Given prevailing Progressive Era attitudes towards physcially challenged individuals, the Western Pennyslvania Institute for the Blind (WPIB) was a naturally isolated facility. WPIB was not geographically isolated however, and existed (and still does) in the middle of a busy section of Pittsburgh. We identified the WPIB as a provisional escape community, but the amount of information on the institution during the 1918–1920 influenza epidemic is rather limited.

At a Glance

• Type of Site: Small, co-ed school for blind children in Pittsburgh, PA.
• Population: 179 students; faculty and staff also lived on-site.
• Pop. Density: N/A
• Geographical Considerations: WPIB was an enclave restricted to faculty, students, and known visitors. Visitors were prohibited during the second wave of the pandemic.
• Influenza Cases: 12
• Influenza Deaths: 0
• First Reported Case: Late November 1918.
• NPI Implemented: After several children returned with influenza after Thanksgiving, the school closed for one month (including the Christmas holidays).

Case Study

The Western Pennsylvania Institution for the Blind (WPIB) was chartered in 1887. In 1894 the school moved to its permanent home in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh, a thriving commercial and residential district and the cultural and educational center of the city. In keeping with the school’s mission, WPIB offered academic as well as commercial and industrial training to its students. Now called the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children, this facility remains open today.

The cloistered nature of the institution itself, its relatively small size, and a swiftly enacted protective sequestration policy all contributed to WPIB’s escape of the influenza pandemic, even as the disease ravaged Pittsburgh. Early in the pandemic, school officials announced that visitors would not be allowed to enter the school nor students allowed to go home for weekends. As a result of being effectively shut off from the rest of the city, no cases of influenza appeared in the school during the period of protective sequestration.

Although there is no recorded documentation, we learned from our tour of the extant building and meeting with the facility’s current Executive Director, Dr. Janet Simon, that there were on-site living facilities for the headmaster and his family. In addition, there were living quarters for the faculty and staff members, many of whom, as was the custom of the day, were probably unmarried women and men. It seems likely that the majority of the faculty and staff were placed in protective sequestration along with the students. We did uncover evidence that in the summer of 1918 the school installed a cold storage and refrigeration plant, allowing for the storage of large quantities of food. This may have played an important role in the institution’s ability to seal itself off from the rest of Pittsburgh.

By late November, as the epidemic in the Pittsburgh appeared to abate, the protective sequestration of WPIB was lifted and students were allowed to travel home for the Thanksgiving holiday. Upon their return in early December, however, 12 cases of influenza were diagnosed among the WPIB students. As a result, officials immediately closed the school for one month and scheduled the re-opening for after the Christmas holiday. When students finally returned to school in early January 1919, the epidemic was almost over in the Pittsburgh area and no new cases appeared at WPIB. There were no influenza-related deaths at the school during the second wave of the pandemic.

Research Materials

The amount of primary source material relating to the Western Pennsylvania Institute for the Blind in the 1918–1920 influenza epidemic is minimal. Because it was located in the middle of a Pittsburgh neighborhood, we also conducted research into how that city coped with the epidemic. Digitized sources include:

Newspapers:

• Pittsburgh Gazette Times
• Pittsburgh Sun

Archival Material:

