Wayne E. Stewart's Photos
of the Utah School for the Deaf
& the Utah Deaf Community
of the Utah School for the Deaf
& the Utah Deaf Community
Compiled & Written by Jodi Becker Kinner
Published in 2014
Updated in 2024
Published in 2014
Updated in 2024
Author's Note
Wayne Stewart, a Deaf photographer
I would like to express my gratitude to Keith E. Stewart, who graduated from the Utah School for the Deaf in 1958, for scanning and identifying the photos used on this website. I would also like to thank his father, Wayne, who graduated from the same school in 1930 and was an enthusiastic photographer. The photos belonged to Wayne, who preserved memories of the school, church, and friends he cherished. Please take a moment to view these incredible and authentic photos of the students who attended the Utah School for the Deaf, including Wayne, and who were involved in the social events of the Utah Deaf community as well. As you can see in the pictures below, I have chosen to leave them in their original, unaltered state, preserving their historical significance. I love styles from the 1920s to the 1940s, and I'm so happy to share Wayne's pictures with you! I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!
Enjoy!
Jodi Becker Kinner
Enjoy!
Jodi Becker Kinner
Wayne E. Stewart
Keith Elsmore Stewart
Wayne E. Stewart's Photos
The students of the Utah School for the Deaf: Between 1914 and 1919. Top L-R: George Laramie, Frank Fuller, _____, Lee Hunter. 2nd Row: ___________, ________, ____________. Bottom L-R: __________, ________, Wayne Stewart
Wayne E. Stewart is in the 2nd-row center, 3rd from left. He was about ten years old. The picture was taken at the Utah School for the Deaf between 1918 and 1919
The event took place in 1922–1923, at the Ogden Branch for the Deaf of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Ogden, Utah. Wayne Stewart, age 12 or 13, was sitting on a stone bench in front of President Max Woodbury
The students dressed as clowns at the Utah School for the Deaf in 1925.
Top: Wayne Stewart, 14–15 years old. 2nd-row L-R: Virgil Greenwood, Lee Hunter, Alton Fisher, Oliver Woodward, ____(couldn't identify with the flapping covering his face), and Waldron Robinson. 3rd-row L-R: Kenneth Burdett, Joseph Burnett, and Rodney Walker. Bottm L-R: Arvel Christemsen, ____, Verl Thorup, and John (Jack) White. Keith stated that his father, Wayne, was petite and very lightweight, and the boys easily lifted him to the top.
The students of Utah School for the Deaf Basketball Team in 1926. L-R: Joseph Burnett, Verl Throup, Virgil Greenwood, Alton Fisher, John (Jack) White, Earl Smith, Arvel Christensen, William Woodward, and Wayne Stewart
The students of the Utah School for the Deaf on May 20, 1927. An old truck with piles of USD students behind the Annex Building and a fire escape cylinder. Wayne Stewart sits on the truck's bumper. Cyrus Freston stands to the right. Kenneth Burdett stands tall above the truck cab. The first two standing nearest to the bed of the car are Joseph Burnett (left) and Verl Throup (right)
In the late 1920s. The students of the Utah School for the Deaf. L-R) Joe Brandenburg, young boy, Verl Thorup, William Wesley Perry, Joseph Burnett, William (Willie) Enoch Woodward, Wayne Stewart, John (Jack) White, and ____ standing in front of the Annex Building. A young boy standing in front of Joe is unknown
The students of Utah School for the Deaf in 1928. Keith E. Stewart stated that the guys were trying to be funny. John (Jack) White rests his hand on his father, Wayne E. Stewart's head
The students of Utah School for the Deaf between 1928 and 1930. Back L-R: Wayne Stewart, William Woodward, Alton Fisher, John (Jack) White, Joseph Burnett, possibly Leon Edwards, Arvel Christensen, Virgil Greenwood, ____. Front L-R: J. Sherwood Messerly, Rodney Walker, Melvin Penman, Wesley Perry, Verl Throup, _____
The students of Utah School for the Deaf between 1928 and 1929. L-R: Wayne Stewart, Alton Fisher, possibly Verl Throup, Earl Smith, and ___. The old gym is behind them, and next to it is the maintenance care building
