The Utah Deaf History Museum
at the Robert G. Sanderson Community Center
of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
at the Robert G. Sanderson Community Center
of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Compiled & Written By Jodi Becker Kinner
Edited by Valerie G. Kinney
Published in 2013
Updated in 2024
Edited by Valerie G. Kinney
Published in 2013
Updated in 2024
Author's Note
I had the privilege of working with Rob Kerr, Julio Enriquez, and Nancy Christensen Li, all members of the Utah Association of the Deaf Museum Committee, to create the museum. In 2014, the museum expanded its reach with Pamela Mower's innovative ideas, which enabled us to showcase our rich history in the Robert G. Sanderson Community Center of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. I highly recommend visiting our museum whenever you have the opportunity!
Jodi Becker Kinner
Jodi Becker Kinner
Pamela Mower
Kenneth C. Burdett's Bulletin Boards
of the Utah School for the Deaf
of the Utah School for the Deaf
Kenneth C. Burdett, a pivotal figure in the preservation of the Utah School for the Deaf's history, graduated from the school in 1929 and Gallaudet College in 1934. He then became a teacher at the school. His tireless efforts to prepare for the first Utah School for the Deaf reunion in 1976 were instrumental. He and his team covered eight 4 x 8-foot bulletin boards with historical photos of the Utah School for the Deaf on both sides, using a special ModPodge to prevent them from deteriorating. The goal was to allow Utah School for the Deaf alums to reminisce about the school's past and appreciate its history for years to come. The film on the bulletin boards showcased a wide range of activities and settings, including academics, athletics, commencements, vocational programs, buildings and grounds, support services, student activities, houseparents as well as supervisors, and deaf groups.
While Kenneth's efforts were monumental in preventing the loss of much of the school's history, they should not be the end of our preservation journey. We must continue to be vigilant and committed to the preservation of our school's history. Regrettably, the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind in Ogden, Utah, now store the bulletin boards in a warehouse, leaving them unattended. This should serve as a reminder of the importance of our continued efforts to preserve memories.
In 2005, Bobby Giles, a 1983 graduate of the Utah School for the Deaf, created a significant historical record. His video, 'Utah School for the Deaf in Ogden, Utah: Summer 2005,' features insightful interviews with Ronald C. Burdett, Kenneth's son and a 1965 graduate, Darlene Stewart Cochran, a 1962 graduate, and C. Roy Cochran, a 1961 graduate. They share their personal memories and experiences at the Utah School for the Deaf, providing a unique perspective on the school's history. Bobby's team at Eye-Sign Media LLC, which includes Julio Diaz Jr. and Jim Harper, played a crucial role in making the film a success.
While Kenneth's efforts were monumental in preventing the loss of much of the school's history, they should not be the end of our preservation journey. We must continue to be vigilant and committed to the preservation of our school's history. Regrettably, the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind in Ogden, Utah, now store the bulletin boards in a warehouse, leaving them unattended. This should serve as a reminder of the importance of our continued efforts to preserve memories.
In 2005, Bobby Giles, a 1983 graduate of the Utah School for the Deaf, created a significant historical record. His video, 'Utah School for the Deaf in Ogden, Utah: Summer 2005,' features insightful interviews with Ronald C. Burdett, Kenneth's son and a 1965 graduate, Darlene Stewart Cochran, a 1962 graduate, and C. Roy Cochran, a 1961 graduate. They share their personal memories and experiences at the Utah School for the Deaf, providing a unique perspective on the school's history. Bobby's team at Eye-Sign Media LLC, which includes Julio Diaz Jr. and Jim Harper, played a crucial role in making the film a success.
Kenneth C. Burdett
A Slideshow of
Kenneth C. Burdett's Bulletin Boards
Kenneth C. Burdett's Bulletin Boards
Photograph by Duane L. Kinner
Planning a Museum at the superintendent's House
at the Utah School for the Deaf
at the Utah School for the Deaf
George Wilding, a graduate of the Idaho School for the Deaf and member of the Utah Deaf community, expressed the desire to establish a museum at the superintendent's residence on the Utah School for the Deaf campus during Harlan Fulmer's administration (1978–1983) as the superintendent of the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (USDB). The Deaf community considered the superintendent's home on 20th Street a historic site in Utah. George requested the museum receive photographs from the early 1900s, books written with a feather pen, trophies, and accolades. Several older deaf individuals expressed interest in contributing their belongings to the museum. According to George, one of the alums owned an old leather basketball from the 1920s, and another woman wanted to donate a dress she had made while working at USD. However, the state of Utah did not fund the museum, and the plan eventually fell through. In 1979, the superintendent established the Parent Infant Program in his former home.
George Wilding, mid-1980s
USD Superintendent's Residence
The Failure of Establishing a Museum
at Utah School for the Deaf
at Utah School for the Deaf
In 1981, Ned C. Wheeler, a 1933 graduate of the Utah School for the Deaf and a member of the Advisory Council for the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, was passionately working on setting up a museum for the school. His dedication to preserving the school's history was unparalleled. Unfortunately, he passed away that same year, leaving behind a legacy of commitment and love for the school. In the late 1980s, the school's rich heritage began to decline due to mainstreaming, and the construction of the new USDB Administration building in 1993 left no space for the museum. The Utah Deaf community was deeply disappointed, primarily due to the loss of the school's sports trophies during the relocation.
Ned C. Wheeler
Establishing a Utah Deaf History Museum
at the Robert G. Sanderson Community Center
at the Robert G. Sanderson Community Center
Rob Kerr, a 1959 graduate of the Utah School for the Deaf and a board member of the Utah Association of the Deaf, spearheaded the Utah Association of the Deaf Museum Committee. He saw the Robert G. Sanderson Community Center as the ideal site for our museum. The Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing funded this project, which also received support from Philippe Montalette, UAD President, and Marilyn T. Call, Director of the Sanderson Community Center. The purpose of the museum is not just about preserving our shared history, but also about celebrating it, our collective memory, and unique community identity.
Rob Kerr, 2014
A Museum at the
Idaho School for the Deaf
Idaho School for the Deaf
David "Jerry" Wilding, an Idaho Deaf Historian and George Wilding's brother, passionately established a museum at the Idaho School for the Deaf in 1975. The museum is still running.
David "Jerry" Wilding, 2010
