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Papers of Agatha Tiegel Hanson, 1893-1972

Gallaudet University Archives

Descriptive Summary

Repository: Gallaudet University Archives
Call No.: MSS 14
Creator:
Title: Papers of Agatha Tiegel Hanson, 1893-1972
Quantity: 2.0 Linear Feet (4 document boxes)
Abstract:
Note: This document last updated 2005 December 8.

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information: The papers of Agatha Tiegel Hanson (1973-1959), the 1st female graduate of Gallaudet College (1893), were given to Gallaudet College Archives by her daughter, Alice Hanson Jones. The gift was made in November, 1958.
Processed by: Carielyn Kelly. 1984 June 4.
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

Films
  • Reminiscences of Mrs. Agatha T. Hanson [motion picture]. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: Deaf Film 121-4, 425-4
Manuscripts
  • Papers of Olof Hanson, 1889-1964. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: MSS 15
Photographs
  • Agatha Tiegel Hanson [picture]. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: Portraits
  • Photograph album of Ellen Pearson Stewart [picture]. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: Photograph Album AL 98
  • Photograph album of Ellen Pearson Stewart [picture]. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: Photograph Album AL 100

SMSS

  • Alice Hanson Jones, 1959-1983. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: SMSS
  • Winfield Scott Runde, 1949-1954. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: SMSS

Biographical Sketch

1873 Agatha Tiegel was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on September 14.
1880 At the age of seven she became deaf and blind in one eye due to spinal meningitis.
1880-1886 For six years she attended a public school in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania.
1886 At the age of 13 Agatha entered the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf.
1888 Agatha was admitted into the Preparatory Class at Gallaudet College when she was 15.
1892 Tiegel organized and was President of the secret society, the OWLS (now known as Phi Kappa Zeta Sorority).
1893 Tiegel was the first woman graduate of Gallaudet College and was also class Valedictorian.
1893-1899 After graduation she became a teacher at the Minnesota School for the Deaf in Faribault, Minnesota.
1899 Agatha married architect-minister, Olof Hanson.
1959 On October17, at the age of 86, Agatha Tiegel Hanson died in Portland, Oregon.

Scope and Content

Agatha Tiegel Hanson was the first woman to graduate from Gallaudet College, where she graduated as Valedictorian in 1893.

While at Gallaudet, Agatha Tiegel Hanson organized the women’s secret society, the OWLS, and became the first president. This society is now known as the Phi Kappa Zeta Sorority.
Agatha Hanson is well known for her poetry and writing. Her best known poems include “Inner Music”, “Semi Mutes”, and “T.H. Gallaudet”.

After graduating from Gallaudet, Agatha taught for six years at the Minnesota School for the Deaf. She then married architect-minister, Olof Hanson. They had three daughters.

The Agatha Tiegel Hanson collection, which consists of approximately 4,000 pages, dates from 1893 to 1972. The bulk of the collection consists of Agatha’s letters to her daughter, Alice Hanson Jones. The letters were written between the years 1936 and 1958.

The remainder of the collection consists of copies of Agatha’s poetry, Valedictorian Speech, “The Intellect of Women”, and correspondence relating to her poetry and involvement with the Phi Kappa Zeta Sorority.
Magazine articles, clippings, speeches and programs as well as sympathy cards, memorial cards, flower cards and “a book of memories” can be found in the General file of this collection.

Among Agatha Tiegel Hanson’s correspondents were: C.H. Bohner, Nicolas Braunagel, Leonard Elstad, Edward A. Fay, Margaret Fleming, Marion Martin. Girard, Dr. Gowen, Rev. Gowen, Birdie Hanson, Helen Hanson, Kelly Hanson, Tom Hanson, Alice Hanson Jones, Homer Jones, Mrs. Jones, Lorraine Kline, Nancy Jane Martin, L. Pendell, Alice Terry, Bertha Tiegel, Grace. Tiegel, George Williams, and Grandchildren: Douglas, Rich, and Rob.

