DEAF HISTORY International An Association for All Interested in the Study, Preservation, and Dissemination of Deaf People’s History No. 32 The DHI Newsletter FALL 2007 Inside this issue: Notes from the Editor 2 President’s Column 3–4 Deaf Smith`s Last 5–6 Resting Place Deaf Boy with Rabbit 6 Education of the Deaf 7–8 in the Netherlands Eduard Fürstenberg 9 (1827–1885) A Deaf Artist 10 in Early America DHI Conferences: Past 11 and Future DHI Membership Form 12 On May 5, 2007, Johan Wesemann (Netherlands), former President and Secretary-General of the European Union of the Deaf, and Markku Jokinen (Finland), President of the World Federation of the Deaf, came to pay their respects at the only grave honoring a Deaf person in Germany. The inscription “Förderer der Taubstummen” in German means “Promoter of the Deaf-Mute.” Subscription form available on Page 12 (See article on page 9) Deaf History International Newsletter — 1 — FALL 2007 — No. 32 Notes from the Editor The DHI Newsletter Our Swedish DHI members and friends advised us that information and registration for the 2009 DHI Conference in Stockholm will not be DEAF HISTORY available for a few more months. They are still in the INTERNATIONAL BUREAU planning stages. I was recently invited to contribute a 300–500 PRESIDENT (2006–2012) word entry in the multi-volume Encyclopedia of Douglas Bahl (USA) American Disability History to be published by Facts On [email protected] File, Inc. of New York, N.Y. While researching information to write the entry, I encountered a few discrepancies about the VICE-PRESIDENT (2003–2009) subject. I had to deal with a variety of historical misinformation that found its Jochen Muhs (Germany) way into print, and then ended up repeatedly over the years as if it were a [email protected] fact. Some people probably noticed the inaccuracies, but did not bother to gather enough verifiable information before writing their articles. One SECRETARY / TREASURER example is the discrepancy with the date of death of the person I was writing (2006-2012) about (December 10, 1830 versus December 17, 1830). Many publications Edna Sayers (USA) had the 10th and a very few others had the 17th. My colleagues know that I [email protected] have a passion for accuracy — for this reason, I sought the original sources. On the Internet, I found a photograph of the subject’s grave marker with an MEMBERS-AT-LARGE (2006–2009) inscription that had the 17th, but someone immediately told me that it was Helmut Vogel (Germany) in error. Being unsatisfied with the hasty response, I contacted my [email protected] dependable colleagues at the Gallaudet University Archives who confirmed Gordon Hay (United Kingdom) that the subject died on Friday morning of December 17, 1830. Their [email protected] sources were an old obituary newspaper clipping and other family papers stored in the archives. My communication with Gary Wait, museum curator Annemieke Van Kampen (Netherlands) at the American School for the Deaf in Hartford, Connecticut, eventually [email protected] concurred with the findings. After all the frustration and trouble, I am now content with the correct date of death to complete my entry on the subject. Abbas Ali Behmanesh (Canada) We all need to be careful about our sources when documenting information. [email protected] Please keep in mind that not everything “in print” and/or on the Internet is true or accurate — we must always double-check several sources even if we EX-OFFICIO MEMBER have to painstakingly “go back in time” to read the existing first documents. and In closing, I have to confess that I have been procrastinating my Editor, The DHI Newsletter article about the first Canadian school for Deaf children for our newsletter. I Clifton F. Carbin (Canada) can not locate one specific photograph that I have which was inadvertently [email protected] misplaced in one of my many boxes of research documents. I ain’t gonna give FAX: 905-332-8973 up in finding it! The Deaf History International Newsletter welcomes Deaf History-related submissions of news, articles and essays, book and film reviews, images and photographs, newspaper clippings, conference and workshop announcements, websites, and other readings of interest for possible inclusion. Please submit them to the editor by the following deadlines: SUBMISSION DISTRIBUTION DHI ISSUES DEADLINE DATE SPRING March 15 April 15– 30 SUMMER June 15 July 15 – August 15 FALL September 15 October 15 – 31 FOR FUTURE ISSUES WINTER December 15 January 15 — 31 Deaf History International Newsletter — 2 — FALL 2007 — No. 32 President’s Column By Douglas Bahl (USA), DHI President set out to find his true passion in life. His three career possibilities