Object ID:
2002.120.1a-b
Title:
New York point desk slate
Description:
2002.120.1a - Wooden board: smooth with two vertical rows of 14 holes on the front; wooden clamp at top is attached with brass hinges; two metal pins under clamp help secure paper; "Patented" is impressed in wood, below clamp. 2002.120.1b - Brass slate: not hinged; 3 lines, 52 cells each in top plate; back plate has furrows and two blunt pins on the front to fit in top plate and two blunt pegs on the back to fit holes in board.
Dimensions:
H-13.25 W-11 D-0.75 inches
Date:
n.d.
Made by:
unknown
Place of Origin:
unknown
Provenance:
William Bell Wait, Superintendent of the New York Institution for the Blind, introduced New York Point in 1868 and it quickly replaced line letter in most U.S. schools. NY Point characters were two dots high and of variable width, and could be written using a slate similar in design to those used for braille. Point began to decline rapidly in popularity following the decision in 1909 by New York to adopt braille.
Credit Line:
Museum Purchase, 2002.120
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New York Point desk slate
New York Point desk slate