Deaf Rare
·
Constitution
and by-laws of the
Pennsylvania Institution for the
Deaf
and Dumb and: with the address of the Board of directors
and a list of the officers. Gallaudet University Archives,
Call Number: Deaf Rare
·
Documents in
relation to the dismissal of David G. Seixas, from the
Pennsylvania Institution for the
Deaf and Dumb: published for the
information of the contributors, in pursuance of a resolution
of the Board of Directors, passed the 3d of April, 1822.
Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: Deaf Rare
·
An address
delivered in the Capitol, in Washington City, February 16th,
1828, at an exhibition of three of the pupils of the
Pennsylvania Institution for the
Education of the
Deaf
and Dumb. ... Published by request. Gallaudet
University Archives, Call Number: Deaf Rare
·
The charter,
by-laws, and acts of assembly relating to the
Pennsylvania Institution for the
Deaf
and Dumb : together with the acts of assembly of the
States of Maryland, New Jersey and Delaware relative to the
instruction of
deaf
mutes. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: Deaf
Rare
·
Memoir of
Edward K. Diettrich,
deaf
and blind : a pupil of the
Pennsylvania Institution for the
Instruction of the Blind. Gallaudet University Archives,
Call Number: Deaf Rare
·
An address
commemorative of the virtues and services of Abraham B.
Hutton, late principal of the
Pennsylvania Institution for the
Deaf
and Dumb, delivered at the request of the Directors, on
the 4th of October, 1870. Gallaudet University Archives,
Call Number: Deaf Rare
·
Report of the
special committee of the Board of Directors of the
Pennsylvania Institution for the
Deaf and Dumb, appointed March 5th,
1884, to collect information as to the lives and occupations
of those pupils who left the institution during the ten years
prior to 1884. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number:
Deaf Rare
·
Discussion
and results of oral work: a paper read before the Teachers’
Association of the
Pennsylvania Institution for the
Deaf and Dumb. Gallaudet University
Archives, Call Number: Deaf Rare
·
A brief
history of the
Pennsylvania Institution for the
Deaf
and Dumb by H. Van Allen ... illustrated with numerous
engravings by W.R. Cullingworth. Gallaudet University
Archives, Call Number: Deaf Rare
Vertical
Files
·
Pennsylvania
School for the Deaf. Gallaudet University Archives, Call
Number: Deaf Schools
Photographs
·
Pennsylvania
School for the Deaf. Gallaudet University Archives,
Photograph Collection: Special Topics;
Schools-Pennsylvania-Philadelphia
Scrapbooks
·
Scrapbook of
clippings.
Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: Scrapbook
Album 2
Historical
Sketch
The
Pennsylvania School for the Deaf (PSD) is the third oldest
school of its kind in the United States. Formerly, it was called
the Pennsylvania Institution for the Deaf and Dumb (PIDD) until
its name change occurred in 1934.
In 1819, David Seixas, a
young tradesman, became interested in a number of deaf
children whom he found wandering about the streets of
Philadelphia. In 1820, the school began in David Seixas'
private home on the corner of Seventeenth and High (Market)
Streets. From his own limited means he undertook to
found a home for their care and instruction. The little school
was opened and carried on for a short time. Mr. Seixas'
efforts were soon brought
to the attention of a philanthropic group of Philadelphia
citizens who met in the Hall of the Philosophical Society to
consider the organization of a permanent institution for the
instruction of the "deaf and dumb." Several committees were
appointed to solicit funds for a more suitable location and
for the necessary equipment. A committee was charged with
approaching the legislature of Pennsylvania to requesting an act
of incorporation and financial aid from the State. Mr. Seixas
was formally appointed teacher and his small group of fifteen
pupils formed the nucleus of the school which then moved to the
southeastern corner of Eleventh and Market Streets in 1821.
One of
PSD's first principals was the noted Deaf Frenchman Laurent Clerc,
who served briefly as Principal from late 1821 until mid 1822.
By 1822 there were 58 pupils under the instruction of a
principal and three teachers. There is reason to believe that
the first vocational training in Philadelphia, if not in the
State, was begun that year. Such useful occupations as
spinning, weaving and housewifery were stressed for the girls.
The boys were taught coopering, cobbling, cabinet-making and
carpentry.
To
accommodate the rapidly growing school, a site was then
purchased at the northwestern corner of Broad and Pine
Streets, and a new and modern building was built and made
ready for occupancy in November, 1825. Additions were made to
this building from time to time.
In 1881,
the day-school was opened at Seventeenth and Chestnuts
Streets, under the charge of Miss Emma Garrett. The method of
instruction adopted was the “pure oral.” The original
intention had been to make room for the day-school at Broad
and Pine Streets, but on account of the difference of methods
pursued an entire separation of the two schools was deemed
advisable. Because of the rapid growth of the day-school, in
1883, the school moved to the corner of Eleventh and Clinton
Streets. In 1885, the day school became a boarding school and
was known as the Branch for Oral Instruction. The
accommodations for both the main “Institution” and the “Oral
Branch” became inadequate. The plan to move the schools to
new quarters began in 1889.
