. a card, or £7,300 a year). This ill-placed economy probably cost the country the maintenance of a large number of blind persons.
1885
The Spectacle Mission Society, London, was founded by the late Dr. Edward Waring, CIE, for providing free spectacles for the poor and aged. Dr Waring died in 189I, and the work was then carried on by Miss C Waring at Sutherland Avenue.
Ernst Fuchs, of Liege, was awarded a prize for the best essay on the Prevention of Blindness, at the fifth Congress of Hygiene.
1886
BABES discovered that the Klebs-Loeffler bacillus was the cause of diphtheria. The use of anti-toxin has saved lives and many eyes, as diphtheria may attack the membrane of the eyelids and eyeballs.
1892
Haab of Zurich produced a giant electric magnet moving particles of iron and steel from the eyes magnets had been of a certain amount of use before.)
1895
Professor WC Von Rontgen’s discovery of the now well- known X-rays was the means of facilitating many surgical operations, including the locating of, and removal of foreign bodies from the eyes. Improvements have been effected in K-ray apparatus by many scientists since its first discovery, notably by Dr Mackenzie Davidson, who, by using the stereoscopic principle made it possible to ascertain accurately the depth of any foreign body within the eyeball or orbit in the part to be operated upon.
1902
The Midwives Act, 1902, made the necessary connection between the public health departments of the State, and the attendants of the newly-born children, which would make any scheme of notification of disease possible.
1905
Schaudinn and Hoffmann, discovered the organism of syphilis (spirochaeta pallida). (Dr N Bishop Harman, in his book published in 1907, stated that 17.6 per cent of blindness was caused by congenital syphilis)
1908
The New York Committee for the prevention of Blindness was formed. (In 1915, it became the National Committee for the Prevention of Blindness, and in 1928 the National Society for the Prevention of Blindness, with a membership of over 20,000)
1909
Stoke on Trent was the first borough to make ophthalmia neonatorum a notifiable disease.
1910
Paul Ehrlich’s researches resulted in the production of salvarsan, the basis of the modern treatment of syphilis.
1911
Ophthalmia Neonatoru was made a compulsorily notifiable disease in the whole of the administrative comity of London. (This brought the total of boroughs and districts where the disease was made notifiable up to 100.)
1914
Colne Society started a School Clinic where 588 children were attended for defective sight.
Ophthalmia Neonatorui was made a compulsorily notifiable disease throughout England and Wales by an order of the Local Government Board. (Dr N Bishop Harman, in his book published 1907, stated that 36 per cent of blindness in LCC Schools was caused by this disease, and that Claisse of Paris considered it responsible for 46 per cent of the blindness there, while in Berlin Katz put the figure at 41 per cent. A later report by Dr Harman stated that between 1914 and 1920 only 11.91 per cent of the 755 blind children in LCC Schools were blind from this cause.
1918
The Council of British Ophthalmologists was formed to act as an authoritative and representative body to assist Government Departments and their representative bodies in the preservation and welfare of the eyesight of the community.
1919
Newcastle. A Doctor was fined £50 for not notifying a case of ophthalmia neonatorum; the child became blind.
1920
The Minister of Health appointed a committee to inquire into the causes and prevention of blindness.
1925
Act of Parliament. By Clause 66 of the Public Health Act, 1925, County Councils and County Borough Councils were given power to make such arrangements as they thought desirable to assist in the prevention of blindness, and in the treatment of persons suffering from disease or injury to the eye.
1929
In eight years the State of Pennsylvania paid out 15,000,000 dollars in compensation, in the metallurgical, electrical, and chemical industries; of this sum, 6,000,000 dollars was awarded for the loss of one or both eyes. (Extract from the daily Press.)
1929
The International Association for the Prevention of Blindness was inaugrated.
1930
The death occurred a Vienna, at the age of seventy-nine, of Professor Ernst Fuchs, the renowned Austrian ophthalmolegist. His treatise on diseases of the eye and that entitled “The Causes and Prevention of Blindness” are standard works, and have been translated into most languages. (See The Times, November 24th, 1930.)
National Ophthalmic Treatment Board. As a result of the recommendation in the Majority Report of the Royal Commission on National Health Insurance, an ophthalmic benefit service was set up, available to all State insured persons.