The Play at the Utah School for the Deaf on May 31 and June 1–3, 1928. 1st Row L-R: Wayne Stewart, Lillian Fowkes, and Edna Freston. 2nd Row L-R: Virgil Greenwood, Helen Wood, Kenneth Burdett, Lucy Billeter, Kate Billeter, Carlos Seegmiller, and Frank Fullmer. Third Row L-R: Arvel Christensen, Paul Mark, Max Woodbury, John (Jack) White, Dellan Harper, and Jennie Holton
The Utah Association of the Deaf Convention on May 30, 1929, in front of the Main Building of the Utah School for the Deaf in Ogden, Utah
The Utah School for the Deaf Basketball Team, 1930. L-R: Coach____, Verl Throup, Joseph Burnett, Virgil Greenwood, Arvel, Christensen, Max Woodbury (Coach). Front L-R: Alton Fisher, John (Jack) White, Wayne Stewart, Earl Smith, William Woodward
In 1929-1930 at the Utah School for the Deaf. Left Top L-R: Joseph Burnett, Alton Fisher, Wesley Perry, Rodney Walker,____, Earl Smith, and Verl Thorup. Front Row L-R: Wayne Stewart, John "Jack" White with a crutch, Arvel Christensen, Virgil Greenwood, Willie Woodward, and Joe Brandberg
In 1929–1930, at the Utah School for the Deaf. Standing on the vintage vehicle are, from left to right, Earl Smith and Joseph Burnett. Sitting on the snow slide are, from left to right: Alton Fisher, Verl Thorup, Empire Nelson, Wayne Stewart, Willie Woodward, and Wesley Perry
The Utah Association of the Deaf Convention in front of Driggs Hall, the girls' dorm at the Utah School for the Deaf in 1931
The students of the Utah School for the Deaf between 1933 and 1936. Front Row L-R: Robert G. Sanderson, _____, Frank Orlando, _______ Back Row L-R: _____, Lloyd Jones, _____, and Oliver I. Langworthy
Wayne Stewart skiing in 1929–1930
In the Late 1930s. Utah Deaf social gathering. Men in hats with small neckties and women in dresses standing in front of the Model Ford. Back L-R: Verl Throup, John (Jack) White, Charles Fowkes. Front L-R: Vida (Fowkes) White, Evangeline Archabal, ________, Lillian (Fowkes) Freston
Vintage cars were on a paved road behind the mountain between Bountiful and Centerville, Utah, in late 1935. L-R: Ray Wenger, Kate Billeter, Joe Brandenburg, Arthur Wenger, Fern Brandenburg, John Steele, Georgie Mae Stewart, and Wayne Stewart
Wayne E. Stewart and his wife, Georgie Mae Stewart, sit on their 1929 Model T Ford in between 1934 and 1935
In the 1930s. Utah Deaf social gathering for swimming at Utah Deaf social gathering at Saltair, Great Salt Lake's most famous resort
In the 1930s. Utah Deaf social gathering at Saltair, Great Salt Lake's most famous resort. L-R: Wayne Stewart, Georgie Stewart, _______, Vida White, and John (Jack) White. He jokingly drank a keg of beer
In the late 1930s. Utah Deaf social gathering at Saltair, Great Salt Lake's most famous resort. Front Row L-R: Fern (Player) Brandberg, Joe Brandberg, Charles Fowkes' wife, Dorothy Fisher, Georgie Stewart, and Wayne Stewart. Back Row: L-R: Jack White, Verl Thorup, George Laramie, and ____
In the late 1930s. Utah Deaf social gathering. Men in hats with small neckties and women in dresses stand in front of the Model Ford. Back L-R: Verl Throup, John (Jack) White, and Charles Fowkes. Front L-R: Vida (Fowkes) White, Evangeline Archabal, ________, Lillian (Fowkes) Freston
In the 1930s. Utah Deaf social gathering. First Row L-R: Emily C. Miller, Afton Curtis, Evangeline Archabal, and Wayne Stewart. Second Row L-R: Verl Throup and Joseph Burnett
Between 1942 and 1943. Utah Deaf social gathering. 1st Row L-R: Melvin Penman, Kate Keeley, Jolene Keeley (daughter of Alfred & Jessie Keeley), Gladys (Burnham) Wenger (Hart Wenger's wife), Margaret Lazenby, Naomi (Wright) Olsen, and Kenneth Olsen. 2nd Row L-R: John (Jack) White, Verl Throup, George Laramie, Wayne Stewart, and Joe Brandenberg. 3rd Row L-R: Jessie Agnes Busby (Allred Keeley's wife), Catherine Jones (Grant Morgan's wife), Ivy Griggs (Fred Low's wife), Lucy Billeter, Dorothy Moshier Fisher (Alton's former wife), Selma (Kreipl) Worsley (Robert's wife), Ellen Lusk, Pearl Wright (Elgin Jacobsen's wife), and Walter Kirk
In the 1940s. A Christmas Party on top of the balcony in the old gym at the Utah School for the Deaf, Ogden, Utah
In the early 1940s. Utah Deaf social gathering in the Canyon, Utah
