The Blind History Lady Presents

The first book in a historical series of stories that look back at the day-to-day, lives of the average blind man or woman in the United States over the past two centuries. Learn about the blind persons who had come before, all they had to traverse to live a normal life and to accomplish all they did and with so few resources that the blind take for granted today.

From a single-parent home came a young woman who would not let others’ misplaced kindnesses keep her down. Family and friends all praised Pauline for her intelligence and hard work, but when it came to providing her with a chance at a job, well that was another thing.

Blinded as a child, sent to a school for the blind and losing his father at an early age might have narrowed the prospects for many men. But not Woodlee. Leaving his home state of Tennessee, he left ended up in New Mexico where he set up a small chiropractic business that soon thrived. As a blind man, he wanted access to the same options as his fellow sighted doctors, but it was up to him.

John Brown Herreshoff built all kinds of boats. But he is most remembered for the many yachts that he built that won the America's Cup. Blinded as a teen, he used his love for boats to work through and overcome his blindness. But did you know that he also had several blind brothers and sisters? The other blind Herreshoff siblings were all very different from each other, yet successful.

Edward Campbell became blind while teaching chemistry. But Edward Campbell took a short spring break to deal with the results of the permanent blindness and took back control of his life and his dream.

Blinded as an adult, he felt that he could no longer be a banker, his first profession and chose to follow through on his second profession, publishing a local newspaper. One newspaper lead to another and before long, he was managing several Nebraska newspapers. With no training in blindness, he set out to do the best he could to support his young family.

A story of Gussie Mast and her other disabled siblings go through the changes in the education of the blind and indeed, the education and employment options for the disabled in the state of California from the mid 1800's to the mid 1900's. Although each child in the family presented with the same background, education and support services, little that they were at that time, found very different.

George Tannehill became a teacher at the Iowa College for the Blind in the late 1860's while a student, after losing his vision as a young adult. From then on, he was the math teacher that even his sighted peers in education wished they could be. His blind students were far better at college level math than most in the state of Iowa. George also was a politician, community builder and leader.

Albert Gonzales came from a family that touched much of the New Mexico History from the 1850's on up through today. Albert, a blind attorney, and much, much more left his mark in New Mexico history with some of his legal cases involving Julius and Ethel Rosenberg and Reies Tijerina. Blinded in an accident, he discovered that any help or support for him as a blind man was almost non-existent.

He wanted to be a singing cowboy on the big screen. He became the cowboy on the little screen throughout Texas in the early 1950s and became a childhood staple for more than two decades. Yet very few knew he was blind for more than a decade! Even after Don came out about his blindness, Don worked hard to minimize who knew.

Monroe Fox lost his eyesight when his ship was hit the night before D-Day. His life was changed forever. Learn how Monroe dealt with his rehabilitation, his transition back to civilian life and the building of his future in Chama, New Mexico.

Blinded at age 13, John faced a fierce battle to receive an education as a blind youth in his home community. As an adult, he met prejudice and roadblocks to enter college, graduate, find employment as a teacher and acceptance in the state of South Carolina. Because of his own experience with discrimination, John developed a strong vision of a quality education for all, no matter what.

A boy from McIntosh, MN begins to lose his sight. His father enlists the help of his fellow doctors to save his vision. After two years, they conclude that Karsten will be blind for the rest of his life. Everything must change, but what are the best paths to take? This book travels with Karsten as he becomes a blind man, makes choices, second guesses himself and finally learns to trust himsef