author
Winifred Holt
1870–1945
Best known for turning personal vision loss into public action, this American sculptor and philanthropist helped change how blind people were supported and trained. Her work led to the founding of the New York Association for the Blind, later known as Lighthouse International.
2 Audiobooks
About the author
Born in New York City in 1870, Winifred Holt was the daughter of publisher Henry Holt. She studied sculpture in the United States and Europe, and before she became widely known for social work, she exhibited portraits, busts, and bas-reliefs.
After beginning to lose her eyesight, she redirected much of her energy toward improving opportunities for blind people. In 1909 she founded the New York Association for the Blind, and her efforts focused on education, employment, and practical training that emphasized what blind people could do rather than what they lacked.
Her work expanded during World War I, when she organized support for soldiers blinded in combat and helped establish lighthouse programs in France. She died in 1945, remembered both as an artist and as a determined advocate whose work shaped services for blind and visually impaired people.