2007.33.94

Background of the Lawrence E. Blaha Memorial Award

Framed, hand inked caligraphic description of the background behind the Lawrence E. Blaha Memorial Award on yellow simulated parchment paper; brown matboard; brown molded wood frame; secured on reverse with steel brads.

H-17.5 W-13.5 D-0.75 inches

ca. 1985

Baltimore, MD

Lawrence Blaha was a pioneer in the field of Orientation & Mobility who began his work in 1948 at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Hines, IL. This award was created as the highest honor of the M&O Division of AER in 1968 and Blaha was the first recipient. This piece describes Blaha's career, the goals of the award, the tradition associated with the award of guarding Sir Francis Campbell's gold-headed cane, and a brief history of Campbell. Prior to the donation of the collection to APH, this plaque hung on the wall of the archives room at the Maryland School for the Blind.

Gift of Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired