Utah Deaf Women's History
Compiled & Written by Jodi Becker Kinner
Edited by Valerie G. Kinney
2020
Edited by Valerie G. Kinney
2020
Note
Jodi Becker Kinner, the website's author, believes it's vital to remember and appreciate the accomplishments of early Utah Deaf women throughout history since women are marginalized socially, economically, professionally, and politically. We'll learn a little about the accomplishments of Utah Deaf women, particularly in terms of leadership. It's a wonderful way to remember them and pay tribute to their legacy. Finally, we will examine the history and leadership of gender equality, as well as ways of growing political leadership.
Deaf Women's Conference in Utah
The Deaf Women's Conference was held at International Dunes Hotel on October 6, 1979 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The conference was sponsored by the Utah Association for the Deaf under the leadership of President W. David Mortensen, also known as Dave.
W. David Mortensen, UAD President
The convention was planned by a committee comprised of Lois Jones, chairperson, and Celia May Laramie Baldwin, Darlene Stewart Cochran, and Ilene Coles Kinner. Over eighty women, ages 18 to 80 were in attendance.
Utah Deaf Women Conference. L-R: Darlene Stewart Cochran, Ilene Coles Kinner, Lois Jones, & Celia May Baldwin, 1979
Dr. Gertrude Scott Galloway, a Deaf women’s rights advocate and the first woman to be elected president of the National Association of the Deaf, delivered keynote speech outlining the women’s rights and the effect on credit cards, salaries and surnames. She even cited the Gallaudet College’s first female Gallaudet College graduate of 1893, Agatha Tiegel Hanson, when she wrote her graduation speech, “New Horizons For Deaf Women” – even before the Women’s Suffrage (The Deaf American, February 6, 1980).
Dr. Gertrude Scott Galloway, the women's rights advocate & 1st female NAD President
New Horizons For Deaf Women
"Women should be free as the air to learn what she will and do devote her life to whatever vocation seems good to her…It is true that we have made a start in the right direction. But that start has been made very recently, and it is too early to pass sentence on the results." ~ Agatha Tiegel Hanson, 1893
Agatha Tiegel Hanson @ Gallaudet University Archives
Agatha Tiegel Hanson was the first female graduate and valedictorian of Gallaudet College and early champion of both deaf & women's rights.
Workshops featured Beth Ann Campbell, CODA and well-known local interpreter, and Nancy R. Rarus, a Deaf Rights advocate. Campbell talked about topics that were close to anyone’s heart - sex, family, and money. Rarus expounded on leadership in women and focused her talk on the Utah Community Center for the Deaf, which was later proposed during the 1980 Utah Legislative session (The Deaf American, February 6, 1980).
Attendees enjoyed the conference so much that there was talk of having another women’s conference next year. One husband said his wife came home happy after the conference and that he’d gladly pay $9.00 to have her go every week! (The Deaf American, February 6, 1980).
Since Hanson's speech in 1893, women's progress and opportunities have been visible for many years, and they continue to be so today. They've taken the right steps toward realizing that vision (The Deaf American, February 6, 1980). We are prepared to "pass sentence on the results," but we still have a long way to go in terms of achieving and realizing equal opportunity for women and girls.
Attendees enjoyed the conference so much that there was talk of having another women’s conference next year. One husband said his wife came home happy after the conference and that he’d gladly pay $9.00 to have her go every week! (The Deaf American, February 6, 1980).
Since Hanson's speech in 1893, women's progress and opportunities have been visible for many years, and they continue to be so today. They've taken the right steps toward realizing that vision (The Deaf American, February 6, 1980). We are prepared to "pass sentence on the results," but we still have a long way to go in terms of achieving and realizing equal opportunity for women and girls.
Nancy Rarus, Gertrude Galloway & Beth Ann Campbell, hands making a female symbol shape @ The Deaf American
Female Symbol @ clipart-library.com
Utah Deaf Women's Conference attendees, 1979
1994 Deaf Women's Conference in Utah
Fifteen years later, October 21-21, 1994, the Deaf Women's Conference was held at Salt Lake Community College. Chaired by Kristi Mortensen, local Deaf feminist, the theme of the conference was "Towards the 21st Century: An Exciting Journey." Dr. Barbara Brauer, a pioneer in the field of Deaf Mental Health, was the keynote speaker. Dr. Petra M. Horn-Marsh, Deaf Bilingual advocate, gave a presentation about the history of Deaf women’s struggles and accomplishments. During the workshop sessions, Dr. Brauer gave a talk, “Women and Violence” while another presenter, Dr. Lawrence Fleischer, CSUN Deaf Studies professor, gave a presentation, “The Enhanced Image of a Deaf Woman-Amee Mathews.”
