[photos: Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf Alumni Association Museum]

Transcription

1 Blanche H. Wilkins (Williams) ( ) Inaugural student, Educator, advocate They (colored deaf) have a right to an equal chance with the white man, an equal chance in education to encourage self-improvement and to create high ideals of conduct They need white friends, but taking charge of ministering to their mission only weakens them (1927) [photos: Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf Alumni Association Museum] Birth: 1 December 1876 La Crosse Wisconsin Death: 24 March 1936 Chicago, Illinois (Buried 30 March 1936) Lincoln Cemetery Family of Origin: Father Charles Wilkins and Mother Estelle Griffin Wilkins were both from the south (either Virginia, Tennessee or mostly likely, North Carolina). Later, her father moved to Chicago. She had at least one sibling, Ruth who was 12 years younger. Blanche became Deaf at an early age. Honors: 1899: likely the first Black Deaf person to be named to an NAD Executive Committee 2018: New dorm at Minnesota State Academy. Wilkins Hall, named in her honor Schooling: Minnesota School for the Deaf. The first Black Deaf Woman to graduate and a top student 1912: post high school teacher training workshop at the Minnesota School for the Deaf.

2 Professional Experiences: : First Deaf Black Woman teacher at North Carolina School for Colored Deaf and Blind (Raleigh) Taught in the literary department Taught at the Texas School for Colored Deaf and Blind (?) Returned to Teaching in Raleigh. In addition to teaching in the literary department, she organized a technical sewing and fancy work department. Taught sewing and dressmaking to Deaf girls and knitting and crocheting to Blind girls. 1920: In Chicago, did missionary welfare work providing educational, social, industrial and religious guidance to Black Deaf people. Taught young Deaf Black children and in factories (beadwork, lampshade work, power machine sewing). Involved with All Angels Episcopal Mission. 1926: May have returned briefly to Texas School for the Deaf (Silent Worker, 1926) 1930: teacher at Deaf school in Chicago (Chicago Day School for the Deaf or Ephpheta School for the Deaf?) Personal Information August 28, 1899: Married Charles Williams (Hearing) who was the principal at the North Carolina School for Colored Deaf, Raleigh. He died in Daughter Grace Elvie ( ) and son John Ray Henry ( ).. [sister Ruth was living with her in NC after her husband passed away, 1910 Census] May16, 1920: Married a second time to a Thomas Flowers (Deaf) in Chicago (They had both been teachers at the North Carolina School and both were widowers.) With Thomas Flowers, she worked as a missionary to Deaf in Chicago. However, by 1930 they were divorced (according to 1930 Census) and she reverted to using Blanche Williams. References: Ancestry.com Burch, S. and Joyner, H. (2015). Unspeakable: The Story of Junius Wilson. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press.

3 Cloud, J.H. (1926, Feb). Mrs. Blanche (Wilkins) Williams. Silent worker, 38 (5). Proceedings of the sixth convention of the national association of the Deaf (1900). Held in St Paul, MN 1-14, July Paola, Kansas: J.T. Trickett Printer. Williams, Blanche. (April 1927). Missionary Work Among the Colored Deaf. Silent Worker, 39 (7), pg Members at the 18th Convention of the Minnesota Association of the Deaf, Faribault, Minnesota Minnesota Association of Deaf Citizens, reflections.mndigital.org/catalog/p16022coll16:26 Accessed 5 Jan Class of 1893, Minnesota Institute for Defectives (Deaf, Blind and Feeble-Minded), Faribault, Minnesota Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf Alumni Association Museum, reflections.mndigital.org/catalog/p16022coll16:105 Accessed 5 Jan 2018 Wilding, Terry (accessed 2018). Other documents and Information: [Above from Silent Worker (1926)] [below from the 1899 NAD Conference: She is named to the NAD Executive Committee}

4 also listed on Membership Roll

5 note: while Blanche Wilkins (Williams) didn t appear in the 1904 (St Louis) NAD Proceedings, there was discussion about improving the education of Black Deaf students during that conference. (from Proceedings of the World Congress of the Deaf and the Report of the Seventh Convention of the National Association of the Deaf Held at St. Louis, Missouri, August 20-27, 1904.) Mr. Whidin on (pg. 36) : Below from: (1914). American Annals of the Deaf, 59 (1), pgs

6 Below accessed via ancestry.com Marriages 1930 Census (in Chicago) [via ancestry.com] she is a boarder in a home working as a teacher at the Deaf and Dumb school She is divorced Below from: The Minnesota State Academies are pleased to announce the name of our new dorm that is scheduled to open in the early spring of The MSA Board met today and voted to name the building Wilkins Hall, after Ms. Blanche Wilkins Williams. Wilkins Hall will house up to 41

7 students along with offices and educational/recreational spaces for students at the Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf. Ms. Wilkins was the first deaf black woman to graduate from the Minnesota School for the Deaf (Class of 1893). She attended MSD for 10 years and was a top student in her class. She was very intelligent and confident, but unfortunately, due to discriminatory practices at that time in history, she was not accepted into Gallaudet College because she was black. She went on to teach in schools for colored deaf children until schools began replacing deaf teachers with hearing teachers (based on the misconception that hearing teachers would be best able to teach language to deaf children). When the North Carolina (Raleigh) Institution established a department of technical sewing, dressmaking, fancy work, etc., Ms. Wilkins was the first teacher there. Records indicate that she may have also worked at the Texas School for Colored Deaf in Austin, Texas. After the death of her husband, Ms. Wilkins moved to the Chicago, Illinois area and lived there for most of her life, working and teaching young deaf black children and working in factories (beadwork, lampshade work, power machine sewing). She was also involved in missionary work along with her second husband. In Unspeakable: the Story of Junius Wilson, it was stated that Ms. Wilkins was a passionate Christian missionary and an outspoken advocate for her race and her deaf peers. Some considered her the most accomplished deaf lady of her race in America. Ms. Wilkins was involved in many advocacy and deaf leadership activities throughout her life and supported others in their endeavors for a better life. The MSA board and I wanted to share our appreciation to all of you who participated in this process with nominations, feedback, and suggestions. Special thanks go to Jody Olson, John Mathews, Mike Cashman, Alex Caddy, and Gary Meier who served on the committee to review all of the names and research background information. Appreciatively, Terry Wilding Superintendent Minnesota State Academies This you tube site from Minnesota State Academy:

8 above from: Commission of Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing Minnesotans Class of 1893, Minnesota Institute for Defectives (Deaf, Blind and Feeble-Minded), Faribault, Minnesota Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf Alumni Association Museum, reflections.mndigital.org/catalog/p16022coll16:105 Accessed 5 Jan 2018

9 18 th convention of the Minn Association of the Deaf (1925) above from: Members at the 18th Convention of the Minnesota Association of the Deaf, Faribault, Minnesota Minnesota Association of Deaf Citizens, reflections.mndigital.org/catalog/p16022coll16:26 Accessed 5 Jan 2018.

10 Above from newspapers.com