The League of Red Cross Societies, Paris, published a Report on the Prevention of Blindness, containing statistics and valuable information concerning the number of blind persons, and probable causes of blindness, in most parts of the world. The appalling state of affairs in the Far East is emphasized in a Report on China (1925), by Dr HJ Howard, an oculist with many years experience in that country. He says : “There are probably not less than one-half million of people in China to-day who are blind in both eyes, probably five million more who are blind in one eye, and at least fifteen million who are nearly blind, many of whom will be blind within a few years.” He points out that to the estimate of six million world should be added the much larger group with seriously defective as to be handicapped vocationally, threatened with the ultimate loss of sight.
Attention is called in the Report to the great saving in sight among infants by new methods of pre-natal treatment.
Appendix II - Recommendations of the Royal Commission on the Blind, etc, 1889 (Appointed 20th January, 1886)
State Aid
a) That the provisions of the Education Acts be extended to the blind, and that the compulsory attendance at a school or institution be enforced from 5 to 16, in the following way--
b) The education of the blind in the elementary school should commence at 5, in the infant department, and after, passing through the ordinary standards, the technical or industrial training should begin at from 12 to 14, in an institution or technical school, and that parents should not have the power of withdrawing the children before the age of 16. Such of the blind pupils as show exceptional promise should be encouraged by scholarships to qualify for education at a high-class college. Independently of the position of the parent, a capitation grant, equal to at least half the cost of instruction, should be given to all, in the same way as in ordinary elementary schools. If intended to be trained in music, instruction should be given as soon as possible.
c) Where the number is too small to form a class, or where the child is unable to attend an elementary school, the school board or school attendance authority should have the power and be required (a) to send a child to an institution, and to contribute to his education and maintenance such grant as would be equivalent to the contribution now allowed to be paid by guardians; (b) if there should be no institution available or willing to receive such child, the school authority should have the power to board out the child; or, either by itself or in combination with other school authorities, to establish an institution for the purpose and to educate the child under certificated teachers and proper inspection.
d) That the school attendance should be compulsorily enforced for at least eight years, without any existing limit of distance from school, and power given to the local to pay the rail or tram fare of children when necessary.
e) That the grant on behalf of children whether school or in a boarding school, up to the age of 16, given under the certificate of a properly qualified who should certify the character of the teaching in and the grant should depend, not only on the merits individual scholar, but on the aggregate proficiency blind pupils
Industrial Training
a) That the technical instruction in industrial handicrafts, as well as the educational training of the blind, should be placed under the Education Department; an efficient inspection of industrial work by a Government Inspector would tend to raise the standard of work, and to produce good instead of indifferent workmen, as is too often the case at present.
b) That from 16 to 21 the school authority should power and duty to give to all the necessitous blind grant to maintain themselves while they are learning.
c) That a central shop and workshop for adult skilled workers should be established in every large centre same has not yet been started. But the State should directly subsidize their work, and it should be left benevolence to start such central workshops and boarding houses, where the blind could be assisted to obtain provided with materials at cost price, if they wish to live at their own homes and where they would obtain a ready sale of their work.
d) That the adult blind and those who have become from 21 to 50 should equally receive either help from school authority to learn a trade and to read some in the same way as if they were under 21, or if they passed through an institution, the old pupils should and supervised on the Saxon system, as soon as the be obtained for that purpose, and it should be the inspectors of Institutions for the Blind to ascertain supervision is exercised, and to report accordingly, one of the regulations which might reasonably be imposed by the Education Department as a general condition of the
Pensions
The following recommendations made respecting pensions can be carried out without legislation, viz.--
a) Co-operation amongst all the various pension societies should be established, whereby a united register should be kept of all recipients, and thus the possibility be avoided of undeserving cases being relieved, and of blind persons becoming recipients of more than one pension, except under special circumstances, and with the knowledge of the trustees.
b) The pensions, except for the aged and infirm, should be so distributed as to assist those who are assisting themselves.
c) The pensions should not be given quarterly in lump sums, as they are liable to be wasted and misused, either by the blind or by those who accompany them to the distributor of the money; but they should, as a rule, be paid weekly or monthly, through the agency of either a local magistrate, medical practitioner, or of the parochial clergy or minister, who might from trine to time report on the conduct and deserts of the pensioners.
