Manuscripts

Descriptive Summary

Repository: Gallaudet University Archives
Call No.: MSS 40
Creator:
Title: Papers of George M. Teegarden, 1874-1936.
Quantity: 4.5 Linear Feet (9 document boxes)
Abstract:
Note: This document last updated 2006 January 10. 

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information:
Processed by: Carielyn Kelly. 1984 August 27.
Processing Note:
Conditions on Use and Access: This collection is open to the public with no restrictions. Photocopies may be made for scholarly research.

Related Material in the Archives

Deaf Rare

• Personal and holiday poems / by T. G. Arden [i.e. George M. Teegarden]. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: Deaf Rare

Photographs

• George M. Teegarden [picture]. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: Portraits
• Photograph album of Alice Teegarden [picture]. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: Photograph Albums AL 11

SMSS

• Alice May Teegarden, 1958-1967. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: SMSS

Vertical Files

• George M. Teegarden. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: Deaf Biographical

Biographical Sketch

1852	George M. Teegarden was born March 11 in Green County, Pennsylvania.
1863	At the age of 11 he became deaf from an attack of spinal meningitis.
1868	Five years later Teegarden entered the Iowa School for the Deaf, Iowa City.
1871	Teegarden graduated from the Iowa School for the Deaf.
1871	The same year he entered the National Deaf Mute College, Washington, D.C. (Now known as Gallaudet University).
1876	In four years, plus preparatory classes, Teegarden graduated from the National Deaf Mute College with his B.A. degree on April 26.
1876	Teegarden became the first teacher at the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf at its new location in Turtle Creek.
1880	The Raindrop was published at the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, of which G.M. Teegarden was the author of many of the stories.
1884	The Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf was relocated again, this time to Edgewood Park.
1885	George M. Teegarden married Celia J. Maul, June 30.
1886	The Teegardens' daughter, Alice May, was born on May 19.
1890	Teegarden started the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf paper, "The Holiday Gazette."
1891	The following year the name of the school paper changed to "The Gazette" and printing began on a monthly basis.
1894	Reading Lessons in Natural History, Edgewood Park, School for the Deaf, was published.
1896	Stories Old and New, Edgewood Park, Pa., was published.
1915	This year In the Silent Hours was published. (Publisher not named.)
1924	Teegarden retired from the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf.
1929	Vagrant Verse was published by The Fanwood Press, New York.
1936	Personal and Holiday Poems was published. (Publisher not named.)
1936	George M. Teegarden died on November 14.
1936	A citation and cash award was established in memory of Mr. Teegarden at the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf.
1959	The athletic field at the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf was named the Teegarden Athletic Field on May 30.

Scope and Content

The collection contains several narratives relating to the boyhood days of Mr. Teegarden and the pioneer type move to Iowa. Several are written by Mr. Teegarden and one by Alice May Teegarden. Only brief mention is made of his admission to the Iowa School for the Deaf at Iowa City.

The only papers relating to his position for 48 years as a teacher in the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf are a Class Register, 1879 -1880; a class book, not dated and a speech to a teacher's meeting. Several other speeches exist in the collection, but the occasion and date on which they were delivered is not specified.

The greatest strength of the collection lies in his published works of poems and children's stories of which many original manuscripts were saved, which date from 1874-1936. Some were published under his pen name of T. G. Arden.

The correspondence in the collection date from 1887-1936. Included are letters from The Rev. John G. Brown, Frederick H. Hughes, Harley D. Drake, A.C. Manning, A.D. Bryant, Enoch Currier, Edward Allen Fay, Edward M. Gallaudet, Dudley W. George, Frank C. Holloway, John B. Hotchkiss, James H. Logan, J.A. McIlvaine, A.W. Mann, Andrew Mellon, Roy J. Stewart and Oliver J. Whildin. These letters are arranged alphabetically.

He was a reporter for "The Pittsburgh News" and "The Deaf Mute's Journal" for many years, of which documentation in the Papers are lacking.

He was a member of the Pennsylvania Society for the Advancement of the Deaf, the National Fraternal Society of the Deaf, the National Association of the Deaf, the Duquesne Bicycle Club and was an active participant in the Edward Miner Gallaudet Memorial Fund. Only a few items of scattered dates are represented: P.S.A.D., 1890-1908; Duquesne Bicycle Club, 1893-1899: Edward Miner Gallaudet Memorial Fund, 1924-1931.

Nineteen address-memo-diary books dating from 1898-1932 are in the collection. The entries for the diary portions of the books are not consistent. Days, months and even years have been missed. A large portion of the diaries dwell on the problems of the household.

The collection contains 14 items relating to the Rev. John G. Brown, founder and President of the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, Turtle Creek.

Letters from Mr. and Mrs. Teegarden to their only child, a daughter, Alice May, date from 1893-1936 and are arranged chronologically. The letters do not document significant milestones in his life, but describe ordinary day to day events.

