History of the
Elizabeth DeLong School of the Deaf
Written by Jodi Christel Becker
Published in 2019
Updated in 2025
Published in 2019
Updated in 2025
Author's Note
I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Michelle Tanner, the Associate Superintendent of the Utah School for the Deaf, for reaching out to gather information and prepare a biography for Elizabeth DeLong. Nathan Harrison, your dedication and efforts in compiling the necessary materials to propose naming the Utah School for the Deaf in honor of Elizabeth DeLong are truly commendable.
I would also like to thank Anne Leahy and Doug Stringham—our significant contributions as Utah Deaf History researchers have greatly expanded our knowledge about her. I am particularly grateful to Anne for providing me with a copy of Elizabeth DeLong's biography from the Church History Library of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which inspired me to write a biography of Elizabeth DeLong for this history website and the Better Days 2020 website, which focuses on Utah's women's history.
Each of you has played an essential role in this project, and I am incredibly thankful for your contributions.
I have great admiration for Elizabeth DeLong, who is featured on the Better Days 2020 website. This platform highlights important suffrage milestones in Utah and across the nation in 2020 and promotes the history of women's rights and their first votes. It also serves as a reminder of the significance of recognizing historical figures like Elizabeth DeLong, whose contributions continue to influence discussions about women today.
Elizabeth DeLong, the first female Deaf president of the Utah Association of the Deaf in 1909, has left an indelible mark on the Utah Deaf community. She achieved many firsts and notable milestones, earning recognition for her contributions. Her dedicated service truly deserves to be honored with a legacy.
Thank you!
Jodi Christel Becker
I would also like to thank Anne Leahy and Doug Stringham—our significant contributions as Utah Deaf History researchers have greatly expanded our knowledge about her. I am particularly grateful to Anne for providing me with a copy of Elizabeth DeLong's biography from the Church History Library of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which inspired me to write a biography of Elizabeth DeLong for this history website and the Better Days 2020 website, which focuses on Utah's women's history.
Each of you has played an essential role in this project, and I am incredibly thankful for your contributions.
I have great admiration for Elizabeth DeLong, who is featured on the Better Days 2020 website. This platform highlights important suffrage milestones in Utah and across the nation in 2020 and promotes the history of women's rights and their first votes. It also serves as a reminder of the significance of recognizing historical figures like Elizabeth DeLong, whose contributions continue to influence discussions about women today.
Elizabeth DeLong, the first female Deaf president of the Utah Association of the Deaf in 1909, has left an indelible mark on the Utah Deaf community. She achieved many firsts and notable milestones, earning recognition for her contributions. Her dedicated service truly deserves to be honored with a legacy.
Thank you!
Jodi Christel Becker
Elizabeth DeLong. Source: FamilySearch.org
History of School Naming
Exciting news has emerged from the Utah School for the Deaf, a community-driven initiative that actively sought suggestions from the Utah Deaf community for naming their new ASL/English bilingual school on the USDB campus. We are deeply grateful for your valuable input, which led to the most popular choice being Elizabeth DeLong, a notable Deaf figure from Springville, Utah.
Inspired by Jodi Christel Becker's biography of Elizabeth DeLong, which is available on the website, Nathan Harrison, the former Curriculum Director, proposed naming the school in honor of her honor. This proposal, which reflects the active involvement of the community, marks a significant milestone in our collective journey.
In October 2019, the administrators of the Utah School for the Deaf, the Utah State Board of Education, and the USDB Advisory Council, all unanimously approved the proposal for a groundbreaking ASL/English bilingual program. This program, now officially named the Elizabeth DeLong School of the Deaf in Springville, Utah, in honor of Elizabeth DeLong, marks a significant milestone in our educational journey and offers a unique and exciting opportunity for our students (Michelle Tanner, personal communication, February 8, 2024).
Inspired by Jodi Christel Becker's biography of Elizabeth DeLong, which is available on the website, Nathan Harrison, the former Curriculum Director, proposed naming the school in honor of her honor. This proposal, which reflects the active involvement of the community, marks a significant milestone in our collective journey.
