The History of Our School

Although there were as many as 8,000 individuals who were blind or living with serious visual impairments in the United States in 1830, many were hidden from view. Thought to be unable to function in society, most Americans were skeptical of educating individuals who were blind or visually impaired. A group of influential leaders from Philadelphia joined forces to in a plan to establish the first school for the blind in America. Through observation of well-establish European schools, they formed ideas regarding the principals of instructing individuals who were blind or visually impaired. This influential group included, John Vaughn, J. Francis Fisher, Roberts Vaux, Bishop White (the founder of Episcopal Academy) and Robert Walsh. 

While this prominent group was busy in its planning phase—J. Francis Fisher had traveled to Europe with hopes of returning with a teacher but instead returned with valuable texts and notes on what he had observed—a young man in Germany, Julius Friedlander, was planning, too. Early in the 19th century, Friedlander, a young teacher of children who were blind or had serious visual impairments, came to Philadelphia from Germany determined to establish a school. Upon his arrival, and after linking up with the several notable Philadelphians who shared his interest, Friedlander opened his school in a rented building and called it The Pennsylvania Institution for the Instruction of the Blind. It was Mrs. Thomas Biddle who helped Friedlander locate his first two students, Sarah and Abraham Marsh. Friedlander dedicated all of his time to their instruction at his residence and these two students became the first official pupils to be admitted to the new school.

In a letter to the school's inaugural Board of Managers in 1833, Friedlander wrote, "At a future time this school will be a noble monument of our age and will secure the gratitude of after generations." 

Though he would die a mere six years later in 1839, Friedlander's school was already well established in a new building at 20th and Race Streets. It continued to grow, offering quality education to the children of the area who were blind or visually impaired.

In 1899, the school was again moved, this time to its present day location at 6333 Malvern Avenue. It was re-named Overbrook School for the Blind in 1946.

Today our campus features include a main building with classrooms, offices, an auditorium and a library. Two separate buildings house programs for pre-school children and elementary-age students. The Nevil Field House contains a gymnasium, indoor track, physical fitness room, and bowling alleys, and our Kappen Aquatic Center houses a world-class swimming pool and was the first-ever LEED Platinum indoor natatorium. Our school cafeteria is located in a modern facility immediately adjacent to the main building. Two recently renovated dormitories, White Hall and Friedlander Hall, are home from home for our students working in independent living skills.  All of the facilities are renovated and updated on a continuous basis. Spacious, well cared for grounds totaling 20 acres surround all the buildings and provide ample areas for play and recreation during students' free time periods. Accessibility is important and the campus is updated on a regular basis.