Utah Deaf History and Culture
  • Welcome to the Utah Deaf History ​and Culture Website
  • Welcome to My Journey Through the Utah Deaf History Project
  • The Purpose of this Website
  • Special Thanks
  • Editors & Testimonials
  • Biographies of Prominent Deaf Individuals in Utah
    • Biographies of Prominent Utah Deaf Men
    • Biographies of Prominent Utah Deaf Women
    • Biographies of Prominent Utah Interpreters
    • Biographies of Utah Deaf Artists
    • Eleanor Kay Kinner Curtis: ​Utah's Deaf Fashion Model
  • A Brief History of the ​Utah School for the Deaf
    • The Historical Archives of the ​Utah School for the Deaf
    • Superintendents of the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind
    • Wayne E. Stewart's Photographs ​of the Utah School for the Deaf ​& the Utah Deaf Community
    • Reunions at the ​Utah School for the Deaf ​Through the Years
    • History of the Jean Massieu School ​of the Deaf
    • History of the Kenneth Burdett School of the Deaf
    • Brandon R. Hill, a Deaf Designer of the Eagle Logo of the Utah School for the Deaf
    • Jean Massieu School of the Deaf Celebrates Its 20th Anniversary
    • History of the Elizabeth DeLong School of the Deaf
    • Amanda Tolle Wolfe, a Deaf Designer of the Phoenix Mascot of the ​​Elizabeth School of the Deaf
    • The Videos on Growing Up at the Utah School for the Deaf and in Public Schools
  • The Deaf Education History in Utah
    • A Rivalry ​Between Two Giant Figures: Dr. Grant B. Bitter and Dr. Robert G. Sanderson in Deaf Education in Utah
    • Recognizing and Validating American Sign Language as a Legitimate Language
    • Minnie Mae Wilding-Diaz, ​a Co-Founder of the Jean Massieu School of the Deaf
    • The Deaf Representatives Serving on the Advisory Council for the ​Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind
  • Sociology of the Utah School for the Deaf ​in the Utah Deaf Community, 1890-1970
  • History of the Utah Association of the Deaf Conventions/Conferences and Its Officers
    • ​A Brief History of the ​Utah Association of the Deaf
    • Information on the Utah Association of the Deaf
    • House Bill 60: Changing the Term from 'Hearing Impaired' ​to the 'Deaf and Hard of Hearing'
  • History of the National Fraternal ​Society of the Deaf
  • History of the Robert G. Sanderson Community Center of the Deaf & Hard of Hearing
    • The Directors of the Robert G. Sanderson Community Center ​of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
    • Honoring Dr. Robert G. Sanderson: The 2003 Naming Ceremony
    • Honoring W. David Mortensen: The 2014 Lifetime Advocacy Award Ceremony
    • Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the ​Robert G. Sanderson Community Center​
    • Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Robert G. Sanderson Community Center
  • Utah and Gallaudet University: ​A Share History
    • Honoring Ronald C. Burdett, Utah ​Native and 1970 Gallaudet Graduate, at the Sorenson Language and Communication Center Naming Ceremony
    • Dr. I. King Jordan, the First Deaf President of Gallaudet University, Visits Utah
  • The History of Interpreting Services in Utah
    • Beth Ann Stewart Campbell: The First Nationally Certified RID Interpreter in Utah and the United States
    • The Utah Interpreting Program celebrates its 30th Anniversary
  • History of the Deaf Latter-day ​Saints Community of ​The Church of Jesus Christ ​of Latter-day Saints
    • Anne Leahy and Doug Stringham, ​History Researchers of the Deaf Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
  • A History of Utah Deaf Sports
  • A History of Deaf Organizations in Utah
  • The History of Miss Deaf Utah Pageant and the Ambassador Program
  • History of the Sego Lily Center for the Abused Deaf
  • History of the Vocational Education Programs at the Utah School for the Deaf
  • The History of ​Utah Deaf Technology
  • Resilience and Leadership in Utah's Deaf Women's History
  • Deaf and Hearing Women Who Shaped Utah History
  • Utah's Connection to Black Deaf History
  • The Utah Deaf History Museum at the Robert G. Sanderson Community Center ​
  • Films Created by the ASL Community in Utah
  • Utah Deaf Skiing Archive
  • The Utah Deaf History Collection at UVU's George Sutherland Archives
  • Elizabeth DeLong Featured on Better Days
  • Utah's Deaf History Featured at the Museum of Utah
  • Presenting Dr. Robert G. Sanderson at the Inaugural Utah History Summit
  • Parker Holt's Gallaudet Pre-Law Writing Award for Focusing on Utah's Laws That Impact ​the Utah Deaf Community
  • Utah Deaf History YouTube channel
  • Contact & Copyright Permission

Special Thanks 


I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who contributed to the Utah Deaf History project. This work would not have been possible without the support, encouragement, knowledge, and generosity of countless individuals who shared their stories, photographs, documents, and historical materials.

Their contributions have helped preserve and document the rich history of the Utah Deaf community, ensuring that these stories remain accessible for future generations. I am deeply grateful for their trust, collaboration, and commitment to preserving our shared heritage.

​Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey.

​
Jodi Christel Becker

**********

Special thanks to my father-in-law, Kenneth Lee Kinner, for opening the gates to Utah’s rich Deaf history.
 
