The Founding Fathers of PSAD

By Reginald Boyd, 1994

The 12 Founders of Pennsylvania Society for the Advancement of the Deaf met in College Hall Room 33 on October 13, 1880. Below is the list of founders and some background on each one.

Alvin Wineltvert Anthony
Date of Birth	December-1863
Birthplace	Anthony Hotel in Lehigh, PA
Attended Gallaudet	9-23-1880 to 9-28-1880
Employment	N/A
PSAD Involvement	none
Miscellenous	N/A
Date of Death	N/A

Brewster Randolph Allabough
Date of Birth	March 18, 1891
Birthplace	Norristown, PA
Attended Gallaudet	1884, BA, MA, K
Employment	Teacher at Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf Ordained Deacon Episcopal Church 1911
PSAD Involvement	Attended the first convention and held all positions for 31 years; Pres. 6 yrs, 1VP 2 yrs, 2nd VP 2 yrs, Treasurer 17 yrs, Board Member 4 yrs
Miscellenous	Received a degree from Bryant and Stratton Business College in Philadelphia Married a Gallaudet graduate -Lily A. Bicksler
Date of Death	May -1919

William Brookmire
Date of Birth	October 12, 1860
Birthplace	N/A
Attended Gallaudet	9-1877 to 6-1885, BA
Employment	Clerk Pension Office, $1,400 a yr
PSAD Involvement	None
Miscellenous	Married a deaf lady; Resided in Washington, D.C.; Moved to Fla in 1936
Date of Death	December 29, 1940

Lewis Wallace Callahan
Date of Birth	February 21. 1862
Birthplace	N/A
Attended Gallaudet	9-1878 to 6-1884
Employment	N/A
PSAD Involvement	None
Miscellenous	Had a deaf sister
Date of Death	January 4, 1895

Samuel Gaston Davidson
Date of Birth	June 7, 1864
Birthplace	New Jersey
Attended Gallaudet	9-1880 to 6-1885, BA, