The Olof and Agatha Tiegel Hanson Papers
Scope and Contents
These papers are divided into two series. The first is a small collection of Agatha and Olof’s correspondence, mostly from the early 20th century. The files are not extensive – there are generally only one or two letters per correspondent, and most of this series is letters to Agatha and Olof, without their replies.
The second part of the papers consists of Olof Hanson’s pocket notebooks, which he used to track his personal spending, costs of buildings he was working on, and other useful information.
Dates
- Creation: 1893 - 1932
Biographical / Historical
Agatha Tiegel Hanson, born 1873 in Pittsburgh, lost her hearing and the sight of one eye after contracting spinal meningitis in 1880. She remained in public school at first, but then transferred to the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf. She entered Gallaudet as a preparatory student in 1888 at the age of 15. While at Gallaudet, she was cofounder of the OWLS (Older Women’s Literary Society), later to become the Phi Kappa Zeta sorority. In 1893, she became the first woman to graduate Gallaudet College, and was also selected as class valedictorian.
She taught at the Minnesota School for the Deaf for six years before marrying Olof Hanson in 1899. Agatha Tiegel Hanson passed away in 1959.
Olof Hanson was born in 1862 in Fjälkinge, Sweden, and lost his hearing in one ear in 1872 as a result of exposure to the cold. He and his family came to America in 1875 and settled in Minnesota, where Olof attended the Minnesota School for the Deaf, graduating in 1881. He then entered Gallaudet College and graduated in 1886. He worked as a draftsman and studied architecture in Europe, and was employed in an architectural firm in Philadelphia for a year before returning to Minnesota to set up his own firm.
In 1902, Agatha and Olof moved to Seattle. Besides his architectural work, Olof became interested in religion. He was made an Episcopalian deacon in 1924 and became a priest in 1929, traveling around Washington to minister to the deaf community. Olof was a leading figure in Washington and national deaf society, and was president of the National Association of the Deaf from 1910 to 1913. He passed away in 1933.
Agatha and Olof had three daughters, Helen, Alice, and Marion.
Extent
.75 Linear Feet (1 document case, 1 half-case)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Letters, notes, and pocket notebooks formerly belonging to deaf architect and minister Olof Hanson and writer and educator Agatha Tiegel Hanson.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated to the Archives by Marion Girard, 2009.
Processing Information
Processing begun by Corinne Palaia and Michael J. Olson, completed by Christopher Shea.
- Title
- The Olof and Agatha Tiegel Hanson Papers
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Shea, Christopher
- Date
- Original creation December 2018. ArchivesSpace version created March 29, 2024.
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Gallaudet University Archives Repository