In October 2019, the administrators of the Utah School for the Deaf, the Utah State Board of Education, and the USDB Advisory Council, all unanimously approved the proposal for a groundbreaking ASL/English bilingual program. This program, now officially named the Elizabeth DeLong School of the Deaf in Springville, Utah, in honor of Elizabeth DeLong, marks a significant milestone in our educational journey and offers a unique and exciting opportunity for our students (Michelle Tanner, personal communication, February 8, 2024).
Michelle Tanner. Source: Twitter
The Elizabeth DeLong School of the Deaf opened its doors on January 6, 2020, proudly embracing a new name and identity. Inspired by the early suffrage movement in Utah, Libbie pursued her academic, political, and spiritual aspirations, achieving numerous milestones, including becoming the first female president of the Utah Association of the Deaf. Naming the school in her honor is a fitting tribute to her significant impact on the community and a celebration of her remarkable achievements.
Most importantly, the ASL/English bilingual program, now named after Elizabeth DeLong, recognizes her substantial influence and contributions to the Utah Deaf community and the women's rights movement. This program is not just a tribute; it is a crucial step in preserving Deaf women's history and promoting equality, ensuring that each member of the community feels valued and included.
Most importantly, the ASL/English bilingual program, now named after Elizabeth DeLong, recognizes her substantial influence and contributions to the Utah Deaf community and the women's rights movement. This program is not just a tribute; it is a crucial step in preserving Deaf women's history and promoting equality, ensuring that each member of the community feels valued and included.
Nathan Harrison. Source: Linkedin
Anne Leahy. Source: Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, inc.
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Doug Stringham. Source: Utah Valley University
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The Elizabeth DeLong Award
I am incredibly grateful to express my appreciation to Kim Lucas, President of the Utah Association of the Deaf, for presenting me with the prestigious Elizabeth DeLong Award, the first award of its kind, at the 2024 Utah Association of the Deaf conference. This award is truly special to me, as it bears the name of the extraordinary woman who inspired many with her dedication to the Utah Deaf community. This award also holds a special place in my heart, and I am honored to have received it. I proudly display it on my desk as a constant reminder of the profound advocacy and contributions the Utah Association of the Deaf has made to our Utah Deaf community. I sincerely thank Kim Lucas and the UAD officers for their tireless efforts and commitment to our community. Thank you!
Jodi Becker Kinner's Elizabeth DeLong Award, 2024 (Name changed to Jodi Christel Becker in 2025)
Kim Lucas
A Short Biography of Elizabeth DeLong
The Utah Deaf community proudly honors Elizabeth DeLong, also known as "Libbie," for her many accomplishments. Despite the early challenges of losing her hearing at the age of five due to scarlet fever and smallpox, she demonstrated remarkable perseverance. At the age of 14, she enrolled at the Utah School for the Deaf and learned American Sign Language there, becoming a prominent figure in the Utah Deaf community.
Libbie was an outstanding and inspirational trailblazer who made significant contributions to the Utah Deaf community. She accomplished many firsts in Utah and broke down numerous barriers, including becoming the first female president of the Utah Association of the Deaf. Her exceptional leadership and advocacy for the Deaf community in Utah have left an indelible mark, shaping the state's Deaf rights and representation landscape. We are privileged to have had her as our leader and advocate; her legacy will continue to inspire future generations.
Take a look at the following list of Libbie's firsts.
Finally, Elizabeth DeLong, a trailblazer for Deaf women in leadership, has made significant contributions to both the Utah Deaf community and the women's rights movement. Her strong support for women's suffrage has had a lasting impact that continues to shape our society today. Additionally, her passion serves as a source of inspiration and empowerment, acting as a beacon of hope and determination for future generations.
