Serving the Blind and Visually Impaired Community for More Than 100 Years

The four Trader sisters – Effie, Georgia, Florence and Louise, were born in Xenia, Ohio in the late 1800s. As a young child, Georgia was diagnosed with congenital cataracts. Determined that all her children would receive an education, Mrs. Trader relocated the family to Cincinnati and Georgia was the first blind student admitted into a Cincinnati Public School.

Cary Cottage, on the grounds of the former Clovernook Farm, became available for sale in 1903 and was identified by the Trader sisters as the perfect location for a home for blind women. Well-known for their networking abilities and affable nature, Georgia and Florence approached William Procter of Procter & Gamble regarding a donation to purchase Cary Cottage. On May 8, 1903, Cary Cottage at Clovernook Center became the first home for blind women in Ohio.

The new home for blind women provided training in knitting, crocheting, beading and basketry to the residents of Cary Cottage. A visit to a nearby Shaker colony in 1907 resulted in the gift of a carpet loom and the introduction of woven items like rugs, pillow covers and blankets which were sold throughout Cincinnati. The ability to produce quality knitted and woven products provided a modest income and a new sense of independence for the women.

In 1910, Clovernook Center was gifted a printing press capable of printing the tactile New York Point System, once the most widely used code in the United States. The gift launched a new industry at Clovernook as the women in residence learned to operate the press. By 1922, Clovernook was the second-largest producer of materials for blind individuals.

Clovernook Center is one of the largest global producers of braille, printing and shipping over 30 million pages each year. Clovernook Center’s clients include National Library Services, a division of the National Library of Congress, and McDonald’s. More than 50% of the printing house staff is blind or visually impaired, ensuring that Clovernook Center produces the highest quality printed materials for end users.

Clovernook Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired remains a vibrant, multifaceted organization focused on providing education, occupation and recreation for the blind and visually impaired community in Greater Cincinnati and around the world. They continue to expand and innovate to meet the growing and changing needs of people with blindness or visual impairment.