Utah Deaf History and Culture
  • Home
  • Beginning of the Project
  • Why the Website?
  • Special Thanks
  • Editors & Testimonials
  • Utah Deaf Biographies
    • Biographies of Prominent Utah Deaf Men
    • Biographies of Prominent Utah Deaf Women
    • Biographies of Prominent Utah Interpreters
    • Biographies of Deaf Latter-day Saint Leaders
    • Biographies of Utah Deaf Artists
    • Utah Deaf Model
  • Utah School for the Deaf
    • Utah School for the Deaf Archives
    • USD Student Strikes
    • Utah School for the Deaf Reunions
    • Jean Massieu School of the Deaf
    • Kenneth Burdett School of the Deaf
    • Brandon R. Hill: USDB Eagle Logo
    • JMS' 20th Anniversary Celebration
    • Elizabeth DeLong School of the Deaf
    • Videos of the USD Experiences
  • Sociology of the USD in the Utah Deaf Community
  • Deaf Education in Utah
    • Utah Oral Leaders
    • USDB Advisory Council & Instititional Council
    • Dr. Jay J. Campbell: 1977 USD Comprehensive Study
    • Jeffrey W. Pollock: Utah Deaf Education Controversy
    • Videos of Dr. Grant B. Bitter
    • Dr. Robert G. Sanderson's Mainstreaming Persepctive
    • Dr. Robert G. Sanderson's Dream
    • ASL & LSL Controversy Correspondence
    • Minnie Mae Wilding-Diaz - Co-founder of Jean Massieu School
  • Utah Association of the Deaf
    • UAD's Brief History
    • UAD Bulletins/Awards/Logos
    • House Bill 60: Terms Associated With the Deaf Community
  • National Fraternal Society of the Deaf
  • Robert G. Sanderson Community Center
    • Directors of the Sanderson Community Center
    • Robert G. Sanderson's Honoring Ceremony - 2003
    • W. David Mortensen's Honoring Ceremony - 2014
    • Sanderson Center's 25th Anniversary Celebration
    • Sanderson Center's 30th Anniversary
  • Gallaudet University (Utah Connection)
    • Ronald C. Burdett's Gallaudet Honoring Ceremony, 2016
  • Utah Interpreting Service
    • Beth Ann Campbell, 1st RID Interpreter
    • UIP's 30th Anniversary
  • Deaf Latter-day Saints Community
    • Deaf LDS History Researchers
  • Utah Deaf Sports
  • Utah Deaf Organizations
  • Miss Deaf Utah Pageant
  • Sego Lily Center for the Abused Deaf
  • Utah Senior Deaf Citizens
  • Vocational Training Programs
  • Utah Deaf Technology
  • Utah Deaf Women's History
  • The Early Utah Women's History
  • Black Deaf Lives Matter (Utah Connection)
  • Sanderson Community Center Museum
  • Utah Deaf Films
  • Utah Deaf Ski Archives
  • George Sutherland Archives
  • Deaf World Library and Museum
  • Parker Holt, Gallaudet Award
  • Contact & Copyright Permission

Why the Website?


We, the Utah Association of the Deaf, had initially planned to print a "Utah Deaf History" book but instead used a digital library website.
 
For a variety of reasons, we opted for the website route. First, the impact of the residential school decreased with the adoption of oral education and mainstreaming at the Utah School for the Deaf in the 1950s and 1960s. Since then, the number of Utah Deaf community members has dropped.
 
Due to a significant reduction in the number of people who graduated from the Utah School for the Deaf, many of the older generations of graduates who valued language, heritage, and culture may not be around to buy the book. Additionally, there is a slim chance that younger people who have graduated from mainstream settings will buy it. Publishing the book is expensive and may not be a good investment. 
 
The goal is to keep Utah's Deaf history alive by putting accessible history on this website, keeping it up to date, and giving information about historical events. So rather than leaving the book to collect dust on the shelf, anyone interested in learning more about Utah Deaf History and Culture can visit our website.


Picture
Students of the Utah School for the Deaf, May 20, 1927. An old truck with piles of USD students behind the Annex Building & fire escape cylinder. Seated on the bumper is Wayne Stewart. Standing to his right is Cyrus Freston. Kenneth Burdett is standing tall above the cab of the truck. The first two standing nearest in the bed of the truck are Joseph Burnett (left) and Verl Throup (right)

Unlike those who were institutionalized and subjected to cruelty, the majority of the Deaf community had positive memories of their residential school, where they shared a common language, culture, and identity. They called it "home." To convey the history of the school and the impact of the oral and mainstreaming of Ogden's Residential School, I'll use the terms "institution," "Ogden's Residential School," or "state school" on this webpage.
​

This website is not intended to be critical or derogatory of any individuals or groups. Its goal is to educate the public about the tireless efforts of Utah's Deaf leaders to safeguard their language, heritage, and culture. This website's ultimate purpose is to increase public awareness of Utah Deaf history. The information, content, and materials on this website are solely for educational purposes and should not be published, distributed, or replicated. To anyone who is concerned about this website, I do not believe we can try to hide, disregard, or deny the significant impact of Dr. Grant B. Bitter and oral advocates on Utah Deaf history. It is, after all, a part of our history.

I, the website's author, strive for accuracy and completeness. Please contact me at JodiBeckerKinner@gmail.com if you notice something that isn't quite right. I make every effort to ensure that the information is both useful and accurate. Please contact me if you have any additional information or photos/materials to provide regarding Utah Deaf history.

Thank you for stopping by; I hope you find the site entertaining, educational, and informative!
​
Jodi Becker Kinner

Picture
Students of Utah School for the Deaf, 1928-1930. Back L-R: Wayne Stewart, William Woodward, Alton Fisher, John (Jack) White, Joseph Burnett, possible Leon Edwards, Arvel Christensen, Virgil Greenwood, ____ Front L-R: J. Sherwood Messerly, Rodney Walker, Melvin Penman, Wesley Perry, Verl Throup, _____

"Dr. Grant B. Bitter's oral and mainstreaming ideology has left a profound impact on the Utah Deaf community in every way" 
​~Jodi Becker Kinner~