may 7, 1840 - THE BURNING OF BRAILLE BOOKS
Description:
The Braille system of writing for the blind was created by Louis Braille, a blind French educator who had studied and taught at the Paris School for the Blind. On May 7, 1840, the school's director, Dr. Pignier, was forced to retire. He was succeeded by his assistant, Pierre-Armand Dufau. Fearing that the new Braille code would subvert the need for sighted teachers at the school, Dufau banned the use of the books by students and teachers. All braille books at the institute were burned. In 1843, Louis Braille returned from a trip to Coupvray and learned of the book burnings.
Sources:
American Foundation for the Blind. "Recognition of the Braille Code." http://www.afb.org/LouisBrailleMuseum/braillegallery.asp?GalleryID=49.
"Louis Braille" in Science and Its Times, vol. 5: 1800-1899. Detroit: Gale, 2000. p. 601.
Added to timeline:
Burned Books
Date:
