Utah Involvement in
Gallaudet University History
Compiled & Written by Jodi B. Kinner
2012
2012
Elizabeth DeLong, first student from Utah to enter Gallaudet College
Elizabeth DeLong. The DeLong Family Saga by Gladys W. Banks.
On June 8, 1897, Elizabeth DeLong, known as “Libbie,” and John H. Clark were the only two students (they were cousins) from Utah School for the Deaf to graduate (The Ogden Standard-Examiner, May 8, 1897). They were the first students from Utah to enter Gallaudet College that fall.
On September 15, 1897, Frank M. Driggs, superintendent of the Utah School for the Deaf and the Blind, accompanied them by train to their first year at Gallaudet of a four-year course of study. He was taking a one-year teacher's course at the same time (The Ogden Standard-Examiner, September 15, 1897). Libbie and John H. probably would not have had the opportunity to go so far away if Driggs hadn't been there as well.
The U.S. Government paid for Libbie’s schooling (Banks). While at Gallaudet, she was active in drama. During her senior year, Libbie was elected associate editor of the college publication called The Buff and Blue, and John H. (also a senior) was elected editor-in-chief (The Ogden Standard-Examiner, June 19, 1901; Dr. Thomas C. Clark, personal communication, November 13, 2008). According to the Ogden Standard article (1901), “To be elected editor-in-chief of the college paper has always been considered one of the highest honors, and it is of special note that Utah students obtained two of the positions (1.).”
On September 15, 1897, Frank M. Driggs, superintendent of the Utah School for the Deaf and the Blind, accompanied them by train to their first year at Gallaudet of a four-year course of study. He was taking a one-year teacher's course at the same time (The Ogden Standard-Examiner, September 15, 1897). Libbie and John H. probably would not have had the opportunity to go so far away if Driggs hadn't been there as well.
The U.S. Government paid for Libbie’s schooling (Banks). While at Gallaudet, she was active in drama. During her senior year, Libbie was elected associate editor of the college publication called The Buff and Blue, and John H. (also a senior) was elected editor-in-chief (The Ogden Standard-Examiner, June 19, 1901; Dr. Thomas C. Clark, personal communication, November 13, 2008). According to the Ogden Standard article (1901), “To be elected editor-in-chief of the college paper has always been considered one of the highest honors, and it is of special note that Utah students obtained two of the positions (1.).”
John H. Clark, first student from Utah to enter Gallaudet College
John H. Clark at Gallaudet Ole Gym
While at Gallaudet, John H. was a good student who was active in all sports and was a spiffy dresser. He was an assistant manager of the Gallaudet football team (The Silent Worker, December 1900). During his senior year, he was elected editor-in-chief of the college publication, The Buff and Blue, and also wrote stories for it. Libbie, also a senior was elected an associate editor (The Ogden Standard-Examiner, June 19, 1901; Dr. Thomas C. Clark, personal communication, November 13, 2008). According to the Ogden Standard-Examiner article (1901), “To be elected editor-in-chief of the college paper has always been considered one of the highest honors, and it is of special note that Utah students obtain two of the positions (1.)”
In 1902, Libbie was the first female Utah college graduate with a bachelor’s degree and the first in her family to have a full college education. She left Washington, D.C. and returned to Ogden, where she began to teach at the Utah School for the Deaf on September 3, 1902. She continued that position for fifteen years (Banks). She is believed to be the first deaf teacher with a degree to teach at that school.
In 1902, Libbie was the first female Utah college graduate with a bachelor’s degree and the first in her family to have a full college education. She left Washington, D.C. and returned to Ogden, where she began to teach at the Utah School for the Deaf on September 3, 1902. She continued that position for fifteen years (Banks). She is believed to be the first deaf teacher with a degree to teach at that school.
Kate Orr Keeley
Kate Orr Keeley. Gallaudet University Historical Photograph Collection
Karen Christie, a retired English Professor at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) and amateur historian, collected and authored a brief biography of Kate Orr Keeley who was from Utah. Kate attended the Utah School for the Deaf from 1898 to 1908 and graduated from Gallaudet College in 1917. At Gallaudet, she was very athletic and excelled in gymnastics, tennis, basketball, and swimming. For more information about Kate, see the link - deafwomeninhistory.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/katekeeleybio1.pdf
Utahns at Gallaudet College
Rodney W. Walker, Gallaudet alumnus of 1939 noted in his "My Life Story" book that the highest number of Utahns at Gallaudet College was eleven in the fall of 1936 and has never been surpassed since (Walker, 2006). Other prominent Gallaudet graduates of Utah were Dr. Robert G. Sanderson, Kenneth C. Burdett, Ned C. Wheeler, Joseph Burnett, and Rodney W. Walker.
Front Row (L-R): Verl Thorup, Joseph Burnett, Dolores Atkinson, Rodney Walker and Earl Jones. Back Row (L-R): John Glassett, Ned Wheeler, Earl Rogerson, Bob Sanderson, Robert Lewis and Kyle Workman.
Front Row (L-R): Verl Thorup, Joseph Burnett, Dolores Atkinson, Rodney Walker and Earl Jones. Back Row (L-R): John Glassett, Ned Wheeler, Earl Rogerson, Bob Sanderson, Robert Lewis and Kyle Workman.
Barbara Schell Bass, Gallaudet SBG President
Barbara Schell Bass. Gallaudet University Museum
Barbara Schell Bass, a long-time teacher of the Utah School for the Deaf, graduated from the Idaho School for the Deaf in 1956 and Gallaudet University in 1960. During her senior year in 1959, she was the first woman to be elected as Student Body Government (SBG). It was also the first SBG election with a 100% turnout (Courtesy of the Gallaudet University Museum). That being said, Utah is honored to have Barbara as our first woman SBG president of Gallaudet University.
Deaf President Now 1988
US President Bill Clinton & Dr. Robert G. Sanderson
During the Deaf President Now Protest at Gallaudet University in 1988, Dr. Robert G. Sanderson was a member of the Gallaudet Board of Trustee and he supported a deaf president for the university and opposed the choice of a hearing president. Dr. I. King Jordan was eventually hired as the first deaf president (UAD Bulletin, April 1988).
Dr. Robert G. Sanderson shakes hand with US President Bill Clinton at the 1994 Gallaudet University graduation.
Dr. Robert G. Sanderson shakes hand with US President Bill Clinton at the 1994 Gallaudet University graduation.
HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS
- Kinner, Jodi B., Mortensen, Kristi L., & Kinney, Valerie G. (2013). History of Academic Bowl in Utah. (PDF)
- Kinner, Jodi B. & Kinney, Valerie G. (2015). Utah Involvement in Gallaudet University History. (PDF)