Report of the Board of Trustees of the Georgia Academy for the Blind, 1897-1898

GA ,E'f~/).13 Lf A/
/9'17- ? 9"
t,

MI HA AH GUILLA .

Forty-Sev nth nnual R port
OF THE
TR TEES
OF THE
GEORGIA
ACADEMY FOR THE BLIND
M co J, G .,
TO THE
GOVERNOR OF GEORGIA.

TRUSTEES:

B. C. MITH, Preside1l!,

CHARLES E. CAMPBELL, Sec. & T,'eas.,

T. D. TI:'<SLEY,
JOH L. HARDEMA r,

A. L. MILLER, THOS. . CON OR,

GEO. B. JEWETT.

MACON, GA.: PRESS OF smTII & WATSON,
1899

OFFICERS A D TEACHERS.

w. D. WILLIAM, PRINCIPAL.

WHITE DEPARTME T.
MISS ELIZA RAN,
School Matron.

DUDLEY WILLIAMS.
Assistanllo the Principal and Teacher in 'choot Deparlmeul.

J. J. B RKS,
Director of Music Department.

MRS. R. W. IAcDO",ELL,
reacher of :\[usic.

MISS EM~'IA JO~ES,
Teacher in School DepartJueut and Supen7 isor of r..ittle Girls.

O. W. TAFF,

W. H. CHILD ,

\ . J. JOHN ON,
Assistant Teachers iu School and Music Departments.

Mrss MARY WILLIAMS,

J. W. WILLIAMS,

Pupil Assistant Teachers.

B. A. JOH STON,
hopl11asler and Cnrpenter.

DOMESTIC DEPARTMEI T.

MISS MARY CAMPBELL,

MISS BELLE CAMPBELL,

MISS EVA ARMSTRONG,

\V~r. F. HOLT, 1\1. D.,
Physician in Charge.

A. W. CALHOU , 1. D.,
Oculist.

COLORED DEPARTME T. w. S. CARGILE,
Teacher of :\tusic.
B. H. WOODWARD,
Teacher in School Department and Shopmaster.
MRS. NA CY WILLIAMS,
)latron.

REPORT OF PRESIDE T.
GEORGIA ACADE;\IY FOR THE BLl:-<D,
IACOX, GA., Q\'ember 1St, r898.
Hon. Eillen D. Candler, Goz'ernor oJ Geo"gi~:
DEAR SIR: I beg to hand to you the Annual Report of the Principal of the Georgia Academ) for the Blind for the year ending September 30, I 98.
This report will furtlish your Excellency with a running account of the \York of the In titution during the past year. You will ob en'e that a large fraction of the annual appropriation ha been devoted by the Board of Trustees to the making of certain repairs and improvement that ha\'e been pres'ingly nece, ary, The Trea urer ha hown to the Trea ury Department, in the report he i required to make each month, the direction taken by the amount that ha. been u eel for purpo es outside of and beyond the sum consumed by the Principal in the maintenance of the Academy in its u ual work. By economizing a much as pos'ible, the Board ha been able, during the past year, to place in the two departments of the In ,titution certain appliances that ha\'e, for a long time, seem d urgently needed. \Ve have put up a Haxton Boiler for the heating of the Boys' Dormitory at the \"\; hite choo\. Thi' furni hes all the heat needed in that hou e, bnt we ha\'e found that the most of thi heat fail to affect the building in the lea t, owing to the fact that the old piping, used before the introduction of the new heater, doe not furtli'h ufficient radiation. Here i involved another laro-e expen. e that the Board will have to meet a oon as finances permit; the need would have been met when the boiler was put in if we had had er:ough money. Another improvement that the Trustees have introduced, i: the arrangement for lavatorie in the \Va h-rool11s of the l\Iain Building at the White chool. This improvement entail' a great expense, but the re ult of the inve tment i a perfect satisfaction, a the wash-stand and the sanitary connections are unusually good. \Ve ha\'e al 0 introduced into

GEORGIA ACADEMY FOR THE BLI~D.

5

the Colored Department new and atisfactory apparatus for bathing and water-closet purposes. I may also mention the inside blinds that we have placed in the Main Building; they have improved the building very much, and have replaced out.. ide blinds that were very objectionable as to looks; being old and dilapidated, the old blinds were al 0 a constant danger, frequently falling, with heavy weight, iuto the play yards below. A certain portion of the fund at our dispo. al has been u ed in repainting all the buildings, an investment that was very much demanded. There yet remain many repairs and improvement to be made, and the Board will attend to these needs a. it is able to do 0, making the the desired expenditures from the remnant that is left after the maintenance account is settled for each year. I would suggest, however, that this process re.quires a stinting in maintenance that doesn't work the school proper any good. The needed repairs have been mentioned by the Principal in hi annual report; I have only to add to what he has said, that the Trustees d~ire to make, as so::>n as convenient, certain reforms in the dormitories; better beds and better bedding are needed. The Board al 0 wishes to place, ill the Main Building, some new and very much needed bathing appliances.
We have been visited during the past year by Committees from the Legislature and from the Governor; these vi 'itors have expressed themsdves as pleased with our management. Consequently, I suppo e I may say that our school is in good condition. At any rate, I trust that the deep interest felt in this work by the Trustee is not totally in vain.
With sentiments of respect, I have the honor to be, Very re I ectfl1lly, BE C. SMITH,
Pres't BOG1'd of Tntstees, Ceorrria Academy for lite Blind.

