Massachusetts Historical Society Helps Cotting School Uncover Hidden Treasures from Its Past

Massachusetts Historical Society Helps Cotting School Uncover Hidden Treasures from Its Past

Cotting School and the Massachusetts Historical Society (MHS) have partnered to preserve a unique collection of historical materials from throughout the school’s rich history and make it available for research purposes. We gathered for a celebratory event at Cotting School on Wednesday, March 15 to celebrate . During the event, we shared this video–featuring George MacConnell talking about his mother and Cotting alum, Alice MacConnell–with attendees.

In addition to a brief presentation that evening on the collection’s importance, some of the most fascinating finds—such as photographs, vocational work samples and educational materials—were on display.
Researchers and academics expressed excitement about gaining access to the Cotting School archive. It will not only play a crucial role in the study of disability history, but also help explain the evolution of special education through methodology and innovation, including different diagnoses, equipment and medical language.