In 1892, the
school opened in its new setting, a spacious, thirty-three acres
with 20 additional acres of woods located in Mt. Airy. Fourteen
buildings were constructed. There was a ample room for the ten
buildings, playgrounds, and football, hockey and track fields.
Pupils were housed in three buildings, each a separate unit with
dormitories and living quarters, dining and kitchen facilities.
Each hall had a principal, matron and a staff of teachers and
supervisors. In Cresheim Hall was the Primary Department, in
Wingohocking Hall the Intermediate Department, and in
Wissinoming Hall the Advanced Department. The Administration
offices were also in Wissinoming Hall. Located in Morris
Hall were the Vocational Department with various shops, foods
laboratories, and a housekeeping apartment. There was also the
office of the Business Manager, and the laundry. Next to
Morris Hall was the heat, light and power plant with another
small building nearby where supplies were received and stored.
Gilpin Hall,
the gymnasium, was the newest and most modern building on the
campus in 1927, while Scout Lodge, originally a stone barn built
in 1801 and renovated in 1939 was the oldest. The Infirmary,
with two registered nurses and its own household staff, was
housed a separate building equipped with modern facilities for
the care of bed patients and the various clinics. The
Headmaster's home was a charming old house on one corner of the
campus facing Germantown Avenue. In 1962, the latest modern
building, the George W. Nevil Vocational Building, was built on
the campus between Cresheim Hall and Wissinoming Hall to meet
the growing demand of various vocational training programs. All
Administration offices were then relocated to Morris Hall.
In the
1980s, declining enrollment and resources prompted relocation to
a smaller setting. In 1984 the Board of Directors of the PSD
decided to purchase the former Germantown Academy campus from
the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority. The campus was
completely renovated while preserving its unique historic
character. The PSD serves deaf children ranging in age from
three through young teens in preschool, elementary, middle
and high school classes.
Scope and
Content of the Records of the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf
The records
of the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf consist mainly of
administrative files and financial records, such as admission
records, annual reports, applications, correspondence,
memoranda, minutes, reports, bills paid, checks, ledgers,
and payroll.
The
collection, which consists of approximately 396,100 pages, dates
from 1816 to 1984. Most documents date from one of three eras:
prior to 1840, 1860s-1890s and 1940s-1960s. In the first group,
the volume of papers from the 1820s is larger than that from the
1830s and 1840s because, on the founding of the school, there
were not only acts of incorporation but also many letters,
reports, and financial records.
The
principal subjects in the collection are establishment of the
PSD, school records related to student admissions,
correspondence relating to buildings and detailed financial
reports. There is a small collection related to student
extracurricular activities, such as basketball and other sport
tournaments and an athletic association.
To view the list of Photographs and
Objects, please click this.
Series
Descriptions and Folder Lists
Series
1: Administration
Boxes 1- 100,
OV 1-4, 23-26
In this
group, there are the published annual reports from 1820 to
1947; census records from 1884, the headmaster Albert L. E. Crouter’s published speeches, hearing surveys from the 1940s,
the physician’s reports on the students. The largest part of
this group of documents concerns pupil applications from 1824
through 1938. Finally, there are
folders of headmasters’ correspondence, including Abraham B.
Hutton, Joshua Foster, Albert L. E. Crouter, Elbert A. Gruver,
and M. Wistar Wood. These papers are separate from the larger
set of superintendents' correspondence. The latter concern
mainly the school’s everyday operations, such as maintenance,
budget, state government, and curriculum during the Edward M. Twitmyer and John G. Nace administrations (1948 through 1969).
Boxes 101-102, OV 5-6, 100-123
This group
of documents concerns mainly admission to the school. There
are boxes of governor’s warrants from Delaware, Maryland, New
Jersey and District of Columbia authorizing admission of Deaf
pupils to the school (At the time, there were no established
schools for the deaf in those states.) In this unit, there
are many boxes of admission records, spanning the period 1820
through 1953. Records of admissions are divided by departments
such as Intermediate and Advanced.
To view the list of Pupil
Applications, please click this.
-
Sub-series: Athletic Committee
Box 103
A box
covers reports relating to athletic issues at the school.
-
Sub-series: Board of Directors
Boxes 103-146, OV 7-17
In this
sub-series, the minutes of board meetings from 1820 to 1967
can be found, along with treasurer’s reports. Also, there is
correspondence with the members of the board of directors,
especially with the presidents from 1934 through 1966,
secretaries from 1840 to 1899 and 1934 to 1969 and
treasurers mostly from 1822-1896 and 1950-1968.