6

FORTY EVENTH AN1\; 'AL REPORT.

REPORT OF PRI CIPAL.

To the BOa1'd of Trustees of lite Georgia AcadelJl)1 lor tlte Blind:
GE 'l'LEl\IEr : I herewith present to you m~' Annual Report, the same to be embodied in the report that you are accustomed to end to the Governor, and to is ue for publication and di tribution. Much of what I hall iuclude in this annual tatement is already familiar to you; neYertheless, I take the liberty of putting such matter into the rep n, since its publication may prove informing to any who wi b to know omething of the condition and work of this Institution during the past year. For the conv =nience of th03e who chance to look over the report, I shall place the contents, as far a: po:sible, into distinct. ection. , and into tabular form.

RECEIPT A D DI B RSEMENT .

RECEIPTS.
Checks for maintenance and p'y-roll from Treasnrer...................... 16,741 37

D[SB RSE:UEXTS.

Expenditure -\Yhite DepartmenL

[4,311 02

Expenditures-Colored Department................................ 2,3~9 80---- 16,660 82

Balance

. &> 55

EXPEXDIT 'RES CLASSIFIED

alaries of Officers and TeAchers

" 5,264 2

Housekeeper, Seamstress and \Yatchman

.. 8 00

hop Master and Carpenter

. 360 00

ervants' hire

. 1,575 90

Postage, tationery, Telegrams, Telephone, etc . 90 25

Travel, Carriage hire, Drayage, Freight, Express, etc 29[ 08

chool Expen. es, Books, Typewriters, Appliances, etc 19 1 03

Music, Instruments, Tuning and Repairs

. 16[ 00

\Vorkshop Expenses, Broom Materials, etc

. 125 32

Pupils' Clothing, ewing Material, etc

.. 512 64

House Furnishing aucl Domestic Supplies

. 34 51

Fuel, Lights and Water Supply

.. 1,025 83

Provisions, Pantry upplies, etc

. 4,461 32

Insurance

.. 600 3[

Printing

.

Infirmary Supplies, ~Iedicines, Denti t, Special Med-

55 30

ical Attention, etc

.. 379 65

Current Repair of Property

. 330 40- 16,660 82

GEORGIA ACADEMY FOR THE BLIND.

7

Our entire appropriation is 20,000.00. The amount shown in my classification denote what ha been expended for maintenance alone, the balance of the entire amount having been used by the Tru tees for repairs and improvements of a larger kind than could fall within the limits of what i meant by the term maintenance. The above tabulation exhibit the many and various directions taken by the funds at hand for our apport, and hews the kind of expenditures nece sitated in an in titution having the parpo e that prevail in a school for the blind. Our expense per capita fo.r the last year has been 150.90. This sum is small, comparing what our school receives with the amounts given to such institution by the other State (with one or two exceptions) in the South. Still, if we continue to :-eceive $20,000.00 per year, our maintenance per capita will be materially increased when the Tru tees hall have completed the many repairs and improvements that, for two or three years yet, will con ume a large portion of the appropriation. I would respectfully suggest that our pre ent maintenance funds, while sati fying
for our present basis, would carcely pay for the progressive
methods and appliances, as well a the improved hou ehold facilities, that are found in the better schools for the blind in the
outb.

P P1LS.
The following table presents a few interesting facts concerning the pupil of the Academy for the year just passed, the details of wbich 'extend from my la t Report to the pre ent date:

Pupils enrolled . . . . . . .

117

Pupils in White Department

96

Pupils in Colored Department.

2I

Special Mu ic Pupils. . . . .

5

Pupils admitted . . . . . . .

17

umber of Pupils dropped from Roll, having ceased attendance 4

Pupils completing the eight years' limit . . . .

9

Pupils dismissed for bad conduct . . . . . . .

2

Pupils granted continuance beyond eighth years.

3

Average age of Pupils . . . . . . . .

12

Pupil totally blind . . . . . . . . .

70

Pupils \,.. ith sight insufficient for reading

14

Pupil able to read, but not under normal condition

21

Pupils able to u e eyes for reading under normal conditions 12

8

FORTY-SEVE TH ANNUAL REPORT.

The above list of fact points to certain conclusious that our experience in the work of the Academy makes more evident than such inferences can be, perhaps, to those who are not immediately connected with this kind of e tablishment. I beg leave to indicate them:
I. The number sho',,,n on our roll of pupils is by no means an indication of the blind iu our State who should be in the school. The last United tates Census shows that there are 1.446 blind persons in Georgia; it is not without reason to conclude that our roll does not represent the percentage that belong to the ages iucluded within the limits which permit admi sian into the Academy. Just here is one of our most serious and difficult problems-the finding of the children who should be deriving the benefits offered them so generou ly by the Legislature. Our usual efforts to procure these children-our frequent exhibitions before trangers and various conventions visiting our city; our distribution of our annual reports and specimens of the print used in our school; our large amount of circular and personal letters to all kinds of people, county officers, ministers, teachers, editors, etc.-do not seem to attain the desired results, and at time, seem entirely devoid of any returns. One plan remains for bringing the Institution directly to the needy ones, and that consists in frequent visits, by the Principal, or his assistants, to localities and gatherings where one is most likely to hear of or find blind persons. This method was followed in our establishment in the days when it was easy to obtain passes over the railroads; in recent years the method has seemed too expensive, though a return to the plan at prt"sent appears to be advisable, in spite of the expense invohed. The kindness of our State should not be extended in vain.
2. The average age of our pupils is not low enough. To benefit the blind child as far as po sible, it is wise to get it into this Institution as soon as practicable, e pecially where the parents are not able to give the child necessary attention. The difference in results when pupils come to us early and when they come late is very great.
3. To those not immediately in the work the large per cent. of our pupil who are part'ially blind seems strange. The fact that these cases of partial sight are so numerous denotes a kindness on the part of the State that not the greatest number of people know of. Our school does a work of prevention of blind-