Series Descriptions and Folder Lists

No. Series
Box Folder Title of Folder Date
1 1 Clippings – Mrs. Hanson Alumni Speaker At Gallaudet 1945
1 2 Correspondence – Nicholas A. Braunagel 1944
1 3 Correspondence – Leonard M. Elstad from Alice H. Jones 1959
1 4 Correspondence – Mrs. Bass from Evergreen Cemetery Co. 1959
1 5 Correspondence – Edward A. Fay 1893
1 6 Correspondence – Agatha from Helen 1946
1 7 Correspondence – Lorraine Kline 1946
1 8 Correspondence – L. H. Pendell 1954-1956
1 9 Correspondence – L. H. Pendell from Alice Hanson Jones 1959-1972
1 10 Correspondence – Sympathy cards and letters A-G 1959
1 11 Correspondence – Sympathy cards and letters H-Z 1959
1 12 Correspondence – Grace Tiegel 1915-1948
1 13 Funeral – A Book of Memories 1959
1 14 Funeral – Flower cards for Agatha 1959
1 15 Funeral – Memorial cards 1959
1 16 Magazine – The Messenger 1959
1 17 Magazine – The North Dakota Banner 1944-1947
1 18 Membership – The Passionist Father Benefactors Society and a letter to Helen from Grace Tiegel 1959
1 19 Poems – A list of poems enclosed n.d.
1 20 Program n.d.
1 21 Speech – “The Intellect of Woman” 1893
1 22 Wedding Announcement 1899
2 1 Letters to Alice, letter to Sunny from Kelly 1929
2 2 Letters to Alice 1930
2 3 Letters to Alice 1931
2 4 Letters to Alice 1931
2 5 Letters to Alice 1931
2 6 Letters to Alice, letter to Agatha from Marion 1932
2 7 Letters to Alice, letter to Alice from Marion, letter to Alice from Sunny 1933
2 8 Letters to Alice, letter to Agatha from George W. Williams 1933
2 9 Letters to Alice 1934
2 10 Letters to Alice, letter to Homer 1934
2 11 Letters to Alice 1945
2 12 Letters to Alice 1935
3 1 Letters to Alice 1936
3 2 Letters to Alice, letter to Homer, letter to Alice from Birdie 1936
3 3 Letters to Alice, letter to Agatha from Rev. H. H. Gowen 1936
3 4 Letters to Alice, letter to Agatha from Margaret Fleming, letter to Alice from Helen 1937
3 5 Letters to Alice, letters to Alice from Helen (Sunny), Letter to Alice from Marion 1937
3 6 Letters to Alice 1938
3 7 Letters to Alice, letter to Alice from Marion 1938
3 8 Letters to Alice, letter to Agatha from Alice T. Terry, letter to Agatha from C. H. Folder Bohner 1938
3 9 Letters to Alice 1939
3 10 Letters to Alice, letter to Alice from Marion 1939
3 11 Letters to Alice, letters to Agatha from Helen, letter to Alice from Homer 1939
3 12 Letters to Alice, letter to Agatha from Helen 1940
3 13 Letters to Alice 1940
3 14 Letters to Alice, letter to Agatha from Helen, letter to Agatha from Skippie 1941
4 1 Letters to Alice 1941
4 2 Letters to Alice 1941
4 3 Letters to Alice 1942
4 4 Letters to Alice, letter to Agatha from Marion 1943
4 5 Letters to Alice 1944
4 6 Letters to Alice, letter to Rob from Agatha, letter to Homer from Agatha 1948
4 7 Letters to Alice, letters to Agatha from Kelly (Marion) 1949
4 8 Letters to Alice, letters to Agatha from Kelly 1950
4 9 Letters to Alice, letters to Agatha from Helen, letter to Agatha from Celia 1951
4 10 Letters to Alice, letters to Helen, letter to Rob 1952
4 11 Letters to Alice, letter to Alice from Nancy Jane Martin, letter to Alice from Marion Martin Girard, letter to Alice from Aunt Bertha, letter to Agatha from Kelly, letter to Agatha from Maxine Tull Boatner 1953
4 12 Letters to Alice, letter to L. H. Pendell from Agatha, letter to Agatha from Kelly, letter to Agatha from Helen 1954
4 13 Letters to Alice, letter to Tom from Agatha 1955
4 14 Letters to Alice, letter to Grandma (Agatha) from Rich, letter to Tom from Agatha, letter to Agatha from Bertha. 40a Second Codicil to Last Will and Testament 1956
4 15 Letters to Alice 1957
4 16 Letters to Alice, letter to Grandma (Agatha) from Douglas, letter to Mrs. Jones from Agatha, letter to Homer 1958
4 17 letter to Alice, letter to Dr. Gowen from Agatha n.d.
5 Overflow Verses, Extra Copies n.d.
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