Libbie was an outstanding and inspirational trailblazer who made significant contributions to the Utah Deaf community. She accomplished many firsts in Utah and broke down numerous barriers, including becoming the first female president of the Utah Association of the Deaf. Her exceptional leadership and advocacy for the Deaf community in Utah have left an indelible mark, shaping the state's Deaf rights and representation landscape. We are privileged to have had her as our leader and advocate; her legacy will continue to inspire future generations.
Take a look at the following list of Libbie's firsts.
- Libbie, a trailblazer, made history in 1897 by becoming the first Deaf female student from the Utah School for the Deaf to attend Gallaudet College. This was a significant milestone, paving the way for future Deaf students. She graduated from Gallaudet College in 1902, where she became the first Deaf woman to graduate with a bachelor's degree in Utah. Additionally, she was the first in her family to earn a college education in 1902.
- After returning to Ogden from Washington, DC, on September 3, 1902, she became the first Deaf woman to have a college education, and she began teaching at her alma mater, Utah School for the Deaf, where she taught for fifteen years. Furthermore, she became the first Deaf female superintendent of the Sunday School at the Ogden Branch for the Deaf within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
- Most important of all, Libbie made history by defeating two male Deaf candidates, becoming the first female Deaf president of the Utah Association of the Deaf, an advocacy organization for accessibility and civil rights of the Utah Deaf community. Additionally, she became the first female Deaf president of any state chapter association of the National Association of the Deaf in the United States. Despite societal barriers as a Deaf woman, her victory over two Deaf male candidates in the election was a significant achievement, as women did not gain the right to vote until the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920, and the National Association of the Deaf did not allow Deaf women members to vote in their elections until 1964. Libbie's remarkable achievement is a testament to her perseverance, likely inspired by her involvement in Gallaudet's O.W.L.S. presidential election in 1901, a secret society for women now known as Phi Kappa Zeta. Her active participation in Utah's early suffrage movement also fueled her educational, political, and spiritual aspirations. Libbie served as president of the Utah Association of the Deaf from 1909 to 1915, marking a significant milestone in the organization's history. At the end of her second term as president in 1915, she delivered a powerful speech that marked a turning point in the women's suffrage movement. Growing up in Utah, where women gained the right to vote on February 14, 1870, Libbie passionately advocated for women's suffrage in her 1915 speech. Her commitment to promoting women's rights demonstrated her dedication and had a profound and lasting impact on the movement, inspiring many and continuing to empower us today.
Finally, Elizabeth DeLong, a trailblazer for Deaf women in leadership, has made significant contributions to both the Utah Deaf community and the women's rights movement. Her strong support for women's suffrage has had a lasting impact that continues to shape our society today. Additionally, her passion serves as a source of inspiration and empowerment, acting as a beacon of hope and determination for future generations.
Elizabeth DeLong at a young age. Source: FamiilySearch.org
Elizabeth Delong standing on the far left pointing the finger at the Utah School for the Deaf in Ogden, Utah, between 1896-1897
Elizabeth DeLong, a student at Gallaudet College, about 1902. Source: The Delong Family Saga
Elizabeth DeLong. Source: The UAD Bulletin, Summer 1963
To learn more about Elizabeth DeLong,
click on the links below
click on the links below
Elizabeth DeLong at Gallaudet College. Source: The DeLong Family Saga
The Utah School for the Deaf, Dumb, and Blind, as it was called back then, was featured in the Ogden Daily Standard on December 20, 1902. The staff members were, from top to bottom, L-R: Albert Talage, Catherine King, Elizabeth DeLong, Superintendent Frank M. Driggs (Center), Sarah Whalen, E.S. Henne, and Max W. Woodbury
Elizabeth DeLong, the first Deaf female president of the Utah Association of the Deaf, 1909. Source: J. Willard Marriott Library
Elizabeth DeLong as a young woman. Source: FamilySearch.org
Libbie and friends on the road. Source: FamilySearch.org
Libbie & her husband, Loran Savage, about 1930. Source: The DeLong Family Saga
Elizabeth DeLong School of the Deaf on the USDB Campus in Springville, Utah. Source: USDB Website