GEORGIA ACADE IY FOR THE BLIND.

9

ness, as ,yell a a work of instruction among its pupil vVe have children in the Academy who are 011 the verge of absolute blindness, yet are ahle to use their eyes normally. This element of our service to the deficient in sight is of very great importance. till our term to seeing applicants are very strict, our endeavor being to prevent any 1t1lt"OIlSciO/lS imposition on the part of tho.e wllO do not understa nd the lim its of ad mission. Certifica tes of an undeniably sound and satisfactory character are required before the applicant is admitted. In spite of the terms, however, the utllllber of our p~rtially blind is on the increa e.
A superfici~l table Of the causes of blindne s among the pupils may prove interesting to ome; questions as to the e causes are frequent from visitors to our place. 'The follo"'ing enumeration i exact, though not at all pretending to be technical or penetratively minute:

Pupils congenitally affected . .

40

Pupils affected from sore eyes .

29

Pupils affected from accidents.

16

Pupils affected from fevers . .

7

Pupils affected Irol11 mea les

7

Pupils affected from meuingitis

4

Pnpils affected with cataract

5

Pupils affected from catarrh

Pupils affected from paralysis of optic nerve

2

Pupil affected with granulated lids

2

Pupils affected from maltreatment .

Pupils affected from unknown cause

2

Pupils affected with astigmatism

The above indicates to what extent blindness, in our 0'>' 11 case, has been due to avoidable causes; to show this is my purpose in recording this rough list, gathered from the pupils them-
selves. CO RSE OF INSTR CTION.

COMMON CHOOL DEPART lENT.
FIRST GRADE-Reading, Spelling, Writing, Primary umber Study, Primary Nature tudy, Primary Geography, Recitations, History Stories.
SECOND GRADE-Reading, Spelling, Writing, Number Study, Primary Lessons in Language, Primary Nature and Geography Study, Recitations, History tories.

10

FORTY-SEVE TTH AXNli L REPORT.

THIRD GRADE-Reading, Spelling, Arithmetic, Language Lessons, Elementary Hi tory of the United State, Geography and ature tudy, Recitations.
Fa RTH GRADE-Reading, Spelling, Arithmetic, Elementary History of Georgia, Language Le on, Geography and ature tudy, Recitations, Typewriting.
FIFTH GRADE-Language Le. sons, ature tudy, rithmetic, Hi tory of the nited tate, Geography, Recitation, Word Stndy, Typewriting.
IX1'H GRADE-Compo ition and Word Study Arithmetic, History of the United State:, Geography Physiology, Recitations.
SEVENTH GRADE-Rhetoric and Word tudy, Algebra and dvanced Arithmetic, General History, Physical Geography, Phy 'ic , Recitations.
EIGHTH GRADE-Algebra, General History -and Government Stndy, Chemi try, Animal and Plant Stndy, Recitations.

;\IUSIC DEPAR1')IEN1'. Indi\'idual lesson on piano, organ, violin, flute, O'uitar and mandolin. (The in trument adopted with each pupil is a matter that i left to the di cretion of the Director, who decides from the tandpoint of the pupil's proficiency and the wi. hes of the pupil' friend.
Cia s instruction in vocal mu. ic, clas inging, etc.
Training in orchestra.
Cta s instruction in harmony, thorough bass, etc.
tudies in the history of music.
Reading and \\iritinO' of point type mu ic, and training in the use of ink print music.
I DUSTRIAL DEPARTl\IEwt. Instruction and occupation in caning chairs, making brooms and
mattr,=ss-making.
In truction and occupation in ewing, knitting, crocheting, etc.
I place below a table howiug the work done by our pupil during the past year; thi table records the number of pupils engaged in each tudy and branch:

GEORGIA ACADE~1Y FOR THE BLIND.

II

COl\Il\IOX SCHOOL DRPART:\IENT.

Geography.

Arithmetic.

Algebra ..

History-Elementary nited States.

Adyanced nited tates

Primary tories frOUl .Hi tory.

Langnage and Composition

Reading

.

Writing-Script . . . .

Point Type ..

Type Writing

Physiology . . . . . .

Chemistry . . . . . . .

General Elementary Science.

Primary ature tudy

Physical Culture .

Speaking

Special Map tudy

4 94. 17
23
21
19 .81
.48 16 16 .42 15
7
22 18 14 .65 16

l\IUSIC DEPARTMR T.

Piano.

93

Organ.

52

Violin.

17

1andolin

6

Cornet

Flute . .

2

Guitar

14

Theory of Mu ic

59

Orche tra . . .