Teachers
We recommend--
That blind teachers should be placed under the same regulations as the seeing teachers in elementary schools before being allowed to teach, and in all cases should have such sighted assistance as may be necessary to ensure the efficiency of their teaching.
Miscellaneous Suggestions
We recommend--
a) That greater attention should be paid generally to physical exercises and healthy out-door sports, and gymnasia and covered play sheds should be attached to all schools for the blind.
b) That the supervision of the blind at night should be obtained by a sighted officer sleepflag in a cubicle in the same room, or in one with a window looking directly into the dormitory. We attach great importance to this.
c) That there should be some sighted supervision of workshops.
d) That except in special cases, or where music as a profession, or where a pupil is being prepared the liberal professions, everyone not physically should receive manual training.
e) That boys up to 16 should not be employed in with the adult blind.
f) That the management of industrial work should placed on a strictly commercial basis, and if it be found necessary to give any bonus it should be clearly shown in of the institution.
We think--
That the industrial work taught in many of the institutions is not sufficiently practical, and that, the manual dexterity is not sufficiently developed pupils are young.
That there should be greater solidarity among the tutions and interchange of information and opinion then so that they should work harmoniously together; in the management of the workshops each endeavour to up some one branch of work, and purchase from other tutions anything they may themselves have orders for, that this policy should be reciprocal.
we recommend--
That the intermarriage of the blind should be strongly discouraged.
That information respecting the treatment of purulent ophthahnia should be circulated by the sanitary authority or through the post office.
That children with defective sight in elementary schools should be periodically examined by a medical officer, and the use of glasses, etc, ordered, so as to preserve their sight as much as possible.
That greater attention to ophthalmic surgery should be encouraged among general practitioners.
Appendix III - Agenda of Conferences
Agenda of Conference of Managers, Teachers and Friends of the blind (York), 1883 (16th to 26th July)
g) “The Best Means to be Adopted to Enable the Blind to Maintain Themselves,” by Dr Armitage.
h) “The Psychology of Blindness and the Education and Training of the Blind,”by Mr S Nell, Edinburgh.
i) “A Plea for the Higher Culture of tile Blind,” by Mr SS Forster, MA, Worcester.
j) “Industrial Employments of the Blind Working in Institutions,” by Mr W Martin, Edinburgh.
k) “The Sphere of Music in the Education of the Blind,”by Heer Meijer, Amsterdam.
l) “The Duty of the Government and School Boards in the Education of the Blind,” by Mr FJ Munby, York.
m) “Conference of Managers and Teachers of Blind Institutions,” by Herr Moldenhawer, Copenhagen.
n) “Amusements for the Blind,” by Mr W Wood, Sheffield.
o) “The Prevention of Blindness,” by Dr Roth, London.
p) “The Physical Education of the Blind,” by Dr. Roth, London.
Agenda of National Conference of the Blind and their Friends (Norwood), 1890. (22nd to 25th July)
"Primary Education of the Blind," by Mr WH Illingworth, Edinburgh.
"Technical Training and Education as a Preparation for Earning a Livelihood" –
"Handicrafts," by Mr HW Pine, Nottingham.
"Music," by Mr Barnes, Swiss Cottage, London, NW
"Professions," by the Rev SS Forster.
"State Aid to Mind Institutions," by Mr WR Carter, Sheffield.
“Workshops for the Blind,” by Mr W Martin, Edinburgh.
“Assistance to and Supervision of the Blind after Leaving School," by Dr T R Armitage, London.
Agenda of Conference on Matters relating to the Blind (Westminster), 1902 (22nd to 24th April)
"The Higher Education of the Blind," by the Rev HJR Marston, MA.
“Provision for the Instruction of the Blind on Attaining Sixteen Years of Age, and of those Going Blind After that Age having Regard to the Act of 1893," by Rev TW Sharpe, CB.
"Provision for Defective Blind Children," by Mr CS Loch.
"Physical Training of the Blind," by Dr FJ Campbell.
"Professions and Trades Best Adapted for the Blind, including those not Usually Practised, and the Best Means of Helping the Blind to Carry on the Trades for which they have been Trained," by Mr Henry Stainsby.
