C. Michael Mellor embarked on a biography of Louis Braille when he first saw the letters of Louis Braille on display at l'Institut National de Jeunes Aveugles, the school in Paris where Louis was a student, teacher, and creator of an embossed code that carries his name.
As editor of the Matilda Ziegler Magazine for the Blind for eighteen years, Mike has long held a fascination for braille. His published paper, "Making a Point: The Crusade for a Universal Embossed Code in the United States," was delivered at the International Conference on "The Blind in History and the History of the Blind," in Paris, France, where he came upon Louis's extant letters and decided to translate them for publication.
Mellor holds an MA in the History of Science from the University of Leeds in England, where he was born. During National Service with the Royal Air Force, he maintained electronic equipment on jet fighters. He lives in Brooklyn, New York, where he enjoys being an urban farmer.
Speaking Engagements
Mike Mellor is available for speaking engagements, interviews, and book signings. Mike is an excellent speaker for drawing attendees to a special event or for making a keynote address - few people in the world know more about the life and times of Louis Braille.
For further information, contact Diane Croft
at dcroft@nbp.org, or call 617.266.6160 ext. 421.
Speaking Schedule
- December 3, 2009
Baruch College/CUNY
New York, NY
Appearing with the
Louis Braille Exhibit
- November 30, 2009
Japan Braille Library
Tokyo, Japan
- November 23, 2009
National Museum of Ethnology
Osaka, Japan
Mike Mellor at dinner with his hosts in Japan
- October 11-25, 2009
South Africa
- September 9, 2009
California Braille and Talking Book Library
Sacramento, CA
Appearing with the
Louis Braille Traveling Exhibit.
- July 13, 2009
Hadley School for the Blind
Winnetka, IL
Appearing with the
Louis Braille Traveling Exhibit.
- May, 2009
Edinboro University
Edinboro, PA
Appearing with the
Louis Braille Traveling Exhibit.
- April 25, 2009
Friends of Wolfner Library
Jefferson City, MO
- March 21, 2009
DC Public Library
Washington, DC
- March 16, 2009
Denver Public Library
Denver, CO
Appearing with the
Louis Braille Traveling Exhibit.
- March 14, 2009
San Francisco Public Library
Appearing with the
Louis Braille Traveling Exhibit.
- February 10, 2009
New York Institute for Special Education
Bronx, NY
- January 4, 2009
200th Anniversary of Louis Braille's Birth
Paris, France
- July 2008
AER International
Chicago, Illinois, USA
- April 23-25, 2008
Penn-Del AER
Grantville, PA
- April 5th, 2008
Louis Braille School
Seattle, WA
- November 29th - Dec. 2nd, 2007
Getting in Touch with Literacy Conference
St. Petersburg, FL
- April 16, 2007
Visual Aid Volunteers of Florida
Jacksonville, Florida, USA
- March 1-4, 2007
CTEVH Conference
Santa Clara, CA
- January 18, 2007
Center for the Visually Impaired
Daytona Beach, FL
- July 17, 2006
Jordan Rich/WBZ
Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- July 12, 2006
American Council of the Blind
Jacksonville, Florida, USA
- April 28, 2006
National Braille Association
Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
- April 19, 2006
Swedish Library of Talking Books
Stockholm, Sweden
- April 12, 2006
Institut National des Jeunes Aveugles
Paris, France
- March 9, 2006
"The World" WGBH Radio
Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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