9

Writing of Point Type 1Iusic

.24-

inging Clas es and Sacred Chorus

.90

I DUSTRIAL DEPARTMENT.

Sewing and Jeedlework.

35

Chair Caning

18

Broom Making.

12

Mattress Making

12

In addition to the detail named in tbe abo\'e list, I might al 0 mention as having been very effective for good the following

12

FORT"\:- EVE~TH :<, AL REPORT.

features that are prominent in our school work. I ag-ain enumerate the pupils who are engaged in each:

The larger boys' club, "The Social and Literary Society II . IS

The larger girls' clnb, "The' tile et Dulce' Society I)

. J7

The Sunday singing cla ses

73

The Sunday School. . . . .

74

CO:"DITION OF SCHOOL.
I am glad to be able to report that the school departments are in good condition. Those who are entrusted with the details of the different parts of the work are vigilant, intere ted. and thoroughly competent. The chool is, I am persuaded, accomplishing its purpose, this purpose bein<Y to give each pupil such tra'inillg and such instruction as will fit him for usefulne. sand self-support in the day when he shall have gone out into the world to care for him el f. I regret that, as ti me goes on, it become more and more dIfficnlt to tate definitely that the part of our work that is iutended to furnish the blind man or woman with a ure means, as well a a convenient method, for elf-support can be regarded as prorl1ising anything certain. Our graduates do (in most case) make a li\'il1g through the mean provided in our workshop and in our lUU ic department; but competition along all lines of work is becoming 0 severe in our country, that I am no longer able to say that our school can guarantee its pupils a liying. But my faith in the blind per on' capability to earn his living i in no way decrea ing. Those in our country who are closest to the blin a a class, because of intimacy with the work of their education, and becau e of sincerest sympathy with them, unite in aying that a greater respon ibility rests upon in titution for the blind than e\'er before' not a responsibility to provide definite prep:lration for labnr of any detailed, pecific killd (such as ha been hereto implied in all such departments as broommaking and mu ic), but a re ponsibility ~o roundly and broadly, as well a thoroughly, to develop the blind pupil, that he may go ant into the world and find for him 'elf the particular direction in which he shall find seIt'-support. In other words, instead of preparing the pupil imply to make broom or to teach music, it i fast becoming the duty of the school for the blind to give the pupil such a training and de\'elopment as will fit 1.im for any work he may chance to find at hand. feding- of independence and necessity for individual enterprise i . something that must be more and more

GEORGIA ACADEMY FOR THE BLThTJJ.
developed in the child's mind and heart. The better and more fully endowed institutions in our country are 'ol\"ing the problem by placing in the schools just such appliance and such methods as will meet the desired result, namely round development and sense of individual responsibility; they have introduced gymnasiums, manual training departments, more occupations for girls, and such other methods as may suggest themselves a suited to the purpose. At the 'ame time, the officers and teachers in all of our schools are trying to remo\e from the pupil'. mind the impossible idea that the blind person can, except in rare case, accumulate money. They are trying to lead him to see that any work he may find at hand, and usefulness in any direction that pre ents itself, are the surest introduction to succe s of the better kind. Without permitting the blind man's natural optimism to be touched in the lea,,;t, our schools are trying to show him that his work in life consists simply in recognizing the obstacles in hi' path and in overcoming them with persi tent'good sense and se1fadaptation to circnmstances, and that thus, only, shall he win the confidence of his more fortunate fellowmen. Just here it may not be out of place to say that the blind man's greatest obstacle is the lack of confidence on the part of seeing persons, who, because they are not acquainted with him and his ability, fail to give him the opportunity that would be the most positive and mo t practical sympathy that the sympathetic seeing person could bestow upon the unfortunate brother.
The particular directions in which this school seems to be most on the road to improvement are better organization; profitable changes in hours 01 work; the illtroduction of teacher. ' meetings; better co-operation among those engaged in the work, more nearly perfect sllpervi ion of the pupils at their individual tasks; better text-books; clearer and more practical conceptions of respon ibilities in the pre ence of chungin conditions in the blind person's economic 'world; and the introduction of better appliarl'Ces and apparatus. Within the past year we have been able to introduce a more systematic plan for regular examinations in the clas es. The typewriter, too, is increa ing facility in school \vork and serye a practical function in giving a new emlloyment to the pupils. Dining the year we have begun a sy tem of fire drills, that will, it is hoped, have a good effect in training, as well as be a necessary precaution.
Our school is not without great needs, some of which seem

14

FORTY EVE TH AN UAL REPORT.

