[Nfb-history] Exhibit in North Carolina on education of the blind

[Morman, Ed]

I noticed this announcement on the web and thought this would interest
history buffs out there.  Note how the Perkins brailler is described as
if it's a historic relic, rather than a device still used by many folks
who read Braille.  At least I have seen several people here at the
National Center who use theirs pretty frequently.  And, of course, a new
model just came out in the past couple of years.

 

See below my signature for the announcement of the exhibit.

 

Cordially,

Ed Morman

Edward T. Morman, MSLS, PhD

Director, Jacobus tenBroek Library

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND JERNIGAN INSTITUTE

200 East Wells Street

   at Jernigan Place

Baltimore MD 21230

410.659.9314 x2225

410.685.2340 (fax)

 

There is a Braille literacy crisis in America.  For the whole story, go
to www.braille.org <http://www.braille.org/> .   

 

On Saturday, Jan. 23, the State Capitol will host a lecture followed by
an exhibit tour and reception to celebrate the opening of the historic
site's latest exhibit, "The Education of the Deaf and Blind in North
Carolina." 

"The Education of the Deaf and Blind in North Carolina" features vintage
photos, a timeline, and a device called a "Perkins Brailler," which
enabled one to write in Braille. Visitors can learn how to write their
names in Braille at a special interactive section of the exhibit. 

Previously on display at the Aycock Birthplace State Historic Site in
Fremont, "Education of the Deaf and Blind" will remain on view at the
Capitol through Sept. 7, 2010. The exhibit was created through a joint
effort of East Carolina University's public history program and the N.C.
Division of State Historic Sites. The Governor Morehead School for the
Blind, the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources, the N.C. School for
the Deaf and the Eastern North Carolina School for the Deaf assisted. 

At 2 p.m., UNC history professor Dr. James Leloudis will present his
lecture, "A Classroom Revolution: Public Education and the Making of a
New North Carolina, 1880-1920." Leloudis will explain Gov. Charles B.
Aycock's role in improving the state's education system while examining
the evolution of the system as a whole. Immediately following the
lecture, Dr. Marty Matthews, Curator of Research for N.C. State Historic
Sites, will give a short tour of the exhibit. A reception will wrap up
the event. This free public program is sponsored by the North Carolina
State Capitol Foundation and the Wake County Historical Society. 

The exhibit begins with the introduction of 1840s-era Gov. John Motley
Morehead, an early and committed advocate who pressed the state to
publicly fund the education of visually and hearing impaired students.
As his 20th-century successor, Aycock campaigned on the promise that
schools would be his administration's #1 priority. When Aycock became
governor in 1901, there were just three schools in the entire state
specializing in educating blind and deaf children. 

Shortly after taking office Aycock made good on his promise and pushed
the N.C. General Assembly to boost education funding, including to
schools for the deaf and blind. The exhibit documents the governor's
role in improving educational opportunities for this special population,
along with the evolution of its separate educational system. Today he is
known as "The Education Governor." 

The State Capitol's mission is to preserve and interpret the history,
architecture and functions of the 1840 building and Union Square. The
Capitol is bounded by Edenton, Salisbury, Morgan and Wilmington streets.
For more information, visit www.nchistoricsites.org/capitol/default.htm
or call (919) 733-4994. 

Administered by the Division of State Historic Sites, the State Capitol
is part of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources, the state agency
with the mission to enrich lives and communities, and the vision to
harness the state's cultural resources to build North Carolina's social,
cultural and economic future. Information is available 24/7 at
www.ncculture.com. 

 

 

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