GEORGE MOREDOCK TEEGARDEN

(1852 - 1936)

1852 - Born in Green County, Pennsylvania, March 11.

1863 - Became deaf, age 11 from an attack of spinal meningitis.

1868 - Entered the Iowa School for the Deaf, Iowa City.

1871 - Graduated from the Iowa School for the Deaf.

1871 - Entered National Deaf-Mute College (Gallaudet University).

1876 - Graduated from National Deaf-Mute College, B.A. degree, April 26.

1876 - Became the first teacher at the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf,

Turtle Creek.

1880 - "The Raindrop" was published at the W.P.S.D., of which he was the author

He worked with Mr. Logan.

1884 - W.P.S.D. relocated at Edgewood Park.

1885 - Married Celia J. Maul, June 30.

1886 - Daughter Alice May was born, May 19.

1888 - Joined P.S.A.D. Board of Managers, continued until 1919.

1890 - Started the W.P.S.D. paper, The Holiday Gazette.

1891 - Name of the School Paper changed to The Gazette, commenced printing on a

monthly basis.

1894 - "Reading Lessons in Natural History", Edgewood Park, School for the Deaf,

Published.

1896 - "Stories Old and New", Edgewood Park, PA., published.

1915 - "In the Silent Hours", published. (Publisher not named)

1924 - Retired from the W.P.S.D. , after 48 years of teaching.

1929 - "Vagrant Verse", The Fanwood Press, New York, published.

1935 - Gave a speech to the Kappa Gamma Fraternity's Banquet.

1936 - "Personal and Holiday Poems", published. (Publisher not named)

1936 - Died, November 14.

1936 - A citation and cash award established in memory of Mr. Teegarden at the

W.P.S.D.

1945 - P.S.A.D. gave him and his wife a lifetime honorary member of

the Society.

1959 - Athletic field at the W.P.S.D. was named the Teegarden Athletic Field, May 30.

Teegarden was also a member of National Fraternal Society of the Deaf, the National Association of the Deaf, the Duquesene Bicycle Club, an active participant in the Edward Miner Gallaudet Memorial Fund, the Gallaudet University Alumni Association, State School Employees' Retirement Association, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, State Teachers' League of Pennsylvania, Wilkinsburg Silent Club and was a heavily active member of the Pennsylvania Society for the Advancement of the Deaf.

He was a reporter for The Pittsburgh News and The Deaf-Mute Journal for many

years. He was also well known for writing many poems and stories for children

and articles for several newspapers.

(excerpt from Deaf Heritage, A Narrative History of Deaf America by Jack R. Gannon)

Teegarden, James Logan's collaborator on The Raindrop, joined the Pittsburgh School upon graduation from Gallaudet University in 1876. He taught for 48 years. At that time, the Pittsburgh School was being reorganized into a residential school. It was renamed the Western Pennsylvania School and moved to Edgewood, Pennsylvania. Teegarden loved to write poetry and wrote many poems under the pen name of T. G. Arden. Elizabeth Peet, dean of women at Gallaudet University, called him one of the foremost deaf poets in America. His work appeared in the Silent Muse, an anthology of prose and poetry by the deaf.

One of his favorite quotes is...

"Sight can the signs of thought supply, And with a look I hear."

"The deaf in this country have risen from the lowest social levels to positions of honor in society.... They are independent and happy, the envy of their class of other nations. Is it any wonder then that the deaf rear monuments in marble and bronze to their benefactors? Is it strange that they are ready to fight valiantly for the system of education, which has made their elevation possible? Is it remarkable that they look askance at those presenting different theories or advocating methods already tried and found wanting in essential qualities? Is it strange if they cry out in alarm at those who would wantonly throw down the ladder by which others of their class may ascend to their level and even climb higher?"

Reginald L. Boyd, 1992