Samuel Gridley Howe, (1801-1876), was the founding director of the Perkins School for the Blind. He attended Brown University and Harvard Medical School and was a soldier and surgeon in the Greek War of Independence. He is best remembered for his work with Laura Bridgman, a pupil at Perkins who was deafblind and one of the earliest individuals with deafblindness to learn language, and the first American to do so. Howe was a prominent leader in the field of blindness, printing for the blind, and other social justice and educational reform movements in the United States. He was married to Julia Ward Howe, suffragist and author of the Battle Hymn of the Republic. For a more detailed biography read the Samuel Gridley Howe article on Perkins.org

Writings and clippings by or quoting Samuel Gridley Howe, personal papers, correspondence, photographs, artifacts, books and bound volumes, as well as photocopied research materials from a survey done in 2008. Topics include Howe’s work with Greek relief efforts, education of people who are blind, blindness, slavery and abolitionist work, Howe’s travels, and more. Prominent figures are included such as F. B. Sanborn, John Brown, Laura E. (Howe) Richards, Charles Dickens, Edward E. Allen, Laura Bridgman, Marquis de Lafayette, Henry Thoreau, Horace Mann, Charles Sumner, William Longfellow, Edward Jarvis, Florence Nightingale, Michael Anagnos, and others.

Browse all digitized assets in collection

AG18 Samuel Gridley Howe collection

Explore all digitized assets in the Samuel Gridley Howe collection, including text, photographs, and clippings. New assets being added regularly.

Personal papers and correspondence, 1820 to 1870

AG18, series 4, box 12

Correspondents include typewritten copies of 1832 correspondece from Lafayette to Howe. New assets being added as they become available. 

Correspondence to Samuel Gridley Howe, 1838 to 1839

AG18, series 4, box 14

Correspondence to Samuel Gridley Howe written between 1838 from 1839. New assets being added as they become available. 
  • Julia Romana Howe (1844-1886) who married Michael Anagnos, second director of Perkins. 
  • Florence Marion Hall (1845-1922) 
  • Henry Marion Howe (1848-1922)
  • Laura E. Richards (1850-1943) 
  • Maud Howe Elliott (1850-1948)
  • Samuel Gridley Howe Jr. (1859-1863)

Explore some other resources related to Samuel Gridley Howe.

Biographical profile on Samuel Gridley Howe

Article

Read more about Samuel Gridley Howe's life and work on Perkins.org.

Finding aid for the Howe collection in the Archives

Explore the guide to the physical collection

Finding aids are guides to the physical collection that let researchers know the contents of collection.

James W. Trent on his book about Samuel Gridley Howe

Recorded author talk

Video of author James Trent giving a talk about his biography on Howe, The Manliest Man, at Perkins in 2012, on Youtube.

Reading and Writing

Article

Learn about Howe's role in creating a tactile reading system and in creating embossed books in, Reading and writing, an article on Perkins.org

Geography curriculum

Article

Howe knew that his students would need to understand geography in order to function in the world. Learn more about his influence in, Geography, an article on Perkins.org

Deafblind education

Article

In 1837, five years after opening the school, Howe began educating Laura Bridgman, who was deafblind. Learn more on, Deafblind education, an article on Perkins.org