Photo of Oliver Caswell and Laura Bridgman
From the collection
Laura Dewey Bridgman (1829-1889) lost her sight and hearing as a child due to illness. She was born in Hanover, NH. Bridgman entered the Perkins School for the Blind at the age of eight. Later, she occasionally taught others such as Oliver Caswell (1830-1896), who was also deaf and blind.
The photo itself is not unique to the museum’s collection, as copies of it may be found in other historical collections, including the Perkins School. What makes the history of it stand out is its connection to Westford. Lydia H. (Drew) Morton (1815-1887), briefly of Westford, was one of Laura Bridgman’s first teachers at Perkins. Lydia went to Westford Academy in 1825, attended the Lexington Normal School to become a teacher, and later taught in the Boston area.
The photo was donated by the J.V. Fletcher Library in 1983.
Photo
7 x 5-1/2″
Framed
W.1983.31.12