-
Sub-series: Building Committee
Boxes 147-160, OV 18
In this
unit, one will find correspondence, minutes from the meetings,
and reports of detailed plans regarding expanding the school’s
grounds during the late 1870s. Also there are documents
concerning the new buildings at Mt. Airy from 1889 through
1895 and maintenance of the school through the beginning of
the 1900s, including reports from the Grounds Committee.
-
Sub-series: Employment Committee
Box 160
This box
contains both minutes of the meetings of the Employment
Committee and reports relating to the employment issues at the
PSD.
-
Sub-series: Executive Committee
Box 161
This
covers only minutes recorded from the Executive Committee’s
meetings from 1828 to 1879.
-
Sub-series: Finance Committee
Box 162
In this
part, there are incomplete documents related to financial
issues; dates vary 1870 to 1936.
-
Sub-series: Ground Committee
Boxes 162-163
There are
some documents on grounds issues that are separate from the
Building Committee. This group dates from 1851, 1894-1896,
1899, and 1914-1919. See also Building Committee for other
information.
-
Sub-series: Household Committee
Boxes 163-173, OV 19-22
In the
records of Household Committee are included bills, reports,
and minutes of the meetings related to the household
operations, such as boys’ clothing, dry goods room,
shoemaking, store room and tailoring. Also, there are reports
prepared by the Housekeeper, the First Assistant Matrons, and
the Second Assistant Matron, each for the main school and the
Oral Branch (1886-1892).
-
Sub-series: Inspection Committee
Box 173
A folder contains the 1871 report from the Inspection
Committee.
-
Sub-series: Instruction Committee
Boxes 173-188
In the
unit of the Instruction Committee, there are two main groups
of minutes. (1) From 1851 through 1967, except 1882-1884 and
1886-1894 and (2) incomplete reports from 1848 to 1917,
with a few years missing. All documents relate to curriculum,
schedules, change of hours, speaking and lip-reading.
-
Sub-series: Ladies’ Committee
Boxes 189-191
The
Ladies’ Committee was created to assist the school in
fundraising for its financial needs and in recruiting
volunteers for the school’s events. There are various
documents relating to the Ladies’ business with school such as
correspondence, minutes of the meetings, and reports.
Boxes 192-193
Two boxes
cover documents from the Oral Branch, which was a department
of the main school but at a separate location. There are
bills, minutes of the meetings and reports from 1881 to
1887. There is correspondence with Miss Emma Garrett
(1881-1884).
-
Sub-series: Other Committee
Boxes 193-194
There are
seven different committees represented; documents relate to
school affairs in the period 1873 to 1951.
-
Sub-series: Treasurer John L. Evans
Boxes 195-208
These
boxes contain voluminous records maintained by the school
treasurer John L. Evans covering 1913 through 1946. This
includes correspondence regarding bank loans, funds, trusts,
retirements, receipts, expenditures and the steward’s reports.
Series
2: Finance
Boxes
209-317, OV 4, 27-87
For the
most part, these documents relate to finance issues at the
school. One will find correspondence and bills relating to the
construction of the Nevil Vocational Building; bank books from
1820 to 1869; bills paid between 1820 and 1882; checks from
1820 to 1926, with cancelled checks from 1820 to 1926;
and cash books from 1820 to 1956 with missing years
1927-1946. There are day books from 1821 to 1879, detailed
of lists of salaries from 1887 to 1945, along with
financial statements, reports from the estates, and reports of
operations.
Series
3: Student Life
Boxes
318-321, OV 88-96
There are
folders of newspaper clippings related to the school’s events
from 1868 through 1895 and 1905 to 1981, except 1960-1963.
Also, one can find scrapbook albums with pasted newspaper
clippings from 1849 to 1983.
Boxes 322-342
This unit
contains correspondence with athletic activities at the
school, including contracts for games, scorebooks for
baseball, basketball and football. One will find tournaments
both held at the school and off-campus and documentation of
the weights of the school’s pupils.
-
Sub-series: Athletic Association
Boxes 343, OV
97-99
Originally, the Ivanhoe Athletic Association of the
Pennsylvania Institution for the Deaf was founded but later
documents simply refer to the Pennsylvania Institution for the
Deaf Athletic Association. The cash books, constitutions,
correspondence and minutes of the meetings are included.
List of the Headmasters of the PIDD/PSD
1820-1821 David G. Seixas
1821-1822 Laurent Clerc
1822-1830 Lewis Weld
1830-1870 Abraham B. Hutton
1870-1884 Joshua Foster
1884-1925 Albert Louis Edgerton Crouter
1925-1936 Elbert A. Gruver
1936-1939 Margaret Bodycomb (acting
headmaster)
1939-1948 Morris Wistar Wood
1948-1956 Edward M. Twitmyer
1956-1969 John G. Nace
1969-1978 Philip A. Bellefleur
1978-1987
Joseph P. Finnegan, Jr.
1987-present Joseph E. Fischgrund