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MSS 98
Sowell, James
William., 1874-1949
Gallaudet University Archives.
Descriptive Summary
Repository:
Gallaudet
University Archives Administrative Information
Acquisition
Information:
The James W. Sowell collection was donated to the Gallaudet University
Archives by Elizabeth Sowell Morrow.
Related Material in the Archives
· James Sowell. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: Deaf Biographical
James William
Sowell was born near Athens, Alabama in October 27, 1874 and grew up in
Alabama most of his life. He became Deaf at 9 years old. James W. Sowell
attended to Alabama School for the Deaf. James
W. Sowell went to Gallaudet College and graduated with the class of 1900.
He married his college sweetheart, Maude Brizendine in 1901. James W.
Sowell began his teaching career at the Maryland School for the Colored
Deaf for two years and continued his work in literature at John Hopkins
University where he completed his Master’s degree. James and his wife
later moved to Omaha, Nebraska where James taught at Nebraska School for
the Deaf for 18 years. He taught his pupils English language and
especially in literature. Later, he became the principal of the school. He
also was the editor of the Nebraska Journal during the height of the
controversy over educational methods, contributing to the support of the
“combined system.” James W. Sowell went for his doctorate degree at
University of Nebraska, majoring in Old English literature, philosophy,
and education but he never completed the program. He did his research in
the field of “Development of the Sensibility of the Deaf through
Literature.” When the school changed to pure oralism, he had to leave his
job. After he left his job, he worked for the Gas department as an
accounts clerk at the Metropolitan Utilities District until he retired in
1946. James W. Sowell collection contains one box of biography, letters, book, poetry, speeches, studies in Literature, thesis and grades. The collection, which consists of approximately 100 items dated from 1901 to 1950. The collection covers several articles of his biography, copy of published book of Sowell’s poetry, letters about his poetry, newspaper clippings and articles about Sowell, photography of Sowell with Dr. Edward Miner Gallaudet, a written poem for Dr. Edward Miner Gallaudet for his 70th birthday, and information on literatures studies. The collection also covers several items from Nebraska University, which are grade reports, receipts, questionnaire for James W. Sowell’s study in literature, and thesis research about deaf education.
No Series.
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