imperative. We are in need of two or three alobes that will be adapted to the use of our clas es. \Ve need more writing boards and we are also in need of improved slates for our mathematical work. Anot\~er of our needs i a collection of objects that may be used profitably ill our nature study work; at present we have almost nothing that can be u ed to help our younger pupil to get a closer contact witb the life de 'Cribed in the books \\'e use in tbe nature cia. e'. Finally, we need in our in titution one of the tereograph that are proving so helpful in most of the other blind chools of our country; thi machine i one that perform tbe very helpful and economical proces of furni 'hing the chool tbat use it with printed matter a it i needed from day to day, and this service it does at a phenomenally 10,\\' co t; it u'e increases the facilities of the school department many fold.
Our teacher' are the same as heretofore, with two or three exception. The death of 1i Hannah Guillan made vacant a place that ha been filled by the election of 1iss Eliza Ruan, of
lacon, to the po ition of chool Matron. Tbis lady promi'e to become a valuable member of our household' she man ife ts a keen sen'e of what is required of one ",'bo bolds the important po ition she is to fill, aud her apparent ympathy with the cbildren in her charge is intellioent and propitiou of much genuine good. We ba\'e al 0 10 t by death anotber of our teacher, !is Belle Roberts, of Macon. She was one of our own graduates, and possessed rare promi e as a teacher of mu ic. Being one who had, from a little girl, been a member of the hou. ehold, and being an unnsually amiaule per 'on, her death has been a peculiar arief to the choo!.
DOMESTIC DEPARTMENT.
Concerning this ide of our institution, I have simply to ay that it has been managed, during the pa t year, with the ame care and effort after wise economy that ha\'e prevailed ill the year gone by. The ladies who have the hou e and home arrangements in charge are the same as heretofore, no changes ha\ ing be~n nece:sary in thi part of the \york. They are ever vigilant, and never forgetful of the comfort ancl welfare of the pupils, and eek trenuou I)', within the :trict economy demanded of us by our limited maintenance funds, to provide as comfortable a home for the children as pos. ible. Without luxuries, our chool furnishes it inmates with a saue a diet, as healthful a chedule of life and habit, and a free a home as cim be demanded by anyone who

GEORGIA ACADEl\lY FOR THE BLIND.

15

ha the true interest of young people at heart. The health of our pupils has been very good during the past year, a fact that is due, in no mall degree, to the con tant attention that is given to their health-all the slightest tendencies to ickne s that.betray themselves being arre ted as .oon a detected. I must commend ju t here the dilio-ent supen'i 'ion of tho e in our school, who e duty it i. to watch the children and preserve a caution again t di ea e. It i not out of place to. peak, in thi connection, of the great 'ervice rendered our hou 'ehold by our phy ician, Dr ~, F. Holt, who take the keenet intere t in the \yelfare of the pupils, and i unremittingly prompt and ready with his kind, as \yell as kiIlful, attentiou to the children when we haye occasion to make calls upon him. His visits are frequent and his concern for the sanitary conditions of the place are unceasing. He has been the chool's physician for over eighteen years, and the history of his relation to the place is one that is full of disinterested benevolence. His intimate knowledge of the con titution of the blind as a class is a po se sion that is very valuable to the school.

PROPERTY.
Our property cannot be said to be in a perfect condition, though the Tru tee. are devoting both attention and money to makino- all repair and improvements that are needed, The inside blinds, recently placed by them in the Main Building, add greatly to the appearance of the place. The boiler that ha bEen put in place for use in the T ew Buildino- will be a very superior and . atisfactory addition to the comfort of the pupil in that hou e. There i not, ho\yeyer, ufficient radiation in the building to make the heater ati 'factory for the purpo e ill\'oh'ed; 0 many of the room in the new building are bare of piping', that it i impo ible for the boiler to give heat ufficient; the bedrooms are totally without heat. TlJe Board intend dealing with this problem as.oon a the finances will permit; it is to be hoped tlJat the time will not be long in coming, as the need is pre sing. The painting of the Main Building and of the New giyes a better appearance; the same may be said of the Colored School. I must not omit to speak in the highe t and 11I0St appreciative 'v\ ords of the new wash-basin arrangement that haye been placed in the ~ hite
chool; they are light, trong, and conyeuient; the cement floor in the wash-rooms i au economical and cleanly improvement. The wa h-room arrangement and the tubs placed in the Colored

16

FORTY-SEVENTH AN VAL REPORT.

8::bools are equally good; the same may be said of the closets placed iu the yard at the same chool.
At present we have several needs in respect to our property; it "viII ~ake no short time to supply them all, depending, as ,ye are doing, upon a balance from the maintenance expense of the Academy. Om roof on the Main Building is in a wretched condition; our yard needs a thorough system of urface drainage; the workshop, a new roof, as do also two of the outer hou es on the lot. We need to spend more funds in putting the grounds of the Academy in better condition as to appearance; it has been a long time since any expenditure for this purpose has been made.

MISS HA NAH GUILLAN.
I canllot clo e my report without speaking of the death of our former Matron, MissHannah Guillan, who left us on the first of June last. Her death was an unspeakable grief to om household, and the remembrance of all the qualities of her nature wherein he was great and of all the days in which we were blessed with her presence, her influence, and her continuously effective labors, bring' ever fresh grief to our heart in realizing that she is no more arnona- us. The Board at one of its meetings shortly after her death requested me to prepare for their Minutes some memorial words, which at a later meeting they adopted and hwe placed in the records of this meetiug. The members of the Board suggest that I place in this annual report a copy of the words that I wrote for the memorial. I take a sorrowful delight in consenting to tile uggestion, feeling glad that I thlls have an opportunity to expre s in a public manlier the appreciation of Miss Gnillan that has grown out of my contact with her dnring the forty years of my relation to the school as Principal. I herewith gi':e a copy of the Memorial:
At your la t meeting I was reqne. ted to prepare a memorial note for your Minutes, of the death of Mi s Hannah Guillan, but such were the long years of intimate business association between us, so much mutual appreciation and re 'pect, and so much cordial goodwill and help subsisting between us in the common work, that I admit much weakness on my part in undertaking to perform this request.
Miss Hannah Guillan was born in England. In early life she lost both of her pareuts, and was sent to thi . cou ntry to some people living in the mouutains of Penn ylvania. The people

GEORGIA ACADEMY FOR THE BLIND.

