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.

VictorianJamaica Plain Historical SocietyMarch 29, 2026event video, book talk, Firefighters