The collection at the newly opened Dennis C. Pappas Gallery at UAB’s Lister Hill Library features important scientific and medical items related to vision and hearing loss.

Notably, it includes the original handwritten notes (above) of Joseph Henry Johnson, M.D., the founder of the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind, dating back to 1855. The gallery also displays original instruments and highlights the lasting impact of Helen Keller, encouraging visitors to learn more about these significant topics.

While Dr. Johnson was inspired by his deaf brother, the idea for the Institute emerged as a direct result of Talladega native Reuben Ashbury’s harrowing experience of imprisonment in darkness during the Civil War. He returned to his community, profoundly changed and determined to dedicate his life to assisting those who lived with blindness.

The UAB Library celebrates this legacy by creating a gallery that is open to the public. It features a fascinating medical display that showcases the innovations in care and support for people with visual and hearing challenges, including rare books, medical equipment, touchscreen technology, and 3D objects.