"Most Approved Methods of Conducting Workshops, Including the Question of Wages and of Providing Lodging Accommodation for the Workers," by Rev St Clare Hill, MA.
"The Need of More and Cheaper Literature for the Blind"—(a) In Braille type, by Mr Alfred Hirst. (b) In Moon type, by Miss Moon.
"Uniform Braille System," by Mr WH Illingworth.
"Provision for the Aged, by means of Pensions, Homes, or Otherwise," by Mr WS Seton-Karr.
"Statistics Concerning Blindness," by Mr R MacLeod, CB.
"Home Teaching Societies," by Miss EN Bainbrigge.
"Greater Solidarity and Interchange of Opinion among Institutions, The Need of a Central Bureau, and Uniform Plan of Keeping Accounts," by Mr WH Tate.
"Prevention of Blindness," by Mr. R. Brudenell Carter, FRCS.
"Intermarriage of Blind Persons," by Dr. Rockliffe.
Agenda of International Conference on the Blind (Edinburgh), 1905 (19th to 24th June)
"The Primary Education of the Blind, and the Blind and Deaf Act of 1893," by Mr H Stainsby, General Superintendent and Secretary of the Institution for the Blind, Birmingham.
"Secondary Education and the Act of 1902 with Special Reference to Education and Training for the Blind Above Sixteen Years of Age," by Mr WH Illingworth, Superintendent of Henshaw's Blind Asylum, Manchester.
"British Braille, and an Account of what has been Accomplished by the British Braille Committee." Report read by Mr HWP Pine, Superintendent and Secretary of the Midland Institution for the Blind, Nottingham.
"The Problem of the Better and More General Employment of the Blind," by Mr C Macdonald, Manager of the Institution for the Blind, Dundee.
"A Central Bureau and a National Register, the Best Means of Bringing Them into Existence, and the Benefits to be Derived," by Mr AB Norwood, MA, Superintendent of the Yorkshire School for the Blind, York.
"The Problem of the' Defective' Blind and its Best Solution, with Special Reference to the Report Issued by the Committee Appointed at the Last Conference," by Mr HJ Wilson, Secretary of Gardner's Trust for the Blind.
"The Outdoor Blind of Scotland," by Mr J Frew Bryden, Superintendent of Mission to Outdoor Blind for Glasgow, and the West of Scotland.
"Boards of Guardians, and their Relation to the Blind," by Mr WH Tate, a member of the Committee of the Bradford Institution for the Blind.
Agenda of International Conference on the Blind (Manchester), 1908 (24th July to Ist August)
"The Housing of the Blind," by Miss IM Heywood, Founder and Hon Secretary of 1gfanchester and Salford Blind Aid Society.
"Technical Education and Employment of the Blind in the United Slates," by Mr E Green, Superintendent of the Missouri School for Blind, St Louis, USA.
"Commercial Training of the Blind in Canada," by Fraser, Superintendent, Halifax School for the Blind, NS.
"Pensions for the Blind by Miss E Massey.
"Recreations for the Blind," by Mr W Littlewood, Headmaster of Wavetree School for the Blind, Liverpool.
"The Blind of France” by Mlle Jacqneline Chevenin, L'Institution Valentin Haüy.
"The Past Present, and Future of the Blind of Japan," by Mr Tadasu Yoshimoto, Tokyo, Japan.
"Psychology of Blindness and Care of Blind Infants," by JM Richie, Henshaw's Blind Asylum.
"The Blind of Ireland and How their Condition may be Improved," by Mr MulhotIand, Mission to Outdoor Blind, Belfast.
"Music for the Blind," by Mr HE Platt, Teacher of Music at the General Institution for the Blind, Edgbaston, Birmingham.
Reports from Secretaries of the Northern and other Unions established since the last conference, including the "College of Teachers for the Blind" and" Superintendents' Association," "Co-ordination of London Workshops for the Blind."
Agenda of International Conference for the Blind (Exeter), 1911 (3rd to 7th July)
"Libraries for the Blind," Paper read by Miss EW Austin, Secretary and Librarian to the Incorporated National Lending Library for the Blind.
