Peter B. Putnam
Peter B. Putnam was a notable scholar and author, born in 1920 in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. His early life was marked by a significant challenge when he survived a suicide attempt at the age of twenty, which resulted in permanent blindness. Despite this adversity, Putnam graduated from Princeton University in 1942, becoming the institution's first blind graduate. He earned a Ph.D. in Russian history in 1950 and subsequently taught at Princeton before dedicating himself to writing.
Putnam authored several works, including the autobiographical books "Keep Your Head Up, Mr. Putnam!" and "Cast off the Darkness." In addition to his writing career, he was actively involved in nonprofit organizations focused on improving the lives of blind individuals, including serving as vice president and later president of Recording for the Blind. He was also associated with The Seeing Eye, a nonprofit that trains guide dogs, and received their humanitarian award for his contributions. Furthermore, Putnam founded New Jersey's first funeral society and held leadership roles within the Unitarian Universalist Association. He passed away in 1998 after battling lymphoma, leaving behind a legacy marked by resilience and advocacy for the blind community.
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Peter B. Putnam
Author
- Born: June 11, 1920
- Birthplace: Fort Ogelthorpe, Georgia
- Died: 1998
Biography
Respected scholar and writer Peter B. Putnam almost did not live to build his legacy. Putnam was born in 1920 in Fort Oglethrope, Georgia, the son of Brock and Margaret Faber Putnam. After graduating from Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, Putnam enrolled at Princeton University as a modern languages major. However, he had grown depressed by age twenty and attempted to kill himself with a rifle shot to the head. Putnam survived, but the attempt left him blind for the rest of his life. He completed his education at Princeton in 1942, the first blind student to graduate from the school. On August 12, 1944, Putnam married Durinda Dobbins, with whom he had three children, Brock, Barbara Durinda, and John Gerry. Putnam earned his Ph.D. in Russian history at Princeton in 1950, and then taught at Princeton from 1950 to 1955 before becoming a full-time writer.
Among his several books and many articles are the acclaimed autobiographical works “Keep Your Head Up, Mr. Putnam!” (1952) and Cast off the Darkness (1957). In addition to his career as a writer, Putnam was involved in many nonprofit organizations, including groups aimed at improving life for the blind. He joined the board of directors of Recording for the Blind and was vice president from 1955 until 1976, when he began a lengthy tenure as president of the organization. He also worked with The Seeing Eye, a nonprofit organization that places trained guide dogs with the blind; Putnam himself received his first guide dog when he was a Princeton undergraduate. The Seeing Eye presented Putnam its highest honor, the Dorothy Harrison Eustis Humanitarian Award. Putnam founded New Jersey’s first funeral society, the Princeton Memorial Association, and served the Unitarian- Universalist Association as president from 1954 to 1957 and vice president from 1965 to 1967. Putnam died in 1998 after a three- year battle with lymphoma.