The Seeing Eye Celebrates 85th Anniversary

Today, The Seeing Eye turns 85! Over 16,000 teams have walked through our doors since 1929. In celebration, we dressed up the statue of our co-founder Morris Frank and his Seeing Eye dog Buddy, located on the Morristown Green.

In 1927, a young man named Morris Frank (1908-1980) read an article about dogs being trained as guides for blinded veterans of World War I.  Frustrated by his own lack of mobility as a blind person, he was inspired to write its author for help. Dorothy Harrison Eustis (1886-1946) was an American training German shepherd police dogs in Switzerland, and when she received Morris Frank’s letter, she agreed to help him. He promised he would return to the United States and spread the word about these wonderful dogs. On June 11, 1928, having completed instruction in Switzerland, he arrived in New York City, proving the ability of his dog, Buddy, before throngs of New York City news reporters. His one-word telegram to Mrs. Eustis told the entire story: “Success.”

In January 1929, a little less than a year after returning from Switzerland with Buddy, Morris Frank was in Nashville, Tennessee, looking to start the first guide dog school outside of Europe. He rented an office on the second floor of a building for $15 a month; for another $15, he got two desks, four chairs, and a coat tree. On January 29, 1929, the State of Tennessee issued incorporation papers for The Seeing Eye, Inc., with Morris listed as the managing director. In 1931, the organization relocated to Whippany, N.J., and then to Morristown in 1936.

In honor of The Seeing Eye's anniversary and the thousands of lives that we have changed and will continue to change, we are hoping to raise $8,500 today. To make a donation or for more information about The Seeing Eye, visit www.SeeingEye.org. You can also follow us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SeeingEye and on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/SeeingEyeInc (@SeeingEyeInc).