"Teachers of the Blind: Their Training, Qualifications, and Reasonable Prospects of Employment," by the Rev St Clare Hill, FCTB, Principal of the Royal Leatherhead School for the Blind.
"A Retrospect of the More Recent Musical Education of the Blind, and Suggestions as to the Future," by Mr HC Warrilow, FRCO.
"After-care, and the Better and More General Employment of the Blind," by Mr H Stainsby, FCTB, General Secrelary to the British and Foreign Blind Association. Informal discussion on matters relative to the Education and Training of the Blind.
"Training in the Requirements of Social Life at Home and in Society, and the Best Methods of Securing It," by Lady Campbell, Hon Lady Superintendent, Royal Normal College for the Blind, Upper Norwood, London.
"The General Pensioning of the Blind: The Raising of National Funds as the Best Way of Solving the Pensioning Problem," by Mr Alrik Lundberg" (Stockholm), President of the Swedish Federation for the Blind.
"Ophthalmia-Neonatorum and its Administrative Control," by Dr George Reid, Medical Officer of Health, Staffordshire County Council.
Lecture by Mr HC Preece (Travelling Secretary to the British and Foreign Blind Association) on "The Comedy of Daily Life."
Agenda of International Conference on the Blind (London), 1904 (18th to 24th June)
"The Work of the Unions of Societies for the Blind in England and Wales: Their History and Possible Developments," by Mr HJ Wilson, Secretary, Gardner's Trust for the Blind, London.
"How to Improve the Attitude of the Public Towards the Employment of the Blind," and "Legislation (Past and Impending), on behalf of the Blind," by Sir Robert Ellis Cunliffe, Solicitor to the Board of Trade; Chairman, West London Workshops for the Blind.
"How to Deal with the Incompetent Blind," by Mr WH Illingworth, Superintendent, Henshaw's Blind Asylum, Manchester.
"Pianoforte Tuning, an Occupation for the Blind, and How to Make it One of the Most Successful," by Mr. PE Layton (Montreal).
"Braille and Its Modifications" by M Perouze, representing the Association Valentin Haüfiy, Paris.
"Work for the Blind in Australia," by Mr. Stanley
Hedger, Industrial Blind Association, Sydney, and Mr. Isaac Dickson, delegate from the Queensland Blind, Deaf and Dumb Institution, Brisbane, and the Royal Blind Asylum, N Adelaide.
"The Elementary Education of the Blind," by Lady Campbell, Royal Normal College for the Blind.
"Some Suggestions on Massage by the Blind," by Mr FR Marriott (Harrow).
"Scouting as an Aid for the Blind to Healthy Independence and Good Citizenship," Captain FP Pierson Webber (Stratford-on-Avon).
"Work for the Blind in Uraguay," by Sefiora T Santos de Bosch, Delegate of the Government of Uraguay.
Work for the Blind in Syria," by Mr Charles Walker, Secretary of the British Syrian Mission.
Brazil: "Work for the Blind in Brazil," by Col J da Silva Mello, Director of the Benjamin Constant Institution, Rio de Janeiro, and Delegate of the Brazilian Government.
“Blindness in Adult Life: (a) The Totally Blind; Partially Blind," by Mr M Priestley, Manager and Secretary of the Royal Institution for the Blind, Bradford.
Russia: "Work for the Blind in Russia," by Mr MJ Koloubovsky, Delegate of the Imperial Government, St. Pefersburg
Denmark: "Work for the Blind in Denmark, by Mr MAF Wilberg (Copenhagen), Delegate of the Government of Denmark.
India: " Work for the Blind in India," by Mr AK Shah, Headmaster, School for the Blind, Calcutta.
China: Lantern Lecture by Mrs Wilkinson, School for the Blind, Foo Chow.
"Work for the Blind in America in the Twentieth Lantern Lecture by Mr CFF Campbell, Founder Editor of Outlook for the Blind (Columbus, Ohio), and Mr OH Burritt, Principal of the Pennsylvania Institution of the Blind.
Untied States: "Sight-Saving and Light Through Work for the Blind," by Miss W Holt, Secretary, New York Association for the Blind, New York.
"The Problems of the Education of the High Myopes and the Partially-sighted,"by Mr N Bishop Harman, 9, RCS, London.
