Visual Description
Photograph of Sanford Robey Burns
In 1935, with less than six months before the start of the Deaflympic Games in London, Sanford Robey Burns was asked to organize a team. Burns, a 1914 graduate of the Illinois School for the Deaf (ISD), recruited two ISD students: John Chudzikiewics (Class of 1935) and Wayne Otten (Class of 1938). Both won two medals and garnered the distinction of being the first Americans to compete in the Deaflympics. For his efforts, Burns is regarded as the “Father of American Participation in the Deaflympics.”
Courtesy of the Illinois School for the Deaf
Engraving of the Institution’s Campus
This detailed engraving shows the campus of Illinois School for the Deaf (ISD). Opened in 1846, in Jacksonville, Illinois, the institution was tasked with educating deaf youth across the state. It was later renamed the Illinois School for the Deaf (ISD) and is still in operation today. This engraving was created by the Western B. N. & Engraving Company.
Courtesy of the Illinois School for the Deaf
Group Portrait – Graduation Day 1901
Assembled in fine attire, this photograph features the graduates of the institution’s Class of 1901.
Standing: Thomas Gray, Lottie Wilson, Verdi Trenchery, James Shepherd, Louis Stiensmeyer, Herman Hass, Minnie Earnst, James Stemmer Seated: Mattie Irving, Leslie Vaughan, Edward Hart, Louis Wilhelm, Frederick Mather, Abraham Diamond, and Catherine Dunn
Courtesy of the Illinois School for the Deaf
Artifacts from the 1935 Deaflympics
In 1935, Wayne Otten (Class of 1938) and his classmate Chudzikiewics (Class of 1935) became the first two Americans to compete in the Deaflympics Games. Otten won a bronze medal in the 100-meter dash and took home a silver medal in the 200-meter dash. Displayed are photographs of Otten, along with his silver medal and the uniform he wore during the games.
Courtesy of the Illinois School for the Deaf
Handcrafted Ship and Tank
Students at the Illinois School for the Deaf (ISD) are encouraged to explore the arts. This ship and tank are fine examples projects completed and exhibited by the school.
Courtesy of the Illinois School for the Deaf
2014 Alumni Reunion
Graduates of the Illinois School for the Deaf (ISD) are extremely proud of their alma mater. Many families have generations of students who attended the school. Residential students that boarded at the ISD during the school year liken their relationships to fellow classmates as more familial than friendship. The alumni of the school gather regularly for reunions, giving them time to see old friends, tell stories, and catch up on the latest goings on. The photo displayed was taken at the 2014 Alumni Reunion, which happened to be the school’s one hundred and seventy-fifth anniversary.
Courtesy of the Illinois School for the Deaf
A Variety of Hearing Aid Devices
Hearing aids or PSAPs (Personal Sound Amplification Products) have existed since the 13th century. From hollowed-out horns to ear trumpets—and with the advent of the electronic age, the use of vacuum tubes, transistors, and digital aids--technology has been employed to create more efficient and smaller amplification devices. The displayed artifacts are a selection of hearing aid devices which showcase the changes in technology in PSAPs during the electronic age.
Courtesy of the Illinois School for the Deaf