April is Deaf History Month (resources related to Minnesota Deaf History)

“In recognition of National Deaf History Month, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has also proclaimed April 2024 to be Deaf History Month.” You can read the Proclamation by Governor Walz here. In the proclamation several interesting facts and resources were shared. Below we have listed and linked those items of interest.

Historic Deaf Minnesotans

• Olof Hanson (1862-1933), the first Deaf architect (read this Gallaudet University post on Hanson and view the Virtual Exhibit on Hanson.)
• Agatha Tiegel Hanson (1873-1959), first female graduate of Gallaudet University (and wife of Olof Hanson) (read this Gallaudet University post on Tiegel Hanson.)
• Cadwallader Lincoln Washburn (1866-1965), a well-known Deaf artist (you can see some of Lincoln Washburn’s artwork and read more on the MutualArt website here.)
• Gerald “Bummy” Burstein (1926-2018), a notable teacher and parliamentarian (read a transcript of an interview with Burstein done for the MNCDHH Oral-Visual History Project.)
• Doug Bahl (1950-2014), a famous Deaf historian, teacher and advocate for the deaf (read this Pioneer Press article on Bahl.)
• Blanche Wilkins Williams (1876-1936), the first African American woman to graduate from the Minnesota State Academy of the Deaf (read this blog by historian Dr. Jaipreet Virdi on Wilkins Williams.)

 

Historic Landmarks in Minnesota (related to Deaf history)

• Historic national landmark Charles Thompson Memorial Hall, “built in 1916 by Margaret Brooks Thompson in memory of her husband, both of whom were Deaf, and designed by architect Olof Hanson, to be a space where Deaf Minnesotans and friends could gather, free of charge”

 

Schools for the Deaf in Minnesota

• The Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf (MSAD), established in 1863 in Faribault, serves students who are Deaf, DeafBlind, and hard of hearing
• Metro Deaf School, a free public charter school serving students ages 0-22 in Saint Paul, was established in 1992

 

Organizations in Minnesota Serving the Deaf Community

• Minnesota Department of Human Services, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Division (DHHSD)
• Minnesota Commission of the Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing (MNCDHH)
• Minnesota Association of Deaf Citizens
• Minnesota DeafBlind Association
• Hearing Loss Association of America- Twin Cities Chapter
• St. Paul/Minneapolis Black Deaf Advocates
• Minnesota Deaf Muslim Community
• Deaf Women of Minnesota
• Minnesota Deaf Queers
• Minnesota Deaf Senior Citizens
• Deaf Equity
• ThinkSelf

 

Research and Resources on the Minnesota Deaf Community

• The Minnesota Digital Library hosts an archive of 173 historical photos and documents donated from the Minnesota Commission of the Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing (MNCDHH)
• Minnesota Association of Deaf Citizens, and the Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf Alumni Association Museum, under their Minnesota Reflections collection
• Minnesota Commission of the Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing website hosts several collections of oral-visual history interviews with Minnesota advocates who are Deaf, DeafBlind, and hard of hearing

 

[Note: All information in this blog retrieved from the Minnesota Proclamation on Deaf History Month (April 2024). Links and resources gathered by Laura Hagemann for HLAA-TC]