• Western Pennsylvania Institute for the Blind Annual Reports

Pittsburgh Gazette Times

Date	Title	PDF
9/29/1918	News of National Army Cantonments	pgt01
9/30/1918	New ‘Grippe’ Ravages East	pgt02
10/1/1918	Again – the Grip! [editorial]	pgt03
10/2/1918	To Prevent Spanish Influenza Start Using Nostriola Now! [advertisement]	pgt04
10/3/1918	Influenza in the Army Is Waning	pgt05
10/3/1918	Epidemic to Close Schools	pgt05
10/4/1918	Growth of Epidemic Prompts Drastic Order by Dr. Royer	pgt06
10/4/1918	Influenza Vaccine Will Get Severe Test; Doctors to Be Masked	pgt06
10/4/1918	Closing Order Will Be Obeyed in Pittsburgh	pgt06
10/5/1918	Influenza Sweeping Through Nation: Pittsburgh Under Quarantine	pgt07
10/5/1918	All About Influenza Is Told In Free Book Issued by Government	pgt07
10/5/1918	Sunday Gas Lid On Yet Despite Epidemic Plea	pgt08
10/5/1918	Training Corps Placed Under Quarantine	pgt09
10/5/1918	Measures For Those Who Would Not Take Spanish Influenza	pgt09
10/5/1918	Pitt and Great Lakes Won’t Play Because of Influenza Epidemic	pgt10
10/6/1918	Schools Will Help Prevent Epidemic Here	pgt11
10/6/1918	Use Gas Masks to Ward Off Influenza	pgt12
10/6/1918	Quarantine Not Satisfactorily Observed	pgt13
10/7/1918	Health Chief Says Epidemic Here Is Sure	pgt14
10/8/1918	List of Grip Victims Show Big Increase	pgt15
10/9/1918	Officials Plan Hospitals For Grip Patients	pgt16
10/10/1918	Rapid Spread of Influenza in Pittsburgh	pgt17
10/10/1918	Maj. Day Hit by Epidemic He Is Fighting	pgt18
10/11/1918	Larger Death Toll Is Taken by Pneumonia	pgt19
10/11/1918	Liquor Men To Urge Saloons’ Opening	pgt20
10/12/1918	Army Officer Is Victim of Influenza	pgt21
10/12/1918	Surgeon General Blue Gives Advice on Influenza	pgt22
10/13/1918	Deaths From Grip Increase; Fewer Cases	pgt23
10/13/1918	Cases of Grip Increase in Camps	pgt23
10/14/1918	Grip Deaths Increased 10 in 24 Hours	pgt24
10/15/1918	Red Cross Busy in Checking Epidemic	pgt25
10/15/1918	Full Force of Epidemic Yet To Come	pgt26
10/15/1918	Health Board Gives Warning of Influenza Danger	pgt26
10/15/1918	Influenza Closes Schools	pgt26
10/16/1918	Grip Epidemic Victims Now Number 4,445	pgt27
10/17/1918	Fewer Cases of Influenza Are Reported	pgt28
10/17/1918	Heavier Toll By Epidemic in Camps	pgt28
10/171918	Urgent Calls Sent Out by Red Cross	pgt29
10/19/1918	Peak Not Hit By Rising Tide of Influenza	pgt30
10/19/1918	Red Cross Needs 300 Nurses to Fight Spanish Influenza	pgt30
10/20/1918	High Tide of the Influenza Is Maintained	pgt31
10/22/1918	Medical Men Unite Forces to Fight Grip	pgt32
10/22/1918	Health Board Gives Warning of Influenza Danger	pgt33
10/22/1918	City Schools Not Closed by Grip Epidemic	pgt34
10/23/1918	Children Best In Schools, Says Burns	pgt35
