PROFESSOR STEPHEN BABCOCK, Prominent
Educator of the Blind Prof. Stephen Babcock of the New York School for the Blind, a native of Potter Hill, Westerly, RI, died Friday at his home at 48 Livingston Avenue, Yonkers, NY, in his 84th year. Blind himself from the age of 19, he entered the New York school in 1853 as a pupil, later became an instructor, then principal, serving the school until his retirement in 1904. During his term as principal, Grover Cleveland, for a time, served a the secretary. Prof. Babcock is said to have constructed the first raised maps for the blind, still the standard in use. In addition to his main life work, he was prominent in religious activities, acting as Vice President of the Sabbath Tract Society, trustee and treasurer of the First Seventh Day Baptist Church of New York, and trustee of the Seventh Day Baptist Memorial Board. In 1905 and 1906 he was President of the Seventh Day Baptist General Conference. He was also treasurer of the American Association of institutes for the Blind. Alfred University conferred the degree of A. M. on Prof. Babcock in 1902. In the following year He published "Babcock's Genealogy," a work on which he labored for 20 years. He was married in 1878 to Miss Henrietta Van Patten of
Washington, who survives him, besides two sisters, Dr. Lucy A. Babcock of
Alfred, NY and Mrs. Henry Ambler of Chatham, NY. |
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