The extensive collections of the National Archives of the Blind People’s Movement include artifacts, documents, oral histories, and other items which relate to the non-medical aspects of blindness, with particular emphasis on the organized blind movement.
Notable highlights include the personal and professional papers of Dr. Jacobus tenBroek and the National Federation of the Blind’s institutional archives. Our extensive collections cover areas including but are not limited to:
- Leaders in the organized blind movement
- Disability law, advocacy, and policy
- The history of attitudes toward the blind
- Education of blind children
- Rehabilitation methods and practices
- Technologies developed by and for the blind
- Blind achievers in science and the arts
- Fiction with blind characters
- Literary works by blind authors
tenBroek Papers and NFB Archives
What Are the tenBroek Papers?
The most significant single resource of the National Archives of the Blind People’s Movement is the personal and professional papers of Jacobus tenBroek, founder of the NFB.
Dr. tenBroek (1911-1968) was a towering figure in many areas. The NFB as he built it in the 1940s and 1950s adumbrated many of the features of today’s disability rights movement, most importantly by asserting that the blind must speak for themselves as consumers and as a demographic minority that experiences discrimination. A graduate of the University of California School of Law (Boalt Hall), tenBroek earned additional graduate degrees in both law and political science.
His scholarly interests centered on constitutional notions of “rights” and he is credited with helping to refine the idea of rights in the post-World War II era, one of the most famous examples being his 1966 California Law Review article, "The Right to Live in the World: The Disabled in the Law of Torts." In addition to disability rights, his writings have proved central to civil rights law and welfare rights law.
His 1958 book, Prejudice, War, and the Constitution is regarded as the definitive critique of the United States Supreme Court’s decision to allow the federal government to relocate Japanese Americans during World War II. tenBroek served on the faculty of the University of California from 1942 until his death.
As a university professor, he stood strongly in favor of academic freedom, opposing the loyalty oath during the 1950s, and supporting the student Free Speech Movement in 1964. Simultaneously with his social activism and scholarly work tenBroek was a member and, for a period, chairman of the California Social Welfare Board.
The tenBroek papers—consisting largely of typed and printed documents, but with a significant portion in grade 3 Braille—is a major primary resource for research on any of his personal and professional interests.
How to Access the tenBroek Papers and NFB Archives
Thanks to a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (a division of the United States National Archives), we have completed the basic processing of the tenBroek papers and the NFB archives (ink-print and Braille).
THE CANE TIP is currently the database for finding aids that describe these collections.
In addition to access through THE CANE TIP, finding aids for these two collections are available in the following formats:
- tenBroek Papers Finding Aid (Word)
- tenBroek Papers Finding Aid (HTML)
- Guide to the National Federation of the Blind Institutional Records (Word)
- Guide to the National Federation of the Blind Institutional Records (HTML)
Published Materials
THE BLIND CAT is the online public catalog of our published materials (textual and musical). The published materials in our collections include materials in print, talking book, Braille, and digital formats. We encourage users of THE BLIND CAT to let us know of books or other publications that are within our scope that we do not yet own.
Kernel Books
The National Federation of the Blind's kernel book series highlights the stories of blind men and women, and goes beyond sentimentality and misconceptions—to the very "kernel" of blindness.
Louis Braille Book
The National Federation of the Blind is pleased to present the first electronic edition of Louis Braille's 1829 book, Procédé pour Écrire les Paroles, la Musique et le Plain-Chant au Moyen de Points à l'Usage des Aveugles et Disposé pour Eux.
Audiovisual Materials
The National Archives of the Blind People’s Movement also holds—and makes available to researchers—extensive collections of archival photographs, sound recordings, NFB songs, and audiovisual material. At this time there is no public catalog or finding aid for this material. We will, however, happily respond to inquiries by phone or email.
Full-Text Digital Files
We are in the process of providing links from records in our catalog to full-text digital editions of all items that are either in the public domain, or for which we have permission. Since the NFB is an "authorized entity" under the Chafee Amendment, we are able to provide eligible readers with accessible digital files of copyrighted material. Please contact us if you have questions about this program.
How You Can Contribute to Our Collections
We are currently soliciting items related to the organized blind movement. This may include the National Federation of the Blind directly, but may also pertain to personal and professional papers and artifacts of other blind leaders, of blind and sighted inventors who have contributed to the blind, and of blind people in any walk of life.
To submit these documents, please email us at [email protected] or call 410-659-9314, extension 2310. We are also soliciting NFB historical documents from our state affiliates and national divisions, committees, and groups. Please learn more about how you can submit to the National Archives of the Blind People’s Movement.