The Women of the Kindergarten for the Blind (Event Video)

Jen Hale, Lead Archivist of the Perkins School for the Blind talks about the remarkable women associated with the Kindergarten for the Blind in Jamaica Plain during the late nineteenth century. The Kindergarten was the first of its kind in the United States and had considerable support from prominent women in the Boston area, including Isabella Stewart Gardner, Louisa May Alcott, and an eleven year old Helen Keller. After opening its doors to students in 1887, the Kindergarten was staffed by several exceptional women and some of the lasting impacts of their innovations may be surprising to audiences.  The Kindergarten for the Blind was located where the MSPCA/Angell campus is today.

This event was held for Women’s History Month on March 28, 2026 at 2:00 p.m via Zoom (and also to an in person audience at the JP Branch Library). Click on the triangle below to watch the presentation. 

Jen mentions Pauline Agassiz Shaw and we have an event video about her: https://www.jphs.org/people/2021/10/21/pas-audio-bkryh-f36ne-zfnby-wal64

You can find maps showing the Kindergarten for the Blind buildings on our Historic Maps page: https://www.jphs.org/maps-new