17

thoughtless of the care and tenderness due the little orphan girl, endeavored to bring her up in menial work, and early put her to do the milking for the family. In doing this work she was exposed to the inclement climate, her eyes became affected by the intense cold, snows, sleet, and bleak winds, and she lost one eye, the sight of the other also being nearly destroyed. In this conditIOn a traveling preacher found her. He had some knowledge of the Institution for the Blind in Philadelphia, and took her as soon as he could to Philadelphia, and placed her in the care of Mr. Friedlander, the superintendent of that then young institution. There she grew up and became highly educated. She was early given a place as subordinate teacher in that school, in which place. he showed great talent and made a succes. One of her schoolmate, Mr. . S. Fortescue, founder of the Georgia Academy for the Blind, as soon as he had seen the Academy established by a charter of incorporation, knowing the aptitude of Miss Gnillan for the instruction of the blind, sent for her to come to Georgia, and gave her the principal place of teaching in this institution. She had ambition for an independent place, and accepted this offer. The PenD ylvania trustees did not want to give her up, but finally" yielded with great reluctance," as Dr. Breck, the president of the Board once said to me. Mi s Guillan reached Macon Feb. 22, 1852. On that day she found plenty of work to do. Mr. Fortescue had gathered a few blind youths and children into the institution, these she proceded to organize into a school, taking charge of them, and putting them to work. Thus she was engaged for more than six years. In this time the school had more than four principals, and was for more than one year without a principal. Hence I have often spoken of her as the life and soul of the Academy for the Blind in Georgia.
Miss Guillan's peculiar talents seemed to be intuitive. As a teacher, she \Va unexcelled, she was gifted in the power of organization in all the scheme of the work. Her greatness was especially displayed in the graces of her character and in her fine literary tastes. She wa a devoted Christian, with a mother heart for the young, abounding in acts of charity and benevolence, zealous of doing good, but modest to a fault. Here she was loved by the entire household, and her death on the first of June was a sad bereavement, lamented by all wlio knew her.
In the above words I have sought to say just what most impressed me in her work in our school. But it would be impos-

I8

FORTY-SEVE. TH A J VAL REPORT.

sible to say bow mucb of good she accompli. bed along the lines on which she worked. The expre sions that have come "to us from her old pupils and her intimate friends at a distance. come nearest expreSSill<T the great value her life was to those who came within tbe range of her influence and bei- actual work. These letters from her old pupils seem to me to be the most fittiug tribute to her great goodness. They suggest the kind of immortality that she most de ired. Those \\"bo have in such numbers written to us concerning tbeir old teacher bear witbin their lives and hearts the evidences of a life that cannot fail of coutinuance.
W. D. WILLIAMS,
Principal.

GEORGIA ACADEMY FOR THE BLIND.
REPORT OF PHYSICIAN IN CHARGE.
To the President and Board o( Tru tees oj tIle Georgia AcademJI for tlte Blilld:
GE TLEl\lEN: In. ubmitting my report for the year ending September 30, 1898, I am gratified to state that there has been no epidemic or contagious disease in either scbool during the schoo lastic year, yet I regret to report the death of one of the female adult pupils from Cerebral Congestion on January 27, of the present year. Early in ovember I found that eight (8) white pupils and one (I) colored had never been vaccinated. The Bovine Virus was ordered and at this time every pupil in both the white and colored school bas been vaccinated.
The sanitary condition of tbe main building is good, ) et I would suggest that better ventilation be secured in th~ sleeping apartments, (which can be done easily and without much ex pense) by placing ventilators in the ceiling-thereby greatly adding to the comfort and health of the inmates. In the play ground on each side of the main building, \-yater stands after rains, keeping the ground damp and disagreeable, . urface drainage would effectually rem'dy the defect.
I would again caIJ attention of the Board to the heating of the colored school. The present method is a complete failure and we have had to fall back upou the original grate which are utterly inadequate to heat the rooms and building, to say nothing of the danger ot fire.
The sanitary condition of the colored ..chool bas been greatly improved by the additions ordered by your Board.
Respectfully submitted, \\ ILLIAM F. HOLT, Physician ill Cllarge.
Macon, Noyember 29, 1898.

20

. FORTY-SEVENTH AN AL REPORT.

CIRCULAR.
GEOR.GIA ACADEMY FOR. THE BLIND.
FIRST. This is an InstitutiolJ, as its corporate name implies, for the education of the blind youths of the State. It is not, therefore, au as),lu1Jl for Lite aged and Lhe helpless, nor a hospital for the treatment of eye diseases.
SECO D. The Academy comprises two departments, one for whites, and one for colored. These department, although connected under the same management and superintendence, and conducted on the same system of instruction and government, are located on separate lots distant from each other, and have no internal cODnection other than that named.
THIRD. rhe course of instructioD and training embrace : I. The School, in which blind children and youths are instructed in all the branches of English, taught in the common schools of the country. 2. Department of Music; in which Vocal and Instrumental fusic is taught in connection with the following iu trumellts: Piano, Organ, Guitar, Violin and Flute. 3. The Department of Handicrafts; in ",..hich the blind are trained to indn trial work, and taught trades by which they can earn a livelihood for themselve .
QUALIFICATIONS FOR ADMISSION. 4. The Academy receives into its 'chool Department such youths, male or femaie, as are hopelessly blind, or incurably blind to that degree which pre\'ent education in the ordinary method, between the ages of eight and twenty-one years, of sound mind and free from bodily disease, and of good moral character and habits. It is de 'irable to have 011 the points of health and vision the certificate of a physician.
TERlIlS OF ADMISSION. 5. Those of this State having the requisite qualifications, ar.e taken without charge for Board and Tuition, being supported

GEORGIA ACADEMY FOR THE BLIND.

