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.