Deaf Materials Donated to the
George Sutherland Archives
of Utah Valley University
Written by Jodi Becker Kinner
Published in 2023
Updated in 2024
Published in 2023
Updated in 2024
On October 18, 2012, Philippe Montalette, the President of the Utah Association of the Deaf, Marilyn Call, the Director of the Robert G. Sanderson Community Center of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and I had the opportunity to visit the George Sutherland Archives at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. During our visit, Catherine Mclntyre, the archivist who has since retired, along with her two colleagues, Aimee Bastarache and Brent Seavers, were kind enough to share their knowledge, expertise, and passion with us. Following our visit, we donated our Utah Deaf-related historical materials, including those listed below, to the George Sutherland Archives for digitalization for research and historic preservation.
In 2016, the George Sutherland Archives digitally scanned and uploaded the scrapbook and minutes of the Utah Association of the Deaf Conventions to their digital collections. This was a long-awaited project made possible by Catherine McIntyre, the archivist and digitization librarian at the George Sutherland Archives.
Dr. Bryan Eldredge, a Professor and Program Director of ASL and Deaf Studies, also contributed to the success of this archival project by collaborating with the Sutherland Archives. They both deserve recognition for their valuable contributions.
Dr. Bryan Eldredge, a Professor and Program Director of ASL and Deaf Studies, also contributed to the success of this archival project by collaborating with the Sutherland Archives. They both deserve recognition for their valuable contributions.
Utah Association of the Deaf
Conventions Minutes Books, 1909-1952
Conventions Minutes Books, 1909-1952
Valerie G. Kinney, a long-serving UAD officer and member, safeguarded the two books containing minutes from the triennial and biennial of the Utah Association of the Deaf Conventions between 1909 and 1952.
Valerie G. Kinney, a long-serving UAD officer and member, preserved the two books containing minutes from the triennial and biennial Utah Association of the Deaf Conventions held between 1909 and 1952.
The Scrapbook of the
Utah Association of the Deaf Conventions, 1931-1984
Utah Association of the Deaf Conventions, 1931-1984
Georgia Henricks Walker, a 1930 graduate of the Utah School for the Deaf, served as the secretary for the organization. She is credited with collecting, preserving, and compiling the Utah Association of the Deaf Conventions scrapbook from 1931 to 1984. This scrapbook contains clippings from Utah newspapers that are related to the Deaf community in Utah, UAD convention programs, and associated memorabilia.
Valerie G. Kinney preserved the scrapbook and later handed it over to me when I started working on the history of the Utah Association of the Deaf. With the scrapbook's help, I expanded the history. Once the history was completed, we donated it to the Sutherland Archives at UVU.
The Large Scrapbook of the Utah Deaf Community, 1940s-1980s
Valerie G. Kinney was also responsible for maintaining a large brown scrapbook that Dr. Robert G. Sanderson, a prominent Deaf leader in Utah between the 1940s and the 1980s, compiled. The scrapbook is filled with newspaper clippings covering controversies between oral and sign language, the activism of the Utah Association of the Deaf, and updates on the Utah School for the Deaf. The newspaper clippings proved to be invaluable in filling historical gaps. After completing the "Deaf Education History in Utah" manuscript, we donated the scrapbook to the UVU Sutherland Archives.
The UAD Bulletins, 1960s-1970s
LaVern Petersen Burnett, who graduated from the Utah School for the Deaf in 1943 and was married to Joseph Ball Burnett, one of the leaders of the Utah Deaf community, provided The UAD Bulletins from the 1960s to the 1970s while working on Utah Deaf History.
LaVern's contributions were invaluable in helping me fill in the gaps as I researched Utah Deaf History. After completing the project, I donated The UAD Bulletins to the UVU Sutherland Archives.
Education of the Deaf in Utah:
A Comprehensive Study,
February 15, 1977
A Comprehensive Study,
February 15, 1977
In 1977, Dr. Jay J. Campbell, who was then serving as the Deputy Superintendent of the Utah State Office of Education and a supporter of the Utah Deaf community, conducted his "Education of the Deaf in Utah: Comprehensive Study." The main objective of this study was to resolve the ongoing controversy between oral and sign language. Dr. Campbell completed his research on February 15, 1977, and submitted it to the Utah State Board of Education on April 14, 1977. He presented his findings and recommendations to improve the education system of the Utah School for the Deaf, which included more equitable evaluation and placement systems. However, the advocates of the oral method rejected his findings.
Dr. Campbell's strategy to improve education through fair assessment and placement procedures crumbled, and his two-year study was buried and forgotten. After thirty years, in 2007, his comprehensive study resurfaced and was recognized as a valuable source of information.
Dr. Campbell's book was brought out of the dust by my father-in-law, Kenneth L. Kinner, a 1954 alumnus of the Utah School for the Deaf and Deaf father of two Deaf children, Deanne and Duane. After I became interested in Utah's Deaf Education History, he gave me the book. Once I had completed my research, I donated the book to the UVU Sutherland Archives.