The Salt Lake City Division No. 56 of the National Fraternal Society of the Deaf went on an outing to one of the parks around 1947–1948. Keith E. Stewart was 10 when the picture was taken. See the photo of him sitting in the front, with his hand shielding his eyes from the bright sunlight. Back Row: L-R: ____, _____, ____, John Glassett, Frank Stone, Philip Thornton, Carolina Thornton, a lady, a man with a child, Verl Thorup, a woman, and a child, _____, Cleo Thorup, Don Jacobs, _____. Left 2nd row: Marie Stone, Georgia Walker, ____, Geraldine Shepherd? ____, Vida White, child? Helen Thurston, Ross Thurston, Ethel Kirk, ____, Georgie Stewart with Darlene, three boys, Eyre, Don Jacobs's wife, lady---with a child, Walter Kirk, child? Man_____, lady_____, Hart Wenger, and Dorothy Fisher. Left 3rd row: _____, Rodney Walker, Carol White, Helen and Ross Thurston's daughter Rosemary, Edna Glenn, and a boy. Justin Keeley, ____, Man with three kids, Gene Stewart, _____, Spencer Hind, and a child. Left 4th row: Marlo Honey, Jack White holding his son Jack, Elgin Jacobson, my dad Wayne Stewart, Keith Stewart, Alfred Keeley, Grant Morgan, Alton Fisher, two kids, Ottie Palmer, and a child
In the 1940s. The Deaf individuals could be members of the National Fraternal Society of the Deaf in Utah. Top L-R: William T. Watson, Earl Smith, and Alton Fisher. 2nd Row L-R: George Preece, Heber Christensen, Grant Morgan, Joseph Burnett, Kenneth Burdett, _______, Arvel Christensen, Walter Kirk, Joe Brandenburg, and Ephraim Neilson. Bottom L-R: Ralph Glenn, John (Jack) White, George Laramie, Alfred Young, Floyd Underwood, Ross Thruston, Wayne Stewart, Paul Mark, and Freda Billeter
In the 1940s. Utah Deaf social gathering. Top L-R: ______, George Laramie, Zelma Worsley, ______, Paul Wood, Frank Stone, Dorothy Fisher, Joe Brandenburg, Fern Brandenburg, John (Jack) White. 2nd Row L-R: Alton Fisher, Katie Billeter, Wayne Stewart, Georgie Mae Stewart, Rodney Walker, Lucy Billeter, Virgil Greenwood, Lucy Greenwood. Bottom L-R: Earl Smith, William T. Watson, Marie Stone, Verl Troup, Freda Billeter
Groundbreaking of the Salt Lake Valley Branch on August 20, 1947. Brimming with joy and excitement, the members witnessed the breaking of ground for the construction of the Salt Lake Valley Branch for the Deaf in Salt Lake City, Utah. This was a momentous step towards the realization of their long-awaited dream. President Willard Barlow, a key figure in the branch's establishment, was present at the groundbreaking, adding to the event's significance. The man capturing this historic moment with his camera was Wayne Stewart, a testament to the importance of documenting this journey. Bishop Thorpe B. Isaacson, a representative of the Presiding Authorities, conducted the groundbreaking on August 20, 1947
In the late 1940s. The Deaf Latter-day Saints gathered at the spot where the new Salt Lake Valley Branch will be built, as indicated by the rope
The Salt Lake Valley Branch opened on November 14, 1948. In the morning, the Deaf Latter-day Saints members attended Sunday School. In the evening, they again attended the sacrament meeting at the Lion House, where Brigham Young, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, used to live. One of the Twelve Apostles, Elder John Andreas Widtsoe, the one with white hair and a beard, was present in the picture
In the mid-1950s. Utah Deaf social Gathering at Ned C. Wheeler's house, Ogden, Utah. Bottom Row L-R: Robert Sanderson, Kimito Yokamura, Mary Sanderson, Edith Wheeler, Ned Wheeler, Donald Jensen, Vida White, Kenneth Burdett, Ray Wenger, and George Laramie. Second Row L-R: Walter Zabel, Arthur Wenger, Marie Stone, ________, Mabel Driggs, Supt. Frank Driggs, Jack White, Katie Woodbury, Theo Logan, Elise Hertell, Georgia Walker, and Edna Glenn. Third Row L-R: Ivy Low, Cyril Jones, Myrle (Edwards) Jones, Mae Stewart, Afton Burdett, Max Woodbury, Beth Jensen, Violet Zabel, Cleo Thorup, Milo Culter, Carlos Seegmiller, Gladys Wenger, and Ralph Glenn. Top Row L-R: Frank Stone, Kay (Kinner) Curtis, LaVern Burnett, Joseph Burnett, Carl Hertell, Rodney Walker, Wayne Stewart, Verl Thorup, Robert Welsh, Lorraine Welsh, and Hart Wenger