"The Education and After-care of the Blind-Deaf," by Mr WM Stone, Head Master, Royal Blind Asylum and School, Edinburgh.
"Esperanto for the Blind," by Mr W Percy Merrick. "Salesmanship," by Mr PA Best, Managing Director, Messrs. Selfridge & Co, Ltd.
Bibliography
Alston, John: Education, and Employment at the Glasgow Asylum for the Blind (1846).
Anagnos, M:
Education of the Blind (1882)
Helen Keller (1889)
Thomas Stringer, His Development and Training (1900).
Anderson, T: Observations on the Employment of the Blind (1837).
Armitage, T R:
Education and Employment of the Blind (1871).
Condition of the Blind in Great Britain and Ireland (I878).
Bainbrigge, Major-General PJ:
Training of the Blind. Extracts from the Report of the First European Congress of Teachers of the Blind, Vienna (1875).
Barnhill, A: New Era in the Education of Blind Children (1875)
Best, H: The Blind, Their Condition, and what is Being Done for Them in the United States (1920).
Bird, J: Social Pathology: The Blind, Deaf, and Dumb (1862).
The Deaf, Dumb, and Blind: A Letter to Rev R Maguire (1863).
Essay, with Life of James Wilson (blind) (1856).
Blair, R H: Education of the Blind (1876). (Pamphlet)
Hints to Blind Home Students (1877). (Pamphlet)
Bowen, BB: A Blind Man's Offering (1857).
Bull, Thomas: The Sense Denied and Lost (1859).
Carton, C: Establishments for the Blind in England (1838).
Claire JW: The Present Condition and Future Improvement of the Blind (1862)
Courtney, AV: Anecdotes of the Blind (1835).
Dark, S: Life of Sir Arthur Pearson (1922).
Diderot D: Essay on Blindness. Translation published by Dymott (1773)
Downing, James: Life of James Downing (blind) (1813).
Dudley, Charles: The Braille Conscience (1914)
Dunning TJ: Lecture on the Best Node of Relieving the Blind (1866).
Fenn, W: Half Hours of a Blind Man's Holiday (1879).
Fison, Mrs: Darkness and Light (1859)
Foster, SS:
The Future of the Blind (1875).
What Shall we do with our Blind Boys ? (1879)
The Gardner Bequest for the Blind (1880).
Fowler, R: The mental State of the Blind, Deaf, and Dumb (1843).
French, R: The Education of the Blind: An Historical and Critical Survey
Frere, JH: Type for the Blind (184o)
Fuchs, Dr E: Causes and Prevent:ion of Blindness. Translated by Dudgeon (1885)
Gall, J:
Gospel of St. John (for the Blind, with Some Historical Notices Regarding the Origin and Establishment of a Tangible Literature for Their Use (1834)
Account of Glasgow Asylum for the Blind (1834)
Literature for the Blind (1834)
Account of Recent Discoveries for Facilitating the Education of the Blind (1837).
Gordon-Cumming, C: Inventor of the Numeral Type for China (1898).
Gray, J: What is Doing for the Blind? (1862).
Guillié, Dr: Essay on the Blind : The Instruction and Amusements of (1819).
Hammock: Census of the Blind, Deaf, and Dumb (1861).
Hanway, J: Defeats of the Police, etc, with Observations on Mr Hetherington's Charity for the Blind (1775).
Harman, B: Preventable Blindness (1907).
Harris, W, and Turner, M: Guide to Institutions and Charities for the Blind (1871 and 1884).
Haüy, V: The Education of the Blind. Translated by Blacklock (1793).
Hedger, H: Employment of the Blind (1899)
Holt, W:
A Beacon for the Blind Life of Henry Fawcett (1913)
A Handbook for the Blind and Their Friends (1925)
Howe, M, and Hall, F: Life of Laura Bridgman (1904).
Howlett S: "They shall see His Face." Work Among the Blind in India (1898).
Hughes, GA: Punctiuncular Stenographic System of Embossing (1842).
Illingworth, WH: Education of the Blind (1910).