10/23/1918	Epidemic Gains In Eight Counties	pgt35
10/24/1918	City Schools Are Closed by Grip Fighters	pgt36
10/25/1918	Real Vaccine For Influenza Will Be Made	pgt37
10/25/1918	Royer Refused Any Easing of Influenza Ban	pgt38
10/25/1918	Fuel Production Hard Hit by Influenza Conditions	pgt39
10/26/1918	Nation Unites With State In Fighting Grippe	pgt40
10/27/1918	Catholic Aid In Epidemic Is Accepted	pgt41
10/27/1918	Arrests For Drunkenness Show Marked Decrease Since Saloons Are Closed	pgt42
10/28/1918	Vaccination Against ‘Flu’ Here Is Urged	pgt43
10/28/1918	Babcock Asks State to Lift Influenza Ban	pgt44
10/29/1918	Ban Remains; Babcock Goes to Harrisburg	pgt45
10/30/1918	Mayor’s Effort to Remove Ban Without Avail	pgt46
10/30/1918	Police Prohibit Halloween Celebrations; Ban Crowds	pgt47
10/31/1918	Influenza Ban Is Modified Very Slightly	pgt48
11/1/1918	Influenza Epidemic Wanes In Pittsburgh; Ban May Soon Be Lifted by Authorities	pgt49
11/1/1918	Spanish Influenza Is Epidemic Here	pgt49
11/1/1918	Gloom-Draped Pittsburgh Mourns Lost Halloween	pgt49
11/2/1918	Influenza Ban Abrogated by City Officers	pgt50
11/2/1918	Mayor Babcock’s Proclamation Regarding Lifting of Ban Here	pgt51
11/2/1918	Managers Vote To Open All Theaters	pgt52
11/2/1918	Church Services Are Allowed Tomorrow, Maj. Davis Announces	pgt53
11/2/1918	Royer To Get Legal Advice Before Acting	pgt53
11/3/1918	Royer Awaits Violations of Closing Order	pgt54
11/5/1918	Plea Is Made For Influenza Ban by Blue	pgt55
11/6/1918	All Theaters Agree to Obey Influenza Ban	pgt56
11/7/1918	Influenza Ban to Be Lifted Next Saturday	pgt57
11/7/1918	Influenza Less Throughout State	pgt57
11/8/1918	Only 874 Die of Influenza in Day	pgt58
11/8/1918	Schools In City Will Reopen November 18	pgt59
11/9/1918	All Theaters In City Open Today; Royer Gives Ban-Lifting Regulations	pgt60
11/9/1918	Dr. Royer Gives Warning to Influenza Sufferers Who Are Now Convalescent	pgt61
11/11/1918	Epidemic Still Affecting Coal	pgt62
11/12/1918	Board Decides Schools Open Next Monday	pgt63
11/20/1918	Eight School Teachers Die of Influenza	pgt64
11/20/1918	Influenza Rates Still High	pgt64
11/21/1918	Many Flare-Ups of Influenza In State	pgt65
11/22/1918	New Outbreak of Influenza Is Threatened	pgt66
11/23/1918	New Influenza Cases Show Slight Decrease	pgt67
11/27/1918	New Cases of Influenza In 24 Hours Total 198	pgt68
12/4/1918	Influenza Is Stationary	pgt69
12/6/1918	Night Schools to Reopen	pgt70
12/30/1918	The Epidemic, by Walt Mason	pgt71
12/31/1918	No Decrease In Influenza	pgt72
1/14/1919	Dr. B.A. Booth Dies From Influenza	pgt73
1/15/1919	185,000 Deaths Last Year Sets New State Record	pgt74
1/20/1919	Music In The Home Furthered by the Influenza Epidemic	pgt75
1/27/1919	Pastor Arrested in Pulpit for Influenza Violation	pgt76