The Collection of Don Curtis Jacobs'
The Utah Eagle Magazines
The Utah Eagle Magazines
On May 19, 2016, I paid $50 to an individual named Jeff Buhler for a collection of The Utah Eagle publications, which were issued by the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind from the 1900s to the 1940s. Jeff had discovered and bought these magazines at an estate sale, and he found my contact information on the Utah Deaf History website. When he asked if I was interested in buying the publications, I responded immediately and purchased them. I'm so thankful Jeff bought them, as they would have likely been lost or thrown away otherwise. The collection originally belonged to Don Curtis Jacobs, who graduated from the Utah School for the Deaf in 1942. I later donated his collection to the UVU Sutherland Archives.
The Photo of the 1909
Utah Association of the Deaf Convention
Utah Association of the Deaf Convention
On August 1, 2022, I received an unexpected email from Julie Lowry. She offered to give me the original 1909 Utah Association of the Deaf photograph. I was thrilled and replied with a quick "Yes!" Julie explained that she found the photo at a garage sale in her neighborhood, where people were raising funds to pay for their granddaughter's medical bills. She discovered the photo in one of the books that were donated for the sale. The photo had the date 1909 inscribed on it in pencil. Julie did not know who the previous owner was or how the photo ended up at the sale. She bought it and kindly mailed it to me. I'm incredibly grateful to Julie for finding and sharing this over-100-year-old piece of history with me!!
The Publications of the
Utah School for the Deaf
Utah School for the Deaf
The Utah School for the Deaf has been publishing "The Utahan," "Utahn," and "The Utah Eagle" for many years. These magazines were displayed on the shelves in the lounge of the Robert G. Sanderson Community Center of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. However, after the renovation in 2023, the center no longer had space for these publications. So, they gave them to me with the intention of donating them to the George Sutherland Archives at Utah Valley University for digital and historical preservation.
One of the publications that were given to me was The UAD Bulletin "Utah Deaf People in Business and Industry...In the Space Age," which was published by the Utah Association of the Deaf in the summer of 1968. This bulletin provides information on the career opportunities available to Deaf Utah individuals in the 1960s.
From 1932 to 1978, the Utah School for the Deaf published The Utah Eagle. These publications featured student-written stories, student news, deaf education research, school programs, classes, clubs, sports, and activities, among other things. The Utah School for the Deaf also published "Utahan" and "Utahn" yearbooks. All these publications, including The UAD Bulletin, Summer 1968, were donated to the UVU Sutherland Archives for preservation on October 20, 2023.
One of the publications that were given to me was The UAD Bulletin "Utah Deaf People in Business and Industry...In the Space Age," which was published by the Utah Association of the Deaf in the summer of 1968. This bulletin provides information on the career opportunities available to Deaf Utah individuals in the 1960s.
From 1932 to 1978, the Utah School for the Deaf published The Utah Eagle. These publications featured student-written stories, student news, deaf education research, school programs, classes, clubs, sports, and activities, among other things. The Utah School for the Deaf also published "Utahan" and "Utahn" yearbooks. All these publications, including The UAD Bulletin, Summer 1968, were donated to the UVU Sutherland Archives for preservation on October 20, 2023.
The Deaf Periodicals Donated to the Museum of Deaf History, Arts, and Culture
Periodicals such as "The Silent Worker," "The Deaf American," "The Deaf Life," "American Annals of the Deaf," Gallaudet's "The Buff & Blue," "Volta Voice," and others were displayed in the lounge of the Robert G. Sanderson Community Center of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing for many years. However, due to limited space following the renovation in 2023, they were given to me to donate to the George Sutherland Archives at Utah Valley University for preservation. Unfortunately, the archives did not have space for them, so I donated them to the Museum of Deaf History, Arts, and Culture in Olathe, Kansas.
I am grateful to Brooke Budzinski Grossinger, the Deaf Senior Community Relationship Manager of Sorenson Communications, and Sorenson Communications for covering the shipping costs to the Museum of Deaf History, Arts, and Culture. Knowing that the periodicals are in good hands is a huge relief. When I learned that the Gallaudet University Archives already had the original copies and had digitized them, I would recycle them. I didn't have the means to ship them to the Museum of Deaf History, Arts, and Culture for preservation. Thankfully, Brooke stepped in and helped out with the shipping costs!
I am grateful to Brooke Budzinski Grossinger, the Deaf Senior Community Relationship Manager of Sorenson Communications, and Sorenson Communications for covering the shipping costs to the Museum of Deaf History, Arts, and Culture. Knowing that the periodicals are in good hands is a huge relief. When I learned that the Gallaudet University Archives already had the original copies and had digitized them, I would recycle them. I didn't have the means to ship them to the Museum of Deaf History, Arts, and Culture for preservation. Thankfully, Brooke stepped in and helped out with the shipping costs!