author
Morrison Heady
1829–1915
Remembered as the "Blind Bard of Kentucky," this remarkable 19th-century writer turned profound disability into a life of invention, advocacy, and storytelling. His poems, songs, and children's books grew out of a long career spent expanding access for blind readers.
3 Audiobooks
The Farmer Boy, and How He Became Commander-In-Chief
by Morrison Heady
The Red Moccasins: A Story
by Morrison Heady
Burl
by Morrison Heady
About the author
Born in Kentucky in 1829, James Morrison Heady lost much of his sight in childhood and later became deaf as an adult. Even so, he built a wide-ranging life as an author, poet, composer, inventor, and advocate, and contemporary newspapers often called him the "Blind Bard of Kentucky."
Heady published children's books, poetry, and songs, and he is also remembered as one of the early American voices pushing for books for blind readers. Historical accounts from Kentucky and the American Printing House for the Blind also credit him with practical inventions and fundraising work connected to blind education and accessibility.
He died in 1915, but his story still stands out for its energy and originality: a writer who kept creating, designing, and communicating despite extraordinary barriers.