NEW YORK—The Matilda Ziegler Magazine for the
Blind, the general-interest monthly that Helen Keller called a “God
send,” begins its second century of publication this month
with a special anniversary issue.
Ms. Keller made that declaration in a letter published in the magazine’s
March 1907 inaugural issue, in which she also called the Ziegler, as
it is known, “one of the most wonderful boons in the history
of mankind.” This most famous deaf and blind woman gave such
high praise to the magazine because she knew how difficult it was
for blind people to obtain reading matter 100 years ago.
The early 20th century was a time when neither the government nor private
organizations were able to provide much support for the disabled. Of
course, radios, telephones, televisions, computers and the Internet
were years away. With limited prospects for entertainment and employment,
intelligent blind men and women had little to do in the early 1900s.
One thing they could do was read, and the fortunate ones had books
in either the braille or New York Point systems of embossed print.
But one big obstacle stood between the blind and the books they so
enjoyed: money. A book in raised type cost 10 times or more what the
same book did in print.
As the mother of a blind son, Matilda Ziegler was aware of this group’s
great need for reading material, and—as heiress to a baking-powder
fortune—she was in a position to help. In one of history’s
great acts of charity, Mrs. Ziegler decided to use her inheritance
to publish a free monthly magazine for every interested blind person.
Upon hearing about plans for the magazine, thousands of blind people
wrote for subscriptions. Finally, in March 1907, the Matilda Ziegler
Magazine for the Blind came into the hands of its eager subscribers,
instantly attracting attention from the news media and praise from
luminaries. Dozens of
“With
limited prospects for entertainment and employment, intelligent
blind men and women had little to do in the early 1900s.”
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newspaper articles
were written about the magazine, which Mark Twain described as “one of the noblest benefactions” of
his lifetime. Many others agreed with his description, including
presidents Grover Cleveland and Teddy Roosevelt, who both wrote
congratulatory letters that appeared in the inaugural issue.
These former presidents’ letters will appear once again in the
2007 centennial issue, along with a selection of 1907 newspaper articles
written about the founding
“In one
of history's great acts of charity, Mrs. Ziegler decided
to use her inheritance to publish a free monthly magazine
for every interested blind person.”
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of the publication.
The 100th anniversary edition also will contain some items of
interest reprinted from Volume One, Number One, of the Ziegler
Magazine. In addition to a letter from the eloquent Ms. Keller,
there will be “current” events
from 1907, and a poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, “This,
Too, Shall Pass.”
Every issue of the Ziegler features a Readers Forum, which
usually covers a variety of topics. But the March 2007, Readers
Forum letters are about just one thing: appreciation for the
magazine from its subscribers throughout the world. Today,
the Ziegler goes to 91 countries. ![]()
In the years since its founding,
the Ziegler Magazine has become an institution in the blindness field,
having touched the lives of tens of thousands of blind and visually
impaired people. Thanks to the foresight and kindness of Mrs. William
Ziegler, who established and endowed a foundation before her death
in 1932, any legally blind person can receive—at
no charge—the Matilda Ziegler Magazine for the Blind, published
in contracted braille, on four-track/half-speed cassette, by e-mail,
and online at www.matildaziegler.org
