Name/Title
The Annual Report of the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Institution for the Deaf and Dumb for the Year 1920-1921Entry/Object ID
2017.9.294.7Description
Annual report: on front cover and title page is "The Annual Report of the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Institution for the Deaf and Dumb for the Year 1920-1921." Mount Airy, Philadelphia. Printed by Order of the Board of Directors, Institution Printing Office, 1922. Dimensions: 6 x 9", 120 pp.
A photo of the main [front] entrance to the Institution then follows. The current [2021] address of the campus is 7500 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19119. Opposite this is the title page, which repeats the same information found on the front cover.
A table of contents then follows. This is the first known publication of a table of contents in the Institution's annual report.
The officers for the year 1921-1922 are then listed. These include A. R. Montgomery, [President]; J. Andrews Harris. T. DeWitt Cuyler, John F. Lewis, and Joseph H. Burroughs [Vice Presidents], William White [Secretary], John Lewis Evans [Treasurer], and T. DeWitt Cuyler [Solicitor].
The Board of Directors is then listed, organized by class:
The class of 1922 includes: Emlen Hutchinson, A. R. Montgomery, Joseph Wood Wagner, J. Andrews Harris, Joseph H. Burroughs, William Potter, George V. Massey, C. Berkeley Taylor, and Robert Glendinning.
The class of 1923 includes: T. DeWitt Cuyler, C. Hartman Kuhn, R. L. Montgomery, John F. Lewis, Walton Clark, Caspar W. Morris, Edward B. Halsey, Albert L. Smith, and Marshall S. Morgan.
The class of 1924 includes: J. Randall Williams, Charles Biddle, Andrew Alexander Blair, Henry E. Drayton, Leonard T. Beale; George W. Elkins, Jr.; Frank T. Patterson, Henry B. Coxe, and Edward Hopkinson, Jr.
The standing committees included the following, with names listed after each committee:
Committee on Instruction: Andrew Alexander Blair, T. DeWitt Cuyler, John F. Lewis, William Potter, Charles Biddle, Emlen Hutchinson, Leonard T. Beale, Caspar W. Morris, Henry B. Coxe; George W. Elkins, Jr.; R. L. Montgomery, and C. Berkeley Taylor.
Committee on Household: J. Andrews Harris, Joseph H. Burroughs, C. Hartman Kuhn, J. Randall Williams, Henry E. Drayton, T. Walton Clark, George V. Massey, Robert Glendinning, Frank T. Patterson, Edward B. Halsey, Albert L. Smith, and Joseph Wood Wagner.
Committee on Grounds: Marshall S. Morgan and Robert Glendinning.
Committee on Finance: John F. Lewis, C. Hartman Kuhn.
Committee on Athletics: T. DeWitt Cuyler, Albert L. Smith, and Leonard T. Beale.
Ladies' Committee: Miss Mary E. Weld [Honorary Member], Mrs. John H. Brinton [Chair], Miss Laura C. Outerbridge [Secretary], and Mrs. Arthur Henry Lea [Treasurer]. Also includes Miss Nina Lea, Miss Margaret F. Dale, Mrs. Charles W. Henry, Miss Ellen Gowen Hood, Miss Pauline D. Bowie, Mrs. Algernon B. Roberts, Mrs. John Lyman Cox, and Mrs. Lewis Audenreid.
Auxiliary Committee: Mrs. Livingstone E. Jones, Mrs. John W. Muir, Miss Essyllt Evans, Mrs. Lawrence Johnson, Mrs. Arthur H. Hacker.
Staff members are also listed: Russell H. Johnson, MD [Physician], Marion Hearn, MD [Laryngologist and Otologist], Carl Williams, MD [Oculist]. Consulting professionals include Radcliffe Cheston, H. R. Wharton, and Edward Martin, MDs [physicians and surgeons], Ralph W. Seiss and S. MacCuen Smith, MDs [Laryngologists], William T. Shoemaker and William C. Posey, MDs [Ophthalmologists], B. Alexander Randall and Francis R. Packard, MDs [Otologists], Thomas L. Wilcox [Dentist]. A consulting dermatologist [Edward F. Corson, MD] was listed in the report for the first time in several years.
Page 6 includes a list of Officers and Teachers. These include: A. L. E. Crouter [superintendant], Gladys Bodenhorn [Clerk]. Faculty listed in the Academic Department include: Lyman Steed [Principal], teachers Barton Sensenig, John A. McIlvaine, Jr.; Clarence J. Settles, Frances Lucas, Mary Mays Beatty, Eva I. Gustin, Agnes M. Lambert, Mary H. Broadbent, Grace M. McGlone, E. May Trend, Serena E. Foley, Amy M. Hales, Ella S. Renard, Mildred Riday, Angeline Fullington, and Margaret Surber.
