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About the Illinois School for the Deaf

 

History: History Timeline

By Mickey Jones, Ph.D., revised 06-09-04

Start End Event
1838   State Senator Orville Browning from Quincy meets an educated deaf man on a steamboat and introduces a bill into the Illinois Legislature to establish a school for the deaf in Illinois.
1839   State law establishing a school for deaf students passed on February 23. The school is named Illinois Asylum for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb and is administered by a board of trustees.
1845 1855 Thomas Officer appointed superintendent. First building completed and later became the south wing of Main Building.
1846   School opens with four children present on January 26.
1846 1847 First deaf teacher, Thomas H. Dunlap, hired. Dunlap graduated from the Kentucky School for the Deaf.
1847
1854		 1851
1855		 Mary Emma Rose Mitchill Totten was the first matron. Mrs. Totten entered the American School for the Deaf in 1817 and was taught by L. Clerc and T.H. Gallaudet.
1849   Name changed to Illinois Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb.
1851   Center part of Main Building completed.
1853   North wing of Main Building completed.
1855   Rev. Newton Cloud appointed acting superintendent and served for six months.
1856 1893 Philip G. Gillett appointed superintendent in April. First female teacher, Elizabeth Lawrence, hired in the fall.
1858   Dining hall/hospital completed.
1863   West half of power house completed.
1867   Oral program added to the school.
1869   Board of Commissioners of State Charities given oversight responsibility for the school.
1871   South wing of Main Building torn down and rebuilt.
1877   Industrial building completed.
1879   Laundry building completed.
1881   Bakery and storage building, horse barn, garage and boys’ cottage completed.
1883   East half of power house completed.
1884   Kitchen and cold storage building completed.
1885   Dairy barn completed.
1886   Gymnasium and hospital completed.
1888   Little girls’ cottage completed.
1893 1897 S. Tefft Walker appointed superintendent. He had been supt. of the Kansas School for the Deaf.
1895   Castle building (current Health Center) completed. The porch and castle-like extensions were removed in the 1900s.
1896   Kindergarten class began.
1897 1903 Dr. Joseph C. Gordon appointed superintendent. A.G. Bell was responsible for Gordon becoming supt. Gordon came to ISD from Gallaudet College.
1903   Charles P. Gillett appointed superintendent, and name changed to Illinois School for the Deaf.
1909   Administered by State Board of Administration.
1910   Farm house completed.
1917   Administered by Illinois Department of Public Welfare.
1918   Harvey T. White appointed superintendent.
1921   Col. Oscar C. Smith appointed superintendent.
1923   School band started with Fred Fancher as Instructor.
1927   Col. John W. Reig appointed superintendent and served for 6 months. Col. Frank D. Whipp appointed superintendent following Reig. Burns Gym completed.
1929   Daniel T. Cloud, son of deaf parents, appointed superintendent.
1932   Enclosed swimming pool added to Burns Gym.
1935   Thomas Officer Hall (Unit I) and hog house completed.
1936   Henry Horner (Unit II), Bowen Auditorium, and current Collum Hall completed.
1938   Farm house garage south completed.
1940   Selah Wait Hall (Unit III) and farm house garage north completed.
1944   Chicken house and addition to kitchen and cold storage completed.
1949   Paint storage building completed.
1950   Hose cart building completed.
1952   Thomas K. Kline appointed superintendent.
1957   Henry A. Molohon (vocational) building completed.
1957   ISD educational program officially recognized by ISBE.
1960   Dr. Kenneth R. Mangan appointed superintendent.
1961   Administered by Illinois Department of Mental Health/Children’s Services Division. Program for children with multiple handicaps established.
1964   Administered by Illinois Department for Children and Family Services
1965   Dietary facility completed.
1966   Elementary Building completed.
1968   Cyril H. Winking building (power plant) completed.
1973   High School/Media Center building completed
1976 1987 Dr. William Johnson appointed first hard of hearing superintendent.
1979   Administered by Illinois Department of Rehabilitation Services.
1987 1989 Dr. Larry Stewart appointed first deaf superintendent.
1988   Illinois Foundation for Deaf Children established.
1990 1994 Dr. Peter J. Seiler appointed superintendent. Marshall Gym completed.
1992 1994 Renovation of Main Building.
1995   Joan Forney appointed superintendent.
1997   Autobody Services building completed. Administered by Illinois Department of Human Services.
1999   Addition to Elementary Building completed.