Oklahoma School for the Deaf

History & Alumni

OKLAHOMA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF The new permanent home of the school began with these four buildings and has grown into what we have today. (1913 - 2017) 1100 East Oklahoma Ave, Sulphur, Oklahoma (The picture was taken in 1913.)

First Site in Sulphur, OK The teachers and pupils assembled on the front porch. (around 1908) This was the Parkview Hotel. The State rented it for the school's use. This building was in use until 1913.

This picture was taken on the 20th of May, 1907 at Guthrie, Oklahoma

Deaf and Dumb Institute - Guthrie, Indian Territory (Oklahoma) - 1903

Deaf and Dumb Institute - Guthrie, Indian Territory (Oklahoma) There were ten boys and twelve girls enrolled there. H. C. Beamer was the superintendent. Mrs. H. C. Beamer was the matron. The picture was taken in April 1898.

Guthrie School 1908

Graduating Classes Of Oklahoma School For The Deaf 1907-1912 Seated (left to right): Ida E. Blatti, Guard S. Price, Mrs. P. H. Dunham (teacher), Katie Ruck, and Anna Sprague. Rear (standing): Ova Chestnut, Cunni Taylor, Edna E. Patch, Charles Gardenh

ELLSWORTH LONG - Founder 1898 Mr. and Mrs. Ellsworth Long, a deaf couple, were the founders or instrumental in establishing this school. Mr. Long was a graduate of the Kansas School and of Gallaudet College.

OKLAHOMA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF The new permanent home of the school began with these four buildings and has grown into what we have today. (1913 - 2017) 1100 East Oklahoma Ave, Sulphur, Oklahoma (The picture was taken in 1913.)

First Site in Sulphur, OK The teachers and pupils assembled on the front porch. (around 1908) This was the Parkview Hotel. The State rented it for the school's use. This building was in use until 1913.

This picture was taken on the 20th of May, 1907 at Guthrie, Oklahoma

Deaf and Dumb Institute - Guthrie, Indian Territory (Oklahoma) - 1903

Deaf and Dumb Institute - Guthrie, Indian Territory (Oklahoma) There were ten boys and twelve girls enrolled there. H. C. Beamer was the superintendent. Mrs. H. C. Beamer was the matron. The picture was taken in April 1898.

Guthrie School 1908

Graduating Classes Of Oklahoma School For The Deaf 1907-1912 Seated (left to right): Ida E. Blatti, Guard S. Price, Mrs. P. H. Dunham (teacher), Katie Ruck, and Anna Sprague. Rear (standing): Ova Chestnut, Cunni Taylor, Edna E. Patch, Charles Gardenh

ELLSWORTH LONG - Founder 1898 Mr. and Mrs. Ellsworth Long, a deaf couple, were the founders or instrumental in establishing this school. Mr. Long was a graduate of the Kansas School and of Gallaudet College.

History

In the heart of Oklahoma, the journey of education for deaf children began at Fort Gibson, where the first school dedicated to their needs was established. Founded by the compassionate Mrs. Lowery, this pioneering institution initially served blind Indian children from the Five Civilized Tribes. Recognizing a broader need, Mrs. Lowery soon welcomed deaf children, and by the early 1880s, the school also began admitting white children.

In 1898, the vision for deaf education grew further with the establishment of a dedicated school in Guthrie by Mr. and Mrs. Ellsworth Long. The staff at the Fort Gibson school felt relieved as they transferred all their deaf students to Guthrie, where the focus would be solely on these children's unique needs, as Mrs. Lowery’s institution had initially been oriented toward those with visual impairments. The territorial government supported education by providing a specific amount to the school superintendent for each enrolled child, ensuring that no student would be overlooked.

As time passed, Mr. H.C. Beamer succeeded Mr. Long as the head of the school, followed by R.N. Dunham, who was in charge when Oklahoma attained statehood. On November 1, 1907, as the state embarked on a new chapter, classes were already underway and continued smoothly under the existing territorial arrangements through the end of that school year.

A significant milestone occurred in the fall of 1908 when the School for the Deaf was officially established in the charming town of Sulphur. Initially, classes took place in rented buildings within the lively business district, creating a vibrant yet transient learning environment. It wasn’t until the fall of 1913 that the school secured its own grounds with the completion of the first building on its current site, providing a lasting and stable home for its students.

Today, the Oklahoma State School for the Deaf stands as a beacon of hope, with a remarkable and uninterrupted history of serving deaf and hard-of-hearing children since territorial days. The school warmly welcomes any child who struggles to progress in public schools due to hearing impairments, offering a nurturing residential environment where they can thrive and adjust, ensuring that every child's potential can be fully realized through application and admission to OSD.