Maryland School for the Blind history

Frederick Douglas Morrison, a national leader in his profession, began his forty-year tenure as superintendent in 1864.

He was instrumental in the founding of the American Association of Instructors of the Blind; he moved the campus to North Avenue in 1868; and officially changed the name to The Maryland School for the Blind.

He also founded The Maryland School for the Colored Blind and Deaf in 1872 and served as the superintendent of both schools.

1887 Superintendent Morrison is a founder of the American Association of Workers for the Blind.

1906 John Francis Bledsoe becomes Superintendent and served for 36 years.

1907 The School moves to its present location on Taylor Avenue in Parkville.

1909 Newcomer Hall and four cottages are built, beginning the first cottage system for the instruction of the blind.

1924 MSB students begin attending City College and Eastern High Schools, a first in the country.

1952 First deaf-blind student accepted and Boy Scout Troop 710 formed.

1953 Governor McKeldin spoke at dedication of Bledsoe Building and Knefely Gym.

1964 Key Club was organized, sponsored by Parkville Kiwanis Club.

1966 Students began attending Parkville High School.

1970 The Health Center was named for Miss Sallie Mae Bledsoe, a nurse at MSB for 50 years.

That was before the enactment of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act in 1975 that changed the nature of special education across the country by requiring public schools to open their doors to children with disabilities.

1977 Casper G. Sippel Aquatherapy pool is built.

1987 MSB and Greater Baltimore Medical Center (GBMC) began Hoover Low Vision Services.

2003 MSB celebrates its 150th Anniversary.

2004 Elaine Sveen becomes 11th and first female president.

2007 MSB celebrates 100 years in Parkville, MD.

2013 MSB celebrates its 160th Anniversary.

2014 The newly constructed Multiple Disabilities Blind Learning Activity Center and Cottages and the Blanton-Munson Health Center are dedicated.

2015 MSB breaks ground on the new Autism-Blind Learning Activity Center and Cottages.

2016 MSB dedicates the new Campus Athletic Sports Complex which includes beep baseball and soccer fields, a basketball court, sprint track and 400M track.

2018 MSB sets a Guinness World Record for the Longest Marathon Goalball Game (25 hours, 30 Seconds) on December 7-8, 2018.

2019 MSB hosts the first official competitive blind youth soccer match in the United States on Tuesday, September 24 at 1:00 pm with the MSB Bees facing the Virginia School for the Blind Chiefs.