turned into one when an architect encouraged him At the time of writing this column, I am pleased to sit here to pursue architecture. Olof became well-known both in and in my home (Charles Thompson Memorial Hall) and watch the outside the Deaf Community for his skill as a draftsman and wind blowing leaves from the trees in the backyard. I am architect. He set up his private architectural business in the reminded of the changing seasons and how much I like autumn city of Faribault where he had designed more than 50 houses, school buildings, hotels and churches. He later moved out to because of my hero’s birthday as well as mine. Seattle, Washington where he and his hearing partner opened Maybe you find it quite interesting that I 1890s Photo their architectural practice and had done considerable work am revealing Olof Hanson as my hero. It on their own account. Olof’s work in Seattle included about really took me some time to figure out who 40 buildings. my hero is. There are so many Deaf people in my life and they all are my heroes in some As an architect, Olof is most widely recognized in way. However, my real hero is Olof Hanson, Minnesota where some of his buildings have been named on about whom I learned so much from Jack R. the National Register of Historic Places. Was it a coincidence Gannon’s book, Deaf Heritage: A Narrative that I was appointed in 1988 to serve on the City of Faribault History of Deaf America (1981). I decided to OLOF HANSON Heritage Preservation Commission by the mayor? We do further research on the records of this (b. 1862; d. 1933), nominated three private residences designed by Olof to be on Deaf Architect the national register, starting with the approval of the City man who is probably the first Deaf architect Gallaudet University Archives Council. Our nomination went to the State Historic in America. Preservation Office for further approval and finally, to the I must say that I find myself honored to be living for the National Register of Historic Places. Due to my experience on past two years in this building designed by Olof. It is known as the Historic Preservation Commission, I decided to contact a Charles Thompson Memorial Hall, the first civic and social different city commission (St. Paul, Minnesota) about our Deaf clubhouse for Deaf people in the United States (See my two Clubhouse. The St. Paul Historic Preservation Commission previous articles “Minnesota’s Deaf Clubhouse Celebrates agreed to approve Charles Thompson Memorial Hall as the 90th Anniversary” and “Deaf Clubhouse in Minnesota: historic landmark. Biographies” in The DHI Newsletter (Fall/Winter 2006, Nos. 28 & 29, pp. 8–11). I am now the clubhouse caretaker and live Besides the extraordinary high quality of his architectural here in one-bedroom apartment. I can still see the glory of his work, Olof has been praised for his outstanding leadership. He worked for the Minnesota Association of Deaf Citizens, the architecture every time I walk around here. Puget Sound Association of the Deaf, and the National I am not sure what sparked my interest in the architectural Fraternal Society of the Deaf, as well as serving for three years works of Olof. The more houses I visited, the more convinced as the 8th president of the National Association of the Deaf I became that I wanted to live in a place designed by him. I (NAD) from 1910 to 1913. During his NAD presidency, Olof found myself going back to visit the buildings he designed and learned that the U.S. Civil Service Commission set up a rule began to imagine what it would be like to live in one of them. saying that no Deaf persons could take the Civil Service Do you ever wonder what it might be like to live in a home examination for federal jobs. He wrote a letter to U.S. designed by Olof Hanson? There are very few Hanson homes President Theodore Roosevelt requesting an end to available. Is it a coincidence that I now live in a building discrimination against Deaf people. President Roosevelt acted designed by Olof? and changed the law. Like the NAD presidents before and Back in September 1862, Olof was born to wealthy parents after him, Olof took pains to fight for the use and importance in Fjelkinge, Sweden. He became deaf in his right ear as a of sign language. It took over a century for educators to young boy following a severe case of frostbite. While realize that the use of oral method was not a successful mode preparing to move from Sweden to America, Olof’s family was of communication for Deaf students. Because of the early devastated by his father’s unexpected death but Olof efforts of people like Olof, we have come to see American immigrated to Minnesota with the rest of his family.