Inventing an Accessible World

Items

• What We Make. New York: Sargent Manufacturing Co., 1893.

  This is an advertising pamphlet called What We Make, created by the Sargent Manufacturing Co. in Muskegon, Michigan. It contains pictures and descriptions of mobility devices designed for those with various physical impairments. Sargent Manufacturing Co. sent out this pamphlet for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago with the intention of reaching a global audience.
• Mary J. Rogers letter to Asa W. Slayton

  Various pages of a letter written on aged, white paper in black ink with large, uneven letters. Next to the letter, there is a small envelope with the address written horizontally in black ink and an additional note written vertically by Slayton in pink ink.
• The Life of John Carter.

  A book opened to a white page with one of Carter’s ink drawings in the center depicting Jesus sitting on a box with his head in his hands. He wears only a cloth on his lap and a crown of thorns. There are holes in his shoeless feet. Behind his head are lines depicting light in the form of the top of a cross.
• The life of Sergeant Geo. R. Shebbeard, first defender of his country: Company B, 6th regiment, New Jersey volunteers. Veteran of the Civil war. Accompanied by a photograph of Shebbeard

  Published in 1904, The life of Sergeant Geo. R. Shebbeard is a small, worn booklet with a light brown cover that could easily fit in your hand. This is a first-hand account of George R. Shebbeard, a New Jersey Civil War veteran who suffered an internal injury after falling off of a horse, preventing him from being able to walk. Within are 32 pages detailing Shebbeard’s journey from being ten years old to joining the army, his injury, and then living as a disabled person. Accompanying this booklet is a photograph of Shebbeard himself. At 64 years old, he is a portly man who lays on top of a wheeled cart that is assumed to be his mobility device. On the back is a small sticker that has labeled his name and a two-sentence summary of his story along with the date that the photograph was taken. See the Works Cited page for the full citation.
• Single and Double-Hand Alphabet pamphlet

  The cover page of this undated, yellowed pamphlet states that the authors, husband and wife deaf-mute duo Jo. M. T. Davis and Ada M. L Davis are publishing this pamphlet to provide for their six hearing and speaking children. They write that the least the non-disabled public can do is to buy this pamphlet, as their ability to hear and talk is an advantage over the deaf-mutes. Inside, on the left side is a chart of the Single-Hand Sign Language Alphabet or the way to use sign language with one hand. Correspondingly, on the right side is the Double-Hand Sign Language Alphabet. See the Works Cited page for the full citation.