21

upon State appropriation. The applicant mu t furnish proof of citizenship and residence of two years in this State immediately previous to the time of application. All are expected to come provided with a supply of good comfortable clothing, to be replenished by their frie'nds, or means provided therefcr, from time to time, as it becomes necessary. And also all traveling expenses.
6. Blind men, not too old to learn a trade, will be received as Apprentices, in tile Department of Handicraft, on tbe same terms as pupils are received into tbe Lhool.
7. If a pupil or apprentice hall, after a fair trial, prove incompetent for useful in truction, or disobedient to the wholesome regulations of the Academy, or in anywise an unfit or improper subject for retention in the Institution, he or she will be discharged.

The Annual School Term Begills in September, and Ends in June, According to Previous Notice Given.
8. Pupils admitted at any time. All persons are requested to send to the Principal the names and addres es of hlind children known to them, with a statement of their circumstances, so as to enable him to form some opinion a to their fitness for admission into the Institution, and to assist in putting him in communication with their friends.
The information sought may be conveniently given in simple an 'wers to the q ne tion appended, in form, to this Circular, which, although no form is prescribed, may be used as a form of application for admi. sion.
g. Pupils from other States may be taken upon such terms as the Trustees may accept.
10. Persons bringing pupils to the Institution, or visiting them while there (except upon special occasion) cannot be furnished with board and lodging- during their stay in the city.
II. All letters to pu pils should be addressed to the care of the Academy, and all boxes or packages sent to them should have transportation prepaid, and be carefully consigned and safe delivery provided for.
12. Parties making application for the admission of pupilS, should make true answers to the questions subjoined, and procure the certificates required, and forward the same to the Principal, and the pupil in no case should be sent to the In titution before

22

FORTY-5EVE TH AN J AL REPORT.

the application has been favorably con idered and the admission

granted, and tlle parties duly notified of the same.

Address,

W. D. WILLIAMS, PRINCIPAL,

GeOlogia Academy for tlie Bti1ld, Ma.co1l, Ga.

To the Principal of the Georgia Academy for the Blind.
The following case i reported with a view to its admission into the Institution you represent, if adjudged a proper subject:
I. arne and age of the blind person? 2. ame of parent or guardian, with Post Office address? 3. Bliudness, wllether total or partial? 4. Cause of blindness, if known? 5. Has tlle hlindne s been examined by physicians and pronounced incurable? 6. Is the person of sound mind, and susceptible of intellectual culture? 7. Also of good character and habits? 8. Also free from disease that wil1 interfere with instruction or incommode the household? g. What provision is made for clothing? ro. Give the name of the party who obligates himself to take care of the pupil during vacations, and remove the same at any time should nch removal be required, without charge to the Academy? I I. Is the applicant white or colored?

GEORGIA ACADEMY FOR THE BLI~D.

23

ROLL OF PUPILS.

WHITE DEPARTl\1E~T.

Nallle.

ADA:lIS, EMMETT

BARKSDALE, ROBERT

BARRETT, ARTH R

BARRETT, JOHN

BARRON, BARNIE

BAUGH, BELTO

CAI.DWELL THOMAS

CARROLL, ROBERT

CHILDS, JIl\IMIE

COOPER, \\ILLIE

COUCH, FREDDIE

CROFT, JOHN

CROW, Roy

Do 'EHOO, PA L



D MAS, ROY

GRIFFIN, GEORGE

HARBETT, CHARLIE

HOSCH, O~'fER

KENT, ERNEST

KING, NICHOLAS

LANDR M, jOH T

LAWRENCE, JOHN

LOCHLEAR, CHARLIE

McKAY, WILLIE

lARTIN, JOHNNIE

lATHE\YS, JIMMIE

MILLER, ROBERT

PAYNE, ELBERT

REDDING, ALBERT

REEVES, CLA D

ROBINSON, ADRIAN

ROPER, EDWARD

Ro NTREE, WELBO RNE

SAPP, RALPH

APP, \VALTER

SCHWARZ. FREDDIE

SHIP, ALTON

SIDER, CLAUDE

S JDER, JERRy

SNIDER, PATMA<

TAYLOR, EDWARD

THOR TON, CLAUDE

MAI.ES. ,

County. l\1ontgomerv
Hancock Dawson Liberty Forsyth Hancock
Bibb DeKalb
Glynn \Valtol1 Clarke Colquitt Fultol1 Fultou Monroe Appling
Elbert Jackson Richmond l\lcIntosh
Fulton Twiggs Paulding
Bibb Bibb Bibb Fulton Coweta Bibb Frilton Pike Pickens Emal1uel Dodge Dodge Chatham Coweta Schley Glascock Glascock Chatham Webster

24

FORTY- EVENTH A"'NUAL REPORT.

