Letter from A. C. Ellis, Superintendent, American Printing House for the Blind, to Robert B. Irwin, Executive Director, American Foundation for the Blind, December 16, 1936. Talking Book Archives, American Foundation for the Blind.
In the 1870s, the American Printing House for the Blind (APH) in Louisville, Kentucky, received federal funding to supply braille books and apparatus for blind students nationwide. Its role as a leading supplier of educational and assistive materials to people who are blind and visually impaired continues today.
In 1936, APH obtained permission to publish books for children in the Talking Book format. AFB helped APH set up a manufacturing plant and both organizations shared technical information. The Library of Congress gave both organizations lists of titles to be recorded and AFB and APH divided those titles between them. The relationship between AFB and APH was productive and friendly, so much so that during World War II, when raw materials were scarce, the two organizations pooled their resources and jointly worked to obtain supplies of Vinylite and other much needed materials.
Full Transcript of Letter
[Transcriber's Note: The following appears printed on the left-hand margin of the stationery:
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
LOUISVILLE, KY
JOHN W. BARR, JR.
E. S. CLARKE
DR. R. A. KENT
R. P. HALLECK
STUART DUNCAN
HARRY DUMESNIL
R. C. BALLARD THRUSTON
MEMBERS EX-OFFICIO
ALL SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS FOR
THE BLIND U. S. A.]
[The following is printed on the right-hand margin of the stationery:
OFFICERS
JOHN W. BARR, JR.
PRESIDENT
JOHN F. BLEDSOE
VICE-PRESIDENT
CITIZENS-UNION NATIONAL BANK
TREASURER]
[Archival stamp on right-hand side:
RECEIVED
DEC 18 1936
EXEC. DIRECTOR]
[The following is printed center on the stationery:
American Printing House for the Blind
INCORPORATED
A. C. ELLIS, SUPERINTENDENT
1839 FRANKFORT AVENUE
LOUISVILLE, KY.]
December 16, 1936
Mr. Robert B. Irwin, Executive Director
American Foundation for the Blind
15 West 16th Street
New York City
Dear Mr. Irwin:
Mr. Carter has just completed the finishing touches on our record pressing plant. While testing out the press he made about a dozen pressings from two masters, one a recording from SILAS MARNER and the other from TREASURE ISLAND. The results were so satisfactory that I am sending you one of these sample records.
You will note that we have tried to produce a light, thin, semi-flexible record. We could, if necessary, make thicker records. It seems to me, however, that everything else being equal, the thinner record would be much more desirable.
We received to-day our first shipment of record stock and are now in a position to begin
production.
Please let us know what you think of a the sample which we are sending you.
With the highest personal regards, I am
Sincerely yours,
[Handwritten signature: A. C. Ellis]
Superintendent
ACE/et
