Accession Number: 2017.25.2.1-2
Description: Two glossy, black-and-white photos of Karen Stacy, a Kentucky School for the Blind student, demonstrating how to use the Talking World Book Encyclopedia at the New York press conference where the recorded edition was "unveiled" by World Book-Childcraft International and the American Printing House for the Blind. (.1) Stacy, smiling and standing behind an open volume of the encyclopedia that is propped up on a table, holds open two pages of the volume's large print index, her hands resting on the top edges of the pages; her head is bent slightly downward toward the book. Some of the audiocassette tapes stored in recessed holders inside the cover are visible. Behind her is shelving containing volumes of the encyclopedia and other unidentified books. (.2) Seated at the same table as above, Stacy demonstrates a Talking World Book player that is on the table top. She holds an audiocassette tape in her left hand, just above the tape deck, while she adjusts the Tracks knob on the front of the player with her right hand. A volume of the encyclopedia, opened to braille index pages, is partially visible in the foreground at bottom left. Taped on the reverse of each is a typewritten paper slip identifying Stacy and the context of the photo; slip on .2 is trimmed from letterhead of World Book-Childcraft International.
Medium: Photographic Paper
Print Size: 8" (h) x 10" (w)
Date: 1981
Photographer: Not identified
History/Provenance: On January 7, 1981, a press conference was held in New York City to introduce the recorded edition of the World Book Encyclopedia and the audiocassette player designed for its play, both products of the American Printing House for the Blind. The talking encyclopedia was produced at the American Printing House for the Blind (APH) through a joint project between APH and World Book-Childcraft International, which had freely donated the contents of the encyclopedia for the accessible version. Support for the project had been provided through a $360,000 grant from the U.S. The photos of Karen Stacy were transferred to the APH Museum from the APH Office of the President, where they had been kept in a correspondence folder about the project. They may have been prints of photos that World Book-Childcraft International supplied as part of a publicity kit to its branch managers.
Credit Line: APH Archives
Subjects: Encyclopedias & dictionaries Press conferences Product and market development Publicity photographs