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)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.