Special thanks to Jay Thexton, a devout genealogist, for unlocking my hidden passion for genealogy and history, which I never knew existed. 
 
Special thanks to three Deaf authors, Kenneth C. Burdett, Rodney W. Walker, and Dr. Robert G. Sanderson, for collecting, writing, and preserving Utah Deaf History. 
 
Special thanks to Anne Leahy and Doug Stringham for their extensive research on Deaf history in relation to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the early history of the Utah School for the Deaf.
 
Special thanks to David Samuelsen, an amateur historian and genealogist, for his direction and guidance while working on the Utah Deaf History. Likewise to Anne Leahy and Doug Stringham. 
 
Special thanks to Lisa Richards and Kleda Barker Quigley for their valuable guidance and support in this potential project. 
 
Special thanks to Eleanor McCowan for requesting that I work on the Utah Deaf History project. If not for her request, none of this would have happened.
 
Special thanks to Dr. Robert G. Sanderson for inspiring me to do my homework to make this project happen.  

Picture
Students from the Utah School for the Deaf in spring 1945 were preparing for their annual spring hike. Photo courtesy of Kenneth and Ilene Kinner

Special thanks to Dr. Robert G. Sanderson and Valerie G. Kinney for collecting and saving the newspapers containing the history of the Utah Deaf community. 

Special thanks to W. David Mortensen for his enthusiastic support of this project. 

Special thanks to Manuelita "Nellie" Sausedo for her remarkable memory and dedication to sharing stories about the Utah School for the Deaf, which helped create the "Deaf Education History in Utah" webpage.


Special thanks to my colleague, Julie Hesterman Smith, for helping me "unstick my stuck" in the writing and thinking processes.

Special thanks to Robert Kerr for donating his time to scanning the UAD Bulletins collected by Valerie G. Kinney, which contain a wealth of historical information regarding the Utah Deaf community. 

Special thanks to Minnie Mae Wilding-Diaz for donating her time to revise and edit some of the manuscripts. 
  
Special thanks to Helen Salas-McCarty for carefully editing some of my manuscripts and providing detailed advice. 

Picture
The Utah School for the Deaf Prom, 1951-52. Top Left: Alden Broomhead, Robert Bonnell, Arthur Valdez, Myron Bosshardt, Carol McTee, and Kenneth Kinner. Second from the Left: Dixie Lee Larson, Lawanna Simmons, Sally Shimoda, Teacher Jane Russell, Donna Lee Solt, Robert Potter, and Darlene Green. Bottom Left: Clara Bosshardt, her brother Myron Bosshardt, and Eleanor Kay Kinner. Photo courtesy of Kenneth and Ilene Kinner

Special thanks to Bronwyn O'Hara for editing some of my manuscripts with enthusiasm and dedication.

Special thanks to Valerie G. Kinney, the most trusted and reliable person, for providing supportive advice through consultation and proofreading/editing the manuscripts. 

Special thanks to Doug Stringham for sharing the version of the book with Dr. Bryan K. Eldredge and making a senior-level "special topics" class called "Deaf Education in Utah" possible at Utah Valley University in 2011 and again in 2016.

Special thanks to Robert L. Bonnell for his patience in letting me borrow his box of photos, program books, and Utah Eagle magazines.

Special thanks to Linda Berness for collecting and donating the obituaries and funeral programs of the members of the Utah Deaf Community. 

Picture
Utah School for the Deaf, 1953-54. Top Row: Wilbur Flake. Left Row: Kenneth C. Burdett, Sally Shimoda, Bruce Harvey, Kenneth L. Kinner, Clara Bosshardt, Donna Mae Dekker, Shanna Christiansen, Carol McTee, Ramona Vasquez, Eleanor Kay Kinner. Seated L-R: George Gavros, Fern Cottle, Von Jones. Photo courtesy of Kenneth and Ilene Kinner

Special thanks to Marion Brown West, Kleda Barker Quigley, Kenneth Lee Kinner, Ilene Coles Kinner, and Keith E. Stewart for identifying names and years from the photos.

Special thanks to Celia May Laramie Baldwin for her constant support and guidance throughout the project, which included exchanging several emails about my Utah Deaf History Project.

Special thanks to Jennifer "Jen" Young Leeds for proofreading my work, making suggestions, and looking up newspaper articles for me. 

Special thanks to Duane L. Kinner, technology savvy, for scanning hundreds of documents and photographs for the "Utah Deaf History" website.
 
Last but not least, special thanks to Philippe Montalette, then Utah Association of the Deaf president, for his support in making this a reality. 

Ultimately, much appreciation goes to Duane L. Kinner, my spouse, and my children, Joshua and Danielle, for their support and patience in working on the Utah Deaf History.

Jodi Christel Becker 

Picture
Utah School for the Deaf, 1953-54. Top Row: Wilbur Flake. Left to Right: Afton Burdett (Teacher), Sally Shimoda, Bruce Harvey, Kenneth L. Kinner, Clara Bosshardt, Donna Mae Dekker, Shanna Christiansen, Carol McTee, Ramona Vasquez, Eleanor Kay Kinner. Seated L-R: George Gavros, Fern Cottle. Photo courtesy of Kenneth and Ilene Kinner

"The more you know of your history, 
​the more liberated you are."
​~Maya Angelou~

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