Dr. S. W. Baker [Warrant]
Name/Title
Dr. S. W. Baker [Warrant]Description
Partially printed: “No.11917 TREASURY WARRANT $24.75 The Treasurer of the State of Texas will pay to the order S. W. Baker Twenty-four 75/100 dollars, out of any any money appropriated by act of Augst 14th, 1856 for Establishg Institute for Blind this amount being for Expenses for ??? of Blind Asylum. Comptroller’s Office, Austin, Mar 29th, 1858 //Jas H Raymond// Treasurer // ??? ???// Actg Comptroller” On verso signed: "S. W. Baker"Context
The Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired was established in Austin by the Sixth Texas Legislature on August 16, 1856, as the Asylum for the Blind, with five members of the board of trustees appointed by Gov. Elisha M. Pease. The first location of the school was the leased residence of Mr. W. L. Hill, west of the University of Texas on San Gabriel Street. That location is now the site of the Neill-Cochran House Museum. Dr. S. W. Baker, family doctor and close personal friend of Governor Pease, was the first superintendent. By 1857, three students were in attendance. Parents of the students paid tuition and expenses, but as needed, the tuition and expenses of the students were met by the school. The second location of the school was Block 71 of the area long known as Little Campus, now Heman Sweatt Campus, at the University of Texas. The main school building is now known as the Arno Nowotny Building. The cost of the new facilities was $12,390.00 and was completed in late 1857.Category
Handbook of Texas Medicine
TSHA Special Projects