South America on a cushion for the blind (1900)

Milhaud 2026-02-15
South America on a cushion for the blind (1900)

This piece was possibly created by students at the Perkins School in Massachusetts, USA, around 1900. It shows a particular relief map of South America on a cushion.

Perkins School is an important institution, a pioneer in education for the blind. During the first decades of the school, it was essential to create resources that could bring education closer to the group, despite the lack of investment and resources.

This map is a perfect example. The outline of the continent is traced by means of a rope attached to the cushion with hairpins. The most important rivers (Amazon, Orinoco and La Plata) are represented by a thread sewn onto the fabric of the cushion, and the mountainous areas are symbolised by tacks.

In this series of articles you can read more about maps for the blind and their history:

  1. The origins of cartography for the blind
  2. Braille, Kunz and modern cartography for the blind
  3. The present and future of cartography for the blind

Sources

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