Kate M. Foley

Born in East St. Louis, Illinois, in 1873, Kate M. Foley lost her sight as an infant and went on to build a remarkable public career at a time when opportunities for blind women were limited. She studied at the California School for the Blind and later became known as a gifted speaker, teacher, and writer focused on the lives and education of blind people.

Foley worked with the California State Library's books-for-the-blind service and became especially well known as a home teacher of the blind. She also helped start classes for blind children and adults, bringing instruction directly to people who might otherwise have been shut out of school and public life. Her career was centered in California, especially San Francisco and Los Angeles, and she became an important voice for blind literacy and self-reliance.

She wrote and lectured about blindness in a practical, encouraging way, sharing both advocacy and lived experience. Remembered today as an American librarian and champion of blind education, she stands out as a figure who helped turn access to reading into a broader fight for dignity and opportunity.