Kristi Mortensen
Women are generally seen as a minority group. Despite the fact that women currently outnumber males in college and the workforce, they are still considered a minority. As a result, Deaf women were pushed to a smaller minority group. In other words, they may subjected to double discrimination (The Deaf American, February 6, 1980). Deaf women continue to face challenges in achieving equitable access to full and productive lives.
Women are generally marginalized in terms of education, social status, economic status, professional status, and political power. On many levels, Utah is the lowest state in the nation for women's equality. The gender pay gap is very low and women lag behind men in obtaining a college education. Furthermore, women in politics are underrepresented in Utah. Women across the country thrive on advocating, educating, and programming to advance gender equality.
Dr. Petra M. Horn-Marsh
Due to communication barriers, Deaf women face double discrimination in society. They strive to survive full and productive lives in an equal opportunity environment. Those who have overcome obstacles in the pursuit of gender equality deserve to be recognized for breaking down barriers and pushing for extraordinary achievements in life, education, and career. The webpage “Biographies of Prominent Utah Deaf Women’s” contains several examples.
Deaf Women's Conference in Utah, 1994
Utah Deaf Women Who Made
a Difference in the Deaf Community
a Difference in the Deaf Community
From the late 1800s to the early 1900s, many women in Utah were progressive in achieving their educational and career goals as well as promoting political goals while practicing pologamy. They were activists, physicians, educators, professors, writers, and politicians (Brooks, Steenblik & Wheelwright, 2016). As for Deaf women in Utah, it is possible that the suffrage movement influenced their educational and political ambitions. For example, in 1909, Elizabeth DeLong, also known as Libbie, became the first Deaf female president of the Utah Association of the Deaf, defeating two Deaf male candidates. This is remarkable because women did not have the right to vote for a decade until the 19th amendment was ratified in 1920, and Deaf women members were not allowed to vote in the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) election until 1965. She was also the first Deaf female president of a NAD state chapter association in the United States.
Elizabeth DeLong, 1st Female President of the Utah Association of the Deaf @ FamilySearch
Libbie presented a talk advocating women's suffrage at the UAD Convention in 1915, after serving a second term as president. It's believed that Libbie was influenced by the early Utah suffrage movement in order to fulfill her scholastic, political, and spiritual goals.
In October 2019, Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind announced the opening of a new Deaf School in Springville, Utah, after receiving approval from the Utah State Board of Education and the USDB Advisory Council. The "Elizabeth DeLong School of the Deaf," as it is called, is named after Elizabeth DeLong. The school first opened its doors on January 6, 2020. What a wonderful way to pay tribute to Elizabeth DeLong's legacy!
Looking back, Libbie was the first to achieve many of her ambitions, and she has continued to inspire people both then and now. Utah is fortunate to have her as a leadership role for the Deaf community in the state.
In October 2019, Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind announced the opening of a new Deaf School in Springville, Utah, after receiving approval from the Utah State Board of Education and the USDB Advisory Council. The "Elizabeth DeLong School of the Deaf," as it is called, is named after Elizabeth DeLong. The school first opened its doors on January 6, 2020. What a wonderful way to pay tribute to Elizabeth DeLong's legacy!
Looking back, Libbie was the first to achieve many of her ambitions, and she has continued to inspire people both then and now. Utah is fortunate to have her as a leadership role for the Deaf community in the state.
Emma M. Emmertson. The Utah Eagle, June 6, 1907
Emma M. Emmertson was a Deaf suffragette during the Women’s Rights Movement in the late 19th century and early 20th century.
Mary Wooslayer. The Utah Eagle, June 6, 1907
Mary Wooslayer was the first Deaf female student to enter the University of Utah in 1910 who graduated with a bachelor’s degree. While a student, Mary was under the sponsorship of Maud May Babcock, a member of the Utah School for the Deaf board of trustees and a faculty member at the University of Utah (Mary Woolslayer Photograph Collection, 1890).