Intermediate faculty members include: Jeannette J. Christmas [Principal], M. Ethel Bruce [Supervising Teacher], teachers Lillian B. Lackey, Rachel E. Dawes , Alice May Plouer, Catherine Carpenter, Ellen S. Werner, Mildred Evans, Elizabeth A. Stone, Annetta L. McGrath, Mary E. Leake, Bessie E. Dow, Julia A. Foley, Julia W. McNary, Katharine Fike, Helen R. Dougherty, Mary E. Kepp, and Marion Lamb.
Primary faculty members include: Louise Upham [Principal], Margaret Bodycomb [Supervising Teacher], teachers Frances R. Rees, Charlotte S. Haeseler, Beatrice S. Bockius, Harriet M. Thompson, M. Alice Bartholomew, Emma C. Whiting, Isabel Bedford, Emma A. Dobbins, Susanna Coleman, Barbara Eisenhower, Dorothy E. Turner, Natalie L. Alsworth, Lucile Pearson, Alice Clark, and Nellie O'Connor.
Teachers of Physical Training include Marion Crawley and Corbett T. Arnold.
Teacher of Drawing: Ella V. Waugh.
No librarian is listed in this annual report.
Staff of the Industrial Department include: Joseph W. Baily [Principal], with instructors Arthur J. Godwin, James M. Babinec, Thomas W. Jones, John Thiry, Louis P. Nickel, Charles A. Kepp, Jennie G. Diehl, Clara H. Raschke, Kathryn Burgin, Lydia Walker, Alice Romig, Emily D. Page, George Wise, and Helen Freeburn.
Arthur J. Godwin is listed as Editor of Mount Airy World.
The Household Department includes: A. L. E. Crouter [Principal], A. H. Bodenhorn [Steward], Catherine W. Brown[Clerk], Joseph Young [Assistant], Robert M. Ziegler [Clerk], and Carrie M. Hess [Matron].
Staff at Wissinoming Hall include: Anna McMichael [Housekeeper], John A. Nelson [Supervisor of Boys], and Edith A. Williams [Supervisor of Girls].
Staff at Wingohocking Hall include: Ethel Maguire [Assistant Matron], Margaret Hewitt [Housekeeper], Harry Suckle [Supervisor of Boys], and Stella Shay [Supervisor of Girls].
Staff at Cresheim Hall include: Ethel Stoner Assistant Matron], Lillian Skillman [Housekeeper], Bessie Eckerd [Supervisor of Boys], and Naomi Warner [Supervisor of Girls].
Chief Nurse: Stella J. Allen. Assistant: Elizabeth F. Evans.
Staff of the Heating and Lighting Department include: Joseph J. Fowden [Chief Engineer], Edward Cummings [First Assistant], Howard Wolfe [Second Assistant].
Fire engineers include: William Greiner, Benjamin Peiffer, and G. W. Clendenning.
Security includes: Robert Henderson [Night Engineer and Watchman], and William Wunder [Assistant Watchman].
Firemen include: William Wilson, Thomas J. Maher, and Layton Dewees.
William Lee is the Institution's Laundryman and May Shetzline, the forewoman.
Daniel K. Mankin is the Institution's gardener and William Livezey is the Teamster].
Beginning on page 9, the report then follows. A recap of the Institution's 100th anniversary celebration was provided, as were the details of an alumni homecoming day held on September 6, 1920, for which over 700 alumni returned. While visiting, they were asked about feedback on school programs. This feedback resulted in the slight reduction in the School's Intellectual Department, and an increase in its Industrial Department. A total of 543 students attended during the school year 1920-1921, the highest in many years. Apparently, the Institution was having difficulty retaining faculty and staff, as its salaries were not competitive with those of other schools.
Income and expense statements then follow on pages 12-13, with the total of both statements balancing out at $664,217.81
Financial reports then continue, with receipts associated with various scholarships listed. This is followed by the annual statement of the capital cash account for the year ending May 31, 1921, balance sheets, investments, etc.
The report of the Ladies' Committee then follows, beginning on page 23. It includes several miscellaneous subjects, including letters received from students over the summer. Apparently, the Industrial Department was a victim of its own success: two students obtained jobs over the summer using the skills they had learned while in the program, and left the school permanently.
The Superintendent's Report then follows, on page 26. It provides data associated with the 1921-1922 student population, with those in attendance being 316 boys and 227 girls, for a total of 543 students. A series of data tables then follows. Almost all of the students are from the State of Pennsylvania. A table itemizes the causes of the students' deafness, and another table is included, showing the students' counties of origin. Table 8 provides information on the "Institution Family" which includes that associated with faculty and staff. A majority of the teachers lived off campus; however, majorities of officers and employees lived on campus. The entire "family" was listed as having a population of 658. Cost of living increases were again a focus of the Superintendent's Report. Faculty and staff changes were also discussed. In this section of the report, opposite page 39, is a photograph with the caption "Deaf-blind pupils using the manual alphabet for recitations."