Inchcliff , J: Life of Nicholas Saunderson (1747)
Javal, E: The Blind Man's World. Translated by Thompson (1904). On Becoming Blind. Translated by Edson (1905),
Johns, BG:
The Land of Silence, the Land of Darkness (1857).
Blind People, Their works and ways (1867).
Plain Sermons to the Blind (1853)
Johnson, EC:
Tangible Typography (1853)
MusicaI Instruction of the Blind in France, Spain, and America (1855)
The Blind of London (1860).
The Irish Pauper Blind (186o)
Paris Exhibition, 1867. Apparatus for the Blind, Report presented to Parliament.
London International Exhibition. Official Report on Methods of Teaching the Blind, Deaf, and Dumb (1871).
Annuities to the Blind (1876). Later editions revised by S Johnson (1910).
Keller, Helen:
The Story of my Life (1903).
The World I Live In (1908)
My Religion (1927)
Midstream (1929)
Kitto, J: The Lost Senses (1845)
Klein JW: The Relation of the Blind to the World Around Them. Translated by Taylor (1859).
Knie, JG:
Guide to the Proper Management and Education of Blind Children. Translated by Taylor (1859)
Landeghem, Mrs H:
Charity Misapplied (1864)
Exile and Home (1865)
Lawson, G: Diseases and Injuries of the Eye (1903)
Lettsom, J: Hints Respecting the Employment of the Blind (1801).
Levy, W Hanks: Blindness and the Blind (1872).
Lucas, T: Instructions for Teaching the Blind to Read with the Universal Alphabet (1837),
MacGullock, G: A Blind Mute (1881)
Macmillan, D: Life of George Matheson (1910)
Maguire, R: The Deaf and Dumb and the Blind (1863).
Mannix, JB: Heroes of the Darkness (191l).
Marston, HJ: England’s Blind Sons and Daughters (1881)
Martin, F: Life of Elizabeth Gilbert (1887)
Martin W:
The Education of the Blind: the Adaptation of Froebel's Kindergarten System for the Blind (1881).
Industrial Employment of the Blind Working in Institutions (1883).
Maxfield, K: The Blind Child and His Reading (1928).
Meldrum, R: Light on Dark Paths (1883).
Metcalf, John: Life of John Metcalf (1795).
Milburn, WH: Songs in the Night, in The Rifle Axe and Saddlebags (1857).
Mitchell, A: The Blind, Their Capabilities, Condition, and Claims (1860).
Moon, William:
Light for the Blind (1873)
Consequences and Ameliorations of Blindness (1875).
Moore, E:
Facts and Figures (1864).
A Few Remarks on the Blind Industrial Exhibition (1867).
Munby FJ, and Buckle, A:
Two Reports: (1) On the Articles Exhibited at Blind Institutions at the Exposition Universelle, Paris, 1878; (2) The National Institute for the Young Blind in Paris (1879).
Payne, A: The Education of the Blind, Deaf, and Dumb (1864).
Pearson, C Arthur:
Victory over Blindness (1919).
The Conquest of Blindness.
Plummer, J:
A Blind Inventor, Life of Dr Gale (1868).
Posey, W: Hygiene of the Eye (1918).
Purse, B:
Blind in Industry (1925),
The British Blind (1918)
Rainey F:
The Blind Roman Letter (1893).
Richards, Laura E: Laura Bridgman (1928)
Ritchie JM: Concerning the Blind (1930)
Rocheleau, C and R. Mack: Those in the Dark Silence (1930)
Romaine, J: Eyeless Sight. Translated by CK Ogden (1924)
Ross, GJ: A Working Man's Blindness (1883).
Roth, Dr:
The Present State of the Physique of the Blind (1879)
Prevention of Blindness; a paper read at the Jubilee Celebrations of the Yorkshire School for the Blind, 1883.
Sarcey, F: Mind Your Eyes. Translated by Dudgeon (1886)
Scapini, JG: A Challenge to Darkness. Translated by Helen Keller (1929).
Scott, Miss ER: History of the Education of the Blind prior to 1830. (Pamphlet.)
Sizeranne, Maurice de la:
The Blind as Seen Through Blind Eyes. Translated by Lewis (1889)
The Blind Sisters of St. Paul. Translated by LM Leggatt (1907)
Stainsby, H: The Education, Training, and Employment of the Blind. (Pamphlet)
Stephens, L: Life of Henry Fawcett (1886).