Back to Top

Pittsburgh Sun

Date	Title	PDF
9/21/1918	‘Spanish Influenza’ Reported in Chicago	ps01
9/27/1918	Influenza’s Spread Delays Draft Call	ps02
10/4/1918	Firm Stand Taken Here For Health	ps03
10/4/1918	Physicians Ordered to Report Cases	ps03
10/4/1918	City Officials Warn Public That Health Department Order Must be Observed Strictly	ps04
10/4/1918	175,000 Suffer From Epidemic of Influenza	ps05
10/4/1918	Closing Order Being Obeyed, Reports Show	ps06
10/4/1918	For Our Protection	ps07
10/4/1918	U.S. Health Bureau Tells of Epidemic	ps08
10/5/1918	Situation Here Does Not Alarm	ps09
10/5/1918	Rallies To Be Held by Sunday School Classes	ps10
10/5/1918	Smash It In Its Infancy	ps11
10/5/1918	Pittsburgh, For First Time Sees All Sports Suspended	ps12
10/7/1918	Churches Are Closed Under Health Order	ps13
10/7/1918	States Divided Into Nursing Districts	ps14
10/8/1918	Hospitals In Fight Against the Influenza	ps15
10/8/1918	Red Cross Supplies Face Masks to Pitt	ps16
10/9/1918	Influenza Is On Increase Reports Show	ps17
10/9/1918	Many Influenza Cases Found In Nearby Points	ps18
10/10/1918	Fewer Cases of Influenza Are Reported	ps19
10/11/1918	Liberty Day Program	ps20
10/11/1918	Epidemic Here Not Alarming, Figures Show	ps21
10/11/1918	Increase In Camp Epidemic Reported	ps21
10/11/1918	What to Do to Prevent It and How to Treat Influenza	ps22
10/12/1918	Influenza Hold On Pittsburgh Is Weakening	ps23
10/15/1918	Theater Ban May Last Five Weeks	ps24
10/15/1918	659 New Cases of Influenza Are Reported	ps25
10/16/1918	Fewer Cases of Influenza Are Reported	ps26
10/17/1918	Fewer Deaths In Influenza Epidemic Here	ps27
10/18/1918	Business Girls to Combat Influenza	ps28
10/18/1918	Little Change in Influenza Outlook Today	ps29
10/19/1918	Report Shows Fewer Cases of Influenza	ps30
10/19/1918	Churches of City Are Still Closed	ps31
10/21/1918	Epidemic Adds to Death List in Pittsburgh	ps32
10/22/1918	Epidemic Now Waning Here, Officials Think	ps33
10/22/1918	Coal Men to Fight Epidemic at Mines	ps33
10/23/1918	Big Increase in Influenza Victims Today	ps34
10/24/1918	Schools Close As Deaths from Epidemic Grow	ps35
10/24/1918	State Closing Ban May Soon Be Rescinded	ps35
10/24/1918	Health Department Closes Libraries	ps35
10/25/1918	713 New Cases of Influenza Are Reported	ps36
10/26/1918	Government’s Doctors Here For Epidemic	ps37
10/28/1918	Mayor Babcock Favors Lifting Epidemic Bans	ps38
10/29/1918	Babcock and Royer Confer on Epidemic	ps39
10/30/1918	Halloween Carnivals Banned in City	ps40
10/30/1918	Closing Order May Be Lifted Within Week	ps41
10/31/1918	Big Decrease in Influenza Case Shown	ps42
10/31/1918	Last Week Death List Totals 1,032	ps42
11/1/1918	Closing Order Will Be Lifted on November 9	ps43
11/2/1918	Radical Steps by Harrisburg Anticipated	ps44
11/5/1918	Fight Begins on Influenza Ban Violators	ps45
11/6/1918	Theaters Quit Fight Against State Officials	ps46
11/7/1918	Ban May Stay Unless Death Rate Lowers	ps47
11/9/1918	Royer Closing Ban Is Lifted at Noon Today	ps48
11/9/1918	Theaters Are Opened [editorial]	ps49
11/11/1918	Influenza Epidemic Will Soon Be Over	ps50
11/12/1918	Influenza Reports Indicate Increase	ps51
12/10/1918	Only 66 New ‘Flu’ Cases Are Reported	ps52
12/13/1918	48 New Influenza Cases Are Reported	ps53
12/14/1918	Increase Shown in Influenza Cases	ps54
12/16/1918	60 New ‘Flu’ Cases Are Reported in City	ps55
12/17/1918	61 New Influenza Cases Are Reported	ps56
12/18/1918	Influenza Strikes Is Lowest Figure	ps57
12/19/1918	Only 13 New Cases of ‘Flu’ Reported	ps58
12/20/1918	Influenza Ravages [editorial]	ps59
12/21/1918	Influenza Reports Shows 45 New Cases	ps60
12/26/1918	‘Flu’ Shows Increase; 60 Cases Are Reported	ps61
12/27/1918	16 Influenza Cases Are Reported Today	ps62
1/4/1919	27 New ‘Flu’ Cases	ps63
1/6/1919	111,688 Dead From ‘Flu’ in 46 Cities	ps64
1/7/1919	36 New ‘Flu’ Cases	ps65
1/15/1919	Record State Death Rate Laid to ‘Flu’	ps66
1/18/1919	20 New Influenza Cases	ps67
1/21/1919	Whisky Praised As Influenza Medicine	ps68
1/22/1919	Big Increase Shown in Influenza Cases	ps69
1/23/1919	New Influenza Cases and Deaths Increase	ps70
1/24/1919	New Steps Taken to Combat ‘Flu’	ps71
1/28/1919	Influenza Reported Increasing Again	ps72
1/29/1919	Fewer Influenza Cases Are Reported	ps73
2/3/1919	‘Flu’ and Pneumonia Cases Show Decrease	ps74

Back to Top

Western Pennsylvania Institute for the Blind Annual Reports

Date	Description or Title	PDF
1919	Thirty-second Annual Report of the Directors of the Western Pennsylvania Institution for the Blind, Presented to the Corporators at their Annual Meeting, May 5, 1919 (Pittsburgh: Mordoch-Kerr Press, 1919)	wpib_32report
1920	Thirty-third Annual Report of the Directors of the Western Pennsylvania Institution for the Blind, Presented to the Corporators at their Annual Meeting, May 3, 1920 (Pittsburgh: Mordoch-Kerr Press, 1920)	wpib_33report
1921	Thirty-fourth Annual Report of the Directors of the Western Pennsylvania Institution for the Blind, Presented to the Corporators at their Annual Meeting, May 2, 1921 (Pittsburgh: Mordoch-Kerr Press, 1921)	wpib_34report

The information on this site and the digital documents contain herein are intended for education and research purposes only. Commercial use of the content of this website is prohibited. For commercial use of the digital documents, please contact the owning institution.

Back to Top