The report includes information on staff changes, and on the Department of Physical Training, which includes a lists of games and activities with which the students were involved.
A table of the Trades Teaching Department is included on page 36, with classes listed and the associated number of students attending each class. Similar tables are also included for the Primary, Intermediate, and Advanced departments. A list of the members of the graduating class of 1921 then follows, followed by a list of awards given to students for various achievements.
Opposite a photograph of Wissinoming Hall, the report of the Advanced Department then begins on page 49. During the school year, there were 190 students in the Advanced Department. Of these were 97 boys and 93 girls. One then-current problem this report notes is that "In spite of the great business depression our department is crowded." The report then continues with a discussion of curriculum changes.
The report of the Intermediate Department then follows, on page 52. This report begins opposite a photograph of Wingohocking Hall. On October 1, 1920, there were 166 pupils enrolled in the Intermediate Department. Of these were 103 boys and 63 girls. Highlights of the school year included the teaching of Mother Goose rhymes. Faculty changes in the Department were noted.
The report of the Primary Department then follows, beginning on page 55, opposite a photograph of Cresheim Hall, located on the previous page. During the 1920-1921 school year, there were a total of 199 students in the Primary Department. Of these, 79 were girls and 120 were boys. This report discusses several students who were dismissed for various reasons, as well as teacher resignations and assignments. The Scarlet Fever epidemic mentioned in last-year's annual report was apparently still a problem during the 1920-1921 school year.
Opposite a photograph of Morris Industrial Hall, the Industrial School's report then begins, on page 57. In the school year 1920-1921 there were 357 students in the Industrial Department. These consisted of 167 girls and 190 boys. After discussing several resignations, the Industrial Department's report then discusses its classes. During the 1920-1921 school year, classes held in the Industrial Department included baking, masonry, carpentry etc., chair caning, drafting, grounds maintenance, ironing, laundry, painting and glazing, printing, millinery, shoemaking, boys and girls sewing, tailoring, and weaving. Lists of articles made in the Industrial Department then follow, which include a list of vegetables grown in the Institution's gardens. A list of articles consumed during the classes is also included.
The report of the Physical Education Department then follows, on page 62. A brief description of the Physical Education's classes is provided, and a multitude of cases of flat feet appeared to be a problem for the boys taking Physical Education classes.
A new department was apparently instituted during the 1920-1921 school year, as a new report- that of the Field Officer- is included. In it, field officer Samuel H. Chambers notes: "Since my appointment as Field Officer, I have visited the homes of our pupils in Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, Chester and Delaware counties; and at the present time I am visiting in Berks county. Thus far I have visited a few more than three hundred families. The parents of the pupils appreciate very much the fact that the Institution has their welfare sufficiently in mind to send a representative to call on them and discuss their progress with them in their homes. They are very proud of the progress made by their children, and have only words of praise for what the Institution is doing."
The report of the physician then follows, beginning on page 65, opposite a photo of the infirmary. In it, the physician noted that, despite an outbreak in scarlet fever, only ten people on campus contracted it. Sixteen cases of chicken pox and 48 cases of mumps also occurred. A summary of cases then follows. Of interest are 143 cases of influenza listed.
The Oculist's and Laryngologist's reports then follow, on page 68 and 69, respectively.
The Dentist's report follows, on page 70. In it, the numbers of fillings cavities, cases of gingivitis, etc are noted. An additional dentist, J. Wesley Parker, was apparently hired during the school year.
The report of the steward then begins, on page 72. In it, A. H. Bodenhorn lists supplies provided and clothing issued during the year ending August 31, 1921.
The report of the Chief Engineer then follows, beginning on page 84, opposite a photograph of the power plant. In the report, coal consumption was discussed. Work was done on the Institution's power plant providing lighting to the school, and new steam mains were installed in various locations on campus.
A list of acknowledgements then follows on page 86, for various monetary and in kind donations.
Details of the conditions for terms of admission to the Institution are then provided, beginning on page 89.
A list of all of the students is then provided, beginning on page 92, with students lists by their location of origin [listed by post office]. These are organized by Department- i.e. Academic, Intermediate, Primary, as well as by sex.
A list of life members of the Pennsylvania Institution for the Deaf and Dumb is provided, beginning on page 108.
A list of Institution presidents, vice presidents, directors, etc. from the school's founding in 1820 to the then-present day then follows, beginning on page 113. This also includes a list of those members of the Ladies' Committee, from the school's founding to the then-present day.Collection
Pamphlet Box CollectionMade/Created
Date made
1920 - 1921Notes
Creation Date: 1922