Since the establishment of Gallaudet College in 1864, women couldn’t attend college until 1887 (US History Encyclopedia: Gallaudet University). Since the founding of the National Fraternal Society of the Deaf (NFSD) in 1901, women, including Justina W. Keeley, who discovered NFSD for Utah, were denied admission to the organization and full memberships. They were not allowed to purchase a regular insurance membership as men. It was not until 1951 that the NFSD agreed that women could receive regular insurance membership during the NFSD convention in Chicago, Illinois (Records of National Fraternal Society of the Deaf, 1900-2006).
Justina W. Keeley. Salt Lake City Division No. 56, October 15, 1966
Since the establishment of Gallaudet College in 1864, women couldn’t attend college until 1887 (US History Encyclopedia: Gallaudet University). Since the founding of the National Fraternal Society of the Deaf (NFSD) in 1901, women, including Justina W. Keeley, who discovered NFSD for Utah, were denied admission to the organization and full memberships. They were not allowed to purchase a regular insurance membership as men. It was not until 1951 that the NFSD agreed that women could receive regular insurance membership during the NFSD convention in Chicago, Illinois (Records of National Fraternal Society of the Deaf, 1900-2006).
Did You Know?
Our local prominent Deaf leader, Dr. Robert G. Sanderson, NAD president from 1964-68, allowed Deaf women members to vote and Black Deaf individuals to become members as well as to vote in 1965.
Dr. Robert G. Sanderson @ Gallaudet University Archives
Finally, on September 7, 2019, during the UAD Conference, Kim Lucas became the second woman to be elected president of the Utah Association of the Deaf, after over 100 years of men serving as the president.
Kim Lucas, 2nd Female President of the Utah Association of the Deaf
UAD's Utah Deaf Women Group
Deaf women are marginalized educationally, socially, economically, professionally, and politically, so the "Utah Deaf Women" Group, under the umbrella of the Utah Association of the Deaf, was founded on December 5, 2019.
The Utah Deaf Women Group aims to empower and elevate the status of our women. We will raise consciousness on the inequality women still face and recognize female leaders’ accomplishments. We will also acknowledge the history of gender inequality. Last, but not least, we will create strategies for developing leadership as well as service to the Utah Deaf community, thereby improving the quality of life for those within the community.
The mission of the Utah Deaf Women's Group is to empower and raise our women's status. We'll raise awareness about the inequity that still exists for women and celebrate the achievements of female leaders. We will also acknowledge the history of gender inequality in the United States. Last but not least, we'll devise ways for fostering leadership and providing service to the Utah Deaf community, ultimately increasing the community's quality of life.
Please sign up for the Deaf Women United Newsletter at http://www.dwu.org to help the Deaf women's community.
The Utah Deaf Women Group aims to empower and elevate the status of our women. We will raise consciousness on the inequality women still face and recognize female leaders’ accomplishments. We will also acknowledge the history of gender inequality. Last, but not least, we will create strategies for developing leadership as well as service to the Utah Deaf community, thereby improving the quality of life for those within the community.
The mission of the Utah Deaf Women's Group is to empower and raise our women's status. We'll raise awareness about the inequity that still exists for women and celebrate the achievements of female leaders. We will also acknowledge the history of gender inequality in the United States. Last but not least, we'll devise ways for fostering leadership and providing service to the Utah Deaf community, ultimately increasing the community's quality of life.
Please sign up for the Deaf Women United Newsletter at http://www.dwu.org to help the Deaf women's community.
References
Brooks, Joanna, Steenblik Rachel Hunt and Wheelwright, Hannah. "Mormon Feminism Essential Writing." Oxford University Press, 2016.
Gallaudet University Library Deaf Collections and Archives, "Records of National Fraternal Society of the Deaf, 1900-2006."
Mary Woolslayer Photograph Collection. (1890). J. Willard Marriot Library, University of Utah. Collection Number UU_P0669.
The Deaf American Vol. 32 No. 06 February 1980. https://archive.org/details/TheDeafAmerican3206February1980/page/n9/mode/2up
Brooks, Joanna, Steenblik Rachel Hunt and Wheelwright, Hannah. "Mormon Feminism Essential Writing." Oxford University Press, 2016.
Gallaudet University Library Deaf Collections and Archives, "Records of National Fraternal Society of the Deaf, 1900-2006."
Mary Woolslayer Photograph Collection. (1890). J. Willard Marriot Library, University of Utah. Collection Number UU_P0669.
The Deaf American Vol. 32 No. 06 February 1980. https://archive.org/details/TheDeafAmerican3206February1980/page/n9/mode/2up