School Founding 1886-1905 Banner

FSDB History: 1886-1905

New Beginnings

1885

Park Terrell
President, 1885-1890

Park Terrell was appointed as the first principal. Previously he taught at the Michigan and the Ohio School for the Deaf. He resigned in 1890 to become a municipal bond specialist in New York, where he gave speeches and authored feature articles on the subject. (No photo available)

William Trapp
William Trapp was the first black deaf student to enroll at FSDB in October 1885. He was also the first black deaf alumni to work at FSDB as a gardener and dorm teacher for the Colored Department from 1892-93. (No photo available)

Catherine Crews
Catherine Crews was the first white blind girl, enrolled on May 29, 1885. (No photo available)

Williams Andrew Caldwell

1890

William A. Caldwell
President, 1890-1893

William A. Caldwell was appointed as the second principal (1890-1893). During his tenure, he initiated training in new trades, including printing, photography, carpentry, sewing, and gardening, which enabled many graduates to become self-supporting. He went on to become president of California School for the Deaf, Berkeley (1896-1933) and received an honorary degree from Gallaudet College in 1924.

1891

School Newspaper
The Institute Herald, a monthly school newsletter, began publication. It was renamed in 1900 to The Florida School Herald.

Henry Noel Felkel, President (1893-1897)

1893

Henry Noel Felkel
President, 1893–1897

Henry Noel Felkel was appointed as the third superintendent (1893-1897); the job title changed from principal to superintendent. A native of Leon County, Florida, he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the West Florida Seminary. He began his teaching career in a country school in 1874. Three years later he became superintendent of public instruction of Leon County and served four successive terms. Felkel chaired the English literature and physics department at West Florida Seminary. He became principal of the Tallahassee City public schools, president of the new State Normal School in DeFuniak Springs, and then superintendent of the Florida school.

1894

Fourth Wooding Building

A fourth Wooden School Building was erected to house colored students behind the original three Wooden School Buildings on the south campus.

1895

School Farm

A farming area was created in the area east of the Wooden School Buildings on the south campus. It had a farmhouse with horse stables and a dairy barn. Livestock included pigs, turkeys, hens, and dairy cows. Crops included fruits and vegetables; students and staff members also caught fish from the nearby waterway.

1896

Plessy v Ferguson

The U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Plessy v Ferguson ushered in an era of “separate but equal” facilities and treatment for colored and white students.

Rev. Frederick Pasco, President (1897-1900)

1897

Rev. Frederick Pasco
President, 1897–1900

Reverend Frederick Pasco was appointed as the fourth superintendent (1897-1900) after the death of Henry Felkel. He served for three years then left to take charge of the East Florida Seminary in Gainesville.

Artemas Pope and Cora Carllton

1898

Artemas Winfred Pope & Cora Carlton
The first graduation was held on May 23, 1898. The two graduates, both deaf, were Artemas Winfred Pope of Ocala, and Cora Carlton of Island Grove. They married shortly after graduation and had three sons, Verle Allyn, Carlton, and Neil, and a daughter, Wanda. Pope worked at the St. Augustine Record 1908-1943, then returned to his alma mater as head of the printing department and taught at the school 1943-1965. His father was an alumnus of Gallaudet College (1877), and he had a deaf brother and uncle.

William Bethea Hare, President (1900-1906)

1900

William Bethea Hare
President, 1900–1906

William B. Hare was appointed as the fifth superintendent (1900-1906). He was born in Wisconsin. During his tenure, he recommended to the state legislature that the school name be changed to the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind to reflect its educational focus and ties to the state public education system.

1902

William Alexander Caldwell

William Alexander Caldwell was the first black deaf male  as head teacher (manager) for the Colored Department. At that time, it was the highest position ever taken in the Colored Department.  He also taught at NCSD-Raleigh, GSD, and Alabama school for the Deaf for black deaf students. He graduated from North Carolina School for the Deaf, Raleigh, NC in 1877. (No photo available)

1903

Name Change & Board Control

The Florida legislature changed the name of the school to the Florida School for the Blind, Deaf and Dumb. It also passed the Buckman Act, which created the Florida State Board of Control to oversee several state public institutions, including the school. Members were appointed by the governor.

Four  institutions controlled by the Board of Control were FSDB, FAMU,  University of Florida (men’s college) and  Florida State University - Women’s college).  In 1963,  turned to Board of Trustees of each institution.

1905

12 Acres Added

12 acres were added to the school property (first expansion). They later served as the site for the current Walker Hall, Coleman Center, A.W. Pope Hall, Castro Interfaith Chapel, Memorial Hall, Settles Gym, and nearby structures.

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