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With An Eye to the Future

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Historical Photographs

Photo Album: 1950s

Pre-teen students wearing costumes use telephones as they act out a scene on stage.
Pre-teen students wearing costumes use telephones as they act out a scene on stage in 1950.
A nurse in a white uniform supports a boy as he learns to walk with braces on his legs.
Braces helped children with cerebral palsy at the St. Paul Rehabilitation Center, 1952. People of all ages with disabilities were assisted at the Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Duluth centers.
A nurse in a white uniform helps a young boy strengthen his leg muscles by placing bean bag weights on his legs as he lifts them.
Learning muscle control was a key skill taught to this young cerebral palsy patient at the St. Paul Rehabilitation Center, 1952. The center received its principal support from Easter Seals.

STAR, June 3, 1953

"New Life for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities – They'll learn work like this at Opportunity Workshop."

Through the doors of a white house in Richfield this fall a group of Twin Cities residents will walk into a new life. They will be young people and adults, and their common bond is the lack of what the great bulk of the population takes for granted – normal mental ability.

In the white house, to be called Opportunity Workshop, these citizens will be given a chance to learn to work. There they will do piecework and woodworking, and be helped to step out into the world of industry if they are capable.

It will be available to people with developmental disabilities coming from any point in the country if their families arrange accommodations for them here. Volunteers will assist in operation of the workshop, and professional advisors will be enlisted to help determine what the person is capable of doing.

Photo of a white house with three people with developmental disabilities in the front yard cutting grass or raking
Some will cut grass and tend lawns.
Photo of two young men with developmental disabilities seated at a table and folding popcorn boxes that will be sold at movie theaters
Some will do piecework, such as folding popcorn boxes.

May 19, 1956

Photo of seven young people standing on a dance floor with their arms above their heads, following the instructions of a woman who is leading them through a series of dance movements
Ballet Stance: Esther Bjerre Bowles, dance instructor, teaches ballet to a class of youngsters with disabilities in Shakopee, Minn. The children, whose IQs range below 50, are responsive to music.

TRIBUNE, Aug 9, 1957

Photo of two kids sleeping on camp beds, with one holding her blanket
Nap time is part of the routine at the camp, attended by the youngsters from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. five days a week. A school bus makes the pickup and delivery circuit.

Nov. 22, 1957

"Help for Ronnie"

The days when the only program for children with developmental disabilities was in state institutions are fast disappearing. Mr. and Mrs. Roy Lawrence, found when they moved to Minneapolis from Kansas City, Kan. several months ago that their eight-year-old son Ronald was not a "forgotten child," thanks to public and private agencies and the Minnesota ARC.

Ronnie is one of the children who is now able to participate in an expanding program for individuals with developmental disabilities. Last summer Ronnie Lawrence attended the Association day camp at Glen Lake.

On Sunday the Minneapolis ARC will conduct its door to door "Friendship Day" campaign for funds to help people with developmental disabilities in Hennepin County. Throughout Minnesota, 16,000 volunteers will be participating in the campaign.

Photo of an 8 year old boy focusing on building a tower of blocks with the help of an adult woman
Ronnie Lawrence Takes Test at "U." Mildred Byrum, Institute of Child Welfare, helps him.
Photo: Larry Schreiber
Photo of young boy setting plates, cups and silverware on table placemats, while his mother watches
STAR, Nov. 23, 1957
Back home helping his mother, becoming a useful member of the family.
Photo: Larry Schreiber
Photo of six students with developmental disabilities being shown how to fold a shirt
1958
Aide Sue Becker talked about sizes of clothes, how to put them on and fold them neatly.

STAR, Nov. 16, 1956

Nine children from the Elliot Park Day Care center – children with disabilities – toured the fire station at Twenty-eight and Blaisdell avenues and had the time of their lives. The tour is an annual activity under Barbara Reuter, director of the center.

Sunday, the Minneapolis ARC is sponsoring a countywide, door-to-door "Friendship" drive for funds to support activities like the Day Care center, a summer camp, education and research into retardation. Purpose of the center is to give the youngsters training in group experiences and to relieve parents of some of the burdens of caring for them.

Photo of a smiling young boy sitting on a fire truck trying on the boots of one of the firefighters, and wearing a helmet with a big number 5 on the front
The boots were a little loose.
Photo: Larry Schreiber
Photo of a smiling young girl with pigtails in her hair – she is wearing adult firefighter boots and receiving help getting her helmet on. However, the child assisting her is putting the helmet on backwards.
And so was that fireman's helmet.
Photo: Larry Schreiber
Photo shows an excited boy about 5 years old, being held under the armpits by the firestation's captain as the boy slides down the pole
Sliding down the pole was a big thrill. Capt. George Gustafson teaches youngster.
Photo: Larry Schreiber
A fashionable woman wearing a striped dress and matching hat stands speaking to a rapt audience of young children who are in cribs or wheelchairs.
Fran Allison visited children at Shriners, 1958. Fran Allison was a puppeteer from the famed Kukla, Fran and Ollie television and radio shows.
A well-dressed woman engages with a large group of children in a hospital ward.
Fran Allison spoke to some of her biggest fans at Shriners, 1958. She devoted much of her free time to mental health concerns.
A band plays as teenagers with disabilities clap and participate in the show.
Boys and girls with cerebral palsy were entertained at a party in the Cerebral Palsy center by high-school kids in 1958. David Hawley, 14, and Robert Pihl, 14, of the Hi-Fis, provided some rock 'n roll while Judy Schaub and Steve Stevens, 18, danced for the amusement of the youngsters, who did not often get out to many social functions for their age group.
1950s