Taylor, Rev W:
The Education of the Blind and the Establishment of a College for those in the Opulent Classes (1859).
Lecture on the Education of the Blind (Transactions of the Royal Institution of Great Britain.)
Short Sketch of the Life of Klein, Founder of the Institution for the Blind at Vienna. Translated by Rev W Taylor (1859).
Report on Printing for the Blind in the Transactions of the British Association for the Advancement of Science (1863)
Taylor, WH: The Taylor Arithmetic for the Blind.
Villey, P: The World of the Blind. Translated by A Hallard (1914). Wait, WB
Wait, WB:
Tangible Music Notation (1873).
The True Structural Basis of Punctographic Systems (1892).
Wilde, WR: Number and Condition of the Blind in Ireland (1862).
Wilson, Henry J: Information with Regard to Institutions in England and Wales (1887-96-1903-1907-11-15-22).
Wilson, James: Biography of the Blind (1838)
Reports of Conferences
1883 - York
1890 - Norwood
1902 - London
1905 - Edinburgh
1908 - Manchester
1911 - Exeter
1914 - London
Articles in books and magazines and occasional papers
Armitage, TR
Piano Tuning as Employment for the Blind (Journal of Society of Arts, January, 1871)
Baker, C
The Blind Essay in the English Cyclopedia, 1859.
The Art of Relief Printing for the Blind. Essay in the Polytechnic Journal, 1840
Blackstock
Plea for the Blind and Reprint of Evidence before Parliamentary Committee of Inquiry into the Working of the Poor in Scotland (1856).
Blair, HR
The Education of the Blind. A paper read at a meeting of Association for Promoting Social Science, at Birmingham.
Buckle, A
Report made to the Managing Committee of the School for the blind at York, on the International Congress for the Amelioration of the Blind, held at Paris in 1878.
Dickens, Charles
Account of the Institution for the Blind at Boston, in American Notes, Vol I (1842}.
Leifde, J.de
An Account of the Blind School at lllzach, near Mulhausen, in The Romance of Chairity (1867).
Prescott, WH
The Blind, in Biographical and Critical Essays (1855).
1774. The Education of the Blind, in The Edinburgh Magazine & Review.
1825. Article in The Gentleman's Magazine, Vol. 95.
1828 Article in The Gentleman's Magazine, Vol. 98.
1828. Blindness, in the Oxford Encyclopaedia, Vol 1.
1833. Education of the Blind, in The North American, Review.
1837. Report on the Alphabets for the Blind in the Transactions of the Royal Society of Arts (by W Taylor).
1852. Report of the Jurors of the Great Exhibition of 1851, on Printing for the Blind.
1854. The Blind, Their Works and their ways. Article in The Edinburgh Review, January.
1860. The Blind Article in the National Review for January.
1863. Article in The Social Science Report for May.
1865. Article in The Quarterly Review, No 236.
Government and other official reports
1873. Census of England and Wales. General Report, Vol 4, page 54.
1876. Conclusions on the Instruction of Blind Children arrived at by the School Management Committee of the School Board for London.
1876. Report of a Special Committee of the Charity Organisation Society on the Training of the Blind.
1879. Statement on the General Question of the Blind, prepared by a member of the Council of the Charity Organization Society.
1883, Census of England and Wales. General Report Vol 4, page 60.
1889. Report of the Royal Commission on the Blind, Deaf, and Dumb.
1917. Report of the Departmental Committee on the Welfare of the Blind.
1922. Report of the Departmental Committee on the Causes and Prevention of Blindness.
1918-19, 1919-20, 1921-22, 1922-23, 1923-24, 1924-26, 1926-27, 1928-29, 1930. First nine Reports of the Advisory Committee on the Welfare of the Blind, Ministry of Health.
1927. Handbook on the Welfare of the Blind, Ministry of Health. 1929. League of Nations Report on the Welfare of the Blind in Various Countries.
1929. Report of the League of Red Cross Societies on the Prevention of Blindness.
General: 1925. Handbook for Home Teachers of the Blind.
Content author: library@rnib.org.uk
Last updated: 20/11/2008 11:13
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