\VELLS, THOMAS WILLIAMS, JOHN W

Bibb



Pike

/I'allle. ADA)IS, KEVADA BARRON, CORA BRADI.EY, E 1.AI.A BIRD, lHAGGIE BowIE. \Vil,LTP. Bo TW};I,1., ROSA BELT BEGGS, MA)II E BRO\\'N, SIE BURNHA~I, DonE CAGLE, SEVILLA CARROLL. AN:-;IE BEU CLARKE, jAKlF. EDWARDS, )lARY ERWOOD, )IAv FENN, DAISY GAINES, LELA GEORGE, ENNlS HARRIS, PEARL HEL)IS, OLl\IA HINES, EGG ENJA HINDSMAN, BELVA II GHES, BER'fHA
ITTNER, JAXlE
JACK~ON, Lo JSE HOLMES, PEARL JOHNSON, MATTlE JONES, GERTRl'DE JONES, l\'[ADIE Jo ES, :\IATTIE KEI.SIE, ETHEl LITTLEFIELD, B NA l\IARTIN, Hll.Vlm MATHEWS, DAiSy PEACO K, PEARL PEACOCK, ADIE RICE, LUCILE ROBERTS, LA RA SANDERS, J NIE
API', CARRJE SCHWARZ, ANNIE SHORT, DORA
J1\[O)/'s, MAETIE BEI.L RRENCY, ALICE
THORl'TON, SALI,m \\"ATSON, LJI.LIE

FE)IALES. :

:

COli II ty. Walker For. yth Tattnal1 Decatur Elbert Bibb Bartow Bulloch Dodge Pickens DeKalb
Montgomery Bartow Fulton Fulton Bartow FultOll Harri Floyd Harris Coweta
Richmond FUItOll Bartow Fulton tewart
Rockdale jones Hall
FultOll Bartow !\'[orgall Fulton Telfair Telfair Fultol1 Echols Elbert Dodge Chalham Clarke Muscogee \\a)'ne \\eb ter \\'alker

GEORGIA ACADE:.\lY FOR THE BLI~D.

WHITSITT, HATTIE
\\'II~I.rA~IS

Fulton Bibb

1\ame. ROBERTS, BELr.E i\IcCAY, KATrE JOIolNSon. WILLIAM CHILDS, HO,\fER T AFF, WESLEY

SPECIAL M SIC PUPll~S. :

( 'O U l l / V . Bibb
Fulton :.\Ieriwether
Glynn Muscogt'e

1\'!Z1ite.

COLORED DEPART~lE:-;T.

i\Iu RO, ANDREWS

Cox, BELLE

EVANS, JOHN

GrvENS, IE LISSA

HOWELL, HENRy

TACKSON, JAKIE

JACKSON, JOHN

JACKSON, ANDRW

La KHART, MOSES _

LUCKY, ESTELLA

MAGBY, L THER

lcI TOSH, Cr.ARA

..

RrCHARDS NORWOOD

ROBr SON, HENRy.........

SlIIlTH, LOUIs

STACEY, ELIJAH

THO;\lAS, PINK.......

..

THUR;\IAN, FLORrDA

WAr.L, NATHANIEL

\VrLSON, JDIMlE

W ANNOCK, L LA

COllllty.

Pike

Fulton

Carroll

Dougberty

Lowudes

Richmond

Iorgan

\Vare

Bibb

Terrell

Meriwether

Elbert

Bibb

.

Crawford

Tattn'all

Brooks

..

Morgan

Fulton

Elbert

Fulton

Fulton

26

FORTY-SE\'E:-<TH AK UAL REPORT.

ACK OWLEDGME TS.

We take this opportunity for thanking the following per ons and in titutions for kindnes es willingly and generously be towed upon this school and its officer, teachers and pupils:

An unknown lady of Atlanta, Ga., who, on Chri tmas day,

remitted to me the um of ~oo to be used by me in helping our

pupils in and way I should see mo t fit; and to whom our Board

of Trustees and our entire hou ehold desire to expres herewith

the highest arpreciation of a genero ity and ympathy so free

and.o practically helpful.

Wesleyan Female College and Mercer University for special

invitations to their public entertainments.

Mr. Wm. Wade, Oakmont, Pa., who has kindly lent our

pupils certain books to read, and who ha' given the school an

annual subscription to Popular Science.

Those railroad of our State that ha\'e gi\en us reduction in

railroad fare.

The Macon Telegraph and Atlanta Con titution for reduction

in subscription price.

The following papers that have been ent to us free of charge:

Christian Observer, of Louisville, Ky.

Christian Index, of tlanta, Ga.

Wesleyan Cbri. tian Advocate, of Atlanta, Ga.

Colorado Index-Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind,

Colorado Springs.

West \ irginia Tablet-We t Virginia Schools for the Deaf

and the Blind, Romney, W. a.

Goodson Gazette-Virginia chool for the Deaf and the

Blind.

Philanthropic Index and Review, Kalamazoo, Mich.

Sunday School Weekly (raised pri'.lt), given us by the Society

for Providing Evangelical Religiou Literature for the Blind.

Sunda) School Le on (raised print)-Missouri School for

"

the Blind, t. Louis, 10.

W. D. WILLIAMS,

Pri1lcipal.