Mr. Teegarden saved memorabilia relating to birthdays, trips and events which were important in his life.
There are ten items relating to the George M. Teegarden Award for Poetry at Gallaudet College, of which the information is sketchy.

Alice May Teegarden initially arranged and labeled the collection in 1959, prior to giving it to the Edward Miner Gallaudet Memorial Library.

Series Descriptions and Folder Lists
No Series

Box	Folder	Title of Folder	Date
1	1	"The Raindrop"	1880
1	2	Poem Books (Manuscripts)  Book III	1908-1917
1	3	Poem Books (Manuscripts)  Book I	1905-1907
1	4	Poem Books (Manuscripts)  Book II	1905-1908
1	5	Poem Books (Manuscripts)  Book IV	1905-1916
1	6	Poem Books (Manuscripts)  Book V	1920-1927
1	7	Poem Books (Manuscripts)  Book VI	1935-1936
1	8	Poem published in newspapers	1931-1937
1	9	Poems for Christmas	1924-1927
1	10	Poem ‑ scraps	1883‑1935
1	11	Poems, "In the Silent Hours"	1906‑1915
1	12	Poem, "Personal and Holiday Poems"	1874‑1935
1	13	Poem, "Vagrant Verse"	1906‑1927
1	14	Poems to Alice by G.M. Teegarden	1908-1918
2	1	Membership in Organizations	1916-1933
2	2	Clerc Literary Association.	1883
2	3	Duquesne Bicycle Club of Allegheny County	1893-1899
2	4	The Edward Miner Gallaudet Memorial Fund	1924-1931
2	5	Gallaudet College Athletic Association	1927
2	6	Kappa Gamma	1935
2	7	Pennsylvania Society for the Advancement of the Deaf	1902-1908
2	8	PSAD - "Brief History of the Society" by G. M. Teegarden	1901
2	9	PSAD - Charter	1891
2	10	PSAD - Home for Aged and Infirm Deaf	1904
2	11	PSAD - List of Members: Addresses, Donation Day	1903‑1904
2	12	PSAD Conventions.15th and 17th	1900-1903
2	13	PSAD - Report, Board of Trustees to the Board of Managers	1902
2	14	Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf. Closing exercises.	1884
2	15	Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf.  50th and 60th Anniversaries.	1919-1936
2	16	Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf.	1899‑1946
2	17	List of Students	1876
2	18	Gallaudet College Presentation Day	1922
3	1	"Round the World," D. Murray Smith. Published by T. Nelson and Sons, London	1868
3	2	"First Time of Everything, Full of Famous Facts," published by Kickapoo Indian Medicine Co., New Haven, Conn.	n.d.
3	3	Personality, December 1921, Vol. XII, No. 12	1921
3	4	"Handbook of English Synonyms, L. J. Campbell, Lee and Shepard, Boston	1881
3	5	Bible	n.d.
3	6	Autograph Book: Entries are by students of the Western Penn. School for the Deaf	1881
3	7	Autograph Book	1876
3	8	"Beauties of the Bible" selected by J.H.B. Breed, Butler & Co.	1861
4	1	Published works of Mr. Teegarden.	1894-1958
4	2	Essay: Our Educational Progress	1875
4	3	Class Book (Manuscript) Stories	n.d.
4	4	Class Register (Manuscript)	1879-1880
5	1	Address Book	n.d.
5	2	Memo Book	1900-1901
5	3	Addresses, obituaries	1932
5	4	Addresses., obituaries	n.d.
5	5	Addresses, etc	1906‑1908
5	6	Addresses, obituaries, social events	1928‑1929
5	7	Quotations, facts, etc	1928‑1929
5	8	Addresses	ca. 1921
5	9	Diary	1900
5	10	Notes on the Spanish‑American War	1898
5	11	Diary	1899
5	12	Remarks of celebrities regarding events of the Spanish‑American War	1898
5	13	Quotations, poem, etc	1899
5	14	Addresses, Diary	1913‑1914
5	15	Addresses	n.d.
5	16	Addresses, memos, notes for Journal	1930‑1931
5	17	Quotations; statistics, accounts,	1902‑1903
5	18	Quotations, jokes, definitions	n.d.
5	19	Diary	1898‑1904
6	1	Accident Accounts	1886-1934
6	2	Architectural drawings	n.d.
6	3	Art prints of various artists	n.d.
6	4	Biographical Accounts	1920-1936
6	5	Birthday Celebrations	n.d.
6	6	Conversation Scraps	n.d.
6	7	Designs for Carvings	n.d.
6	8	Materials re: Rev. John G. Brown	1911-1937
6	9	News clippings	1917-1958
6	10	Oil Paintings by Petrovits	n.d.
6	11	Poems not written by G.M.Teegarden	1977
6	12	Quotations, Poems, Stories Collected	1918-1933
6	13	Real Estate and Stock	1918-1919
6	14	Reception Honoring G.M.Teegarden	1903
6	15	Retirement Party given by W. Pennsylvania School for the Deaf	1924-1925
6	16	Teegarden Award for Poetry	1938-1965
6	17	Trip to Ridgeview Park, Pa	1900
6	18	Trips ‑ George M. Teegarden	1922, n.d.
6	19	Birth of Alice M. Teegarden	1914
6	20	Wedding and 50th Anniversary	1885-1935
6	21	Scrapbook	n.d.
6	22	Article: My Connection with and my activities at WPSD	1936
6	23	Articles published in the Deaf Mutes Journal	1891-1905
6	24	Articles Published in Various Papers	1873-1925
6	25	Speech: Only by doing hard things heartily can we gain power or win success	n.d.
6	26	Speeches	n.d.
7	1	Letter from A. D. Bryant	1936
7	2	Letter from E.M. Gallaudet	1906
7	3	Letter from Elizabeth Peet	1930
7	4	Letter from Parents	1893-1928
7	5	Letter from Parents	1929
7	6	Letter from Parents	1930
7	7	Letter from Parents	1931
7	8	Letter from Parents	1935
7	9	Letter from Parents	1935
7	10	Letter from Parents	1936
7	11	Letters from John G. Brown	1899-1904
7	12	Letter from Miscellaneous	1913-1946
8	1	Letter from A. D. Bryant	1936
8	2	Letter from Edith Cooley	1923-1937
8	3	Letter from Harrie M. Cook	1896-1910
8	4	Letter from A.L.E. Crouter	1894
8	5	Letter from Enoch Currier	1909
8	6	Letter from Edward Allen Fay	1891-1911
8	7	Letter from Edward M. Gallaudet	1890
8	8	Letter from Edward M. Gallaudet	1904
8	9	Letter from Dudley Webster George	1924
8	10	Letter from E. C. Harsh	1897
8	11	Letter from S. Henistreet	1930
8	12	Letter from Edwin A. Hodgson	1922-1928
8	13	Letter from F.C. Holloway	1928
8	14	Letter from John B. Hotchkiss	1913-1918
8	15	Letter from S. B. Linhart	1904
8	16	Letter from James H. Logan	1912-1914
8	17	Letter from Margaret P. Lowry	1935
8	18	Letter from J. A. McIlvaine	1908
8	19	Letter from A. W. Mann	1898
8	20	Letter from A. C. Manning	1922
8	21	Letter from Andrew Mellon	1935
8	22	Letter from Monroe & Cook (Editors of The Silent Educator)	1891
8	23	Letter from James L. Reider	1906
8	24	Letter from Malvina Scheider (Sec. to Mrs. F. D. Roosevelt)	1935
8	25	Letter from Roy J. Stewart	1931
8	26	Letter from George Taylor, Jr.	1930
8	27	Letter from Alice Teegarden	1893-1933
8	28	Letter from George W. Teegarden	1932-1933
8	29	Letter from G. M. Teegarden	1895
8	30	Letter from Ethel G. Wagner	1936
8	31	Letter from A. H. Walker	1908
8	32	Letter from Oliver J. Whildin	1931
8	33	Letter from Candice Yendes	n.d.
8	34	Letter from Percival Hall to Harley D. Drake	1935
8	35	Letter to Annie Maul	1887
8	36	Letter to George and Alice	1898
8	37	Letter to Alice, Sara, and Brownie	1910-1930
8	38	Letter to Celia	1891-1923
8	39	Letter to Dr. Currier	1917
8	40	Letter to Dr. Gallaudet	n.d.
8	41	Letter to The Macmillan Co., Publishers	1936
8	42	Miscellaneous notes	n.d.
9	1	Funeral Expenses of Celia J. Teegarden	1944
9	2	G.M. Teegarden Fund, Gallaudet College	1945-1946
9	3	G.M. Teegarden Memorial Issue/Article	1937
9	4	Article: G.M. Teegarden Memorial Library	1937
9	5	Genealogy of the Teegarden Family	1929
9	6	In Memoriam, G. M. Teegarden	1936
9	7	Letters of Condolence to Alice M. Teegarden	1936
9	8	Letters of Condolence to Alice M. Teegarden from Her Pupils	1936
9	9	Obituary ‑ G. M. Teegarden	1936
9	10	Obituary ‑ Celia J. Teegarden	1944
9	11	Obituaries ‑ Family Members and Friends	1924–1933
9	12	Recipes ‑ Edible and Medicinal	n.d.
9	13	Register of Friends from the Funeral Home	n.d.
9	14	Resolutions	1936
9	15	Invoices and Receipts	1897-1932
9	16	Musical Recitals by Alice M. Teegarden	1896-1903
9	17	Speech by Alice M. Teegarden	n.d.
9	18	Speech by Alice M. Teegarden	1957
9	19	Notes Written by Alice May Teegarden re: this collection	n.d.
9		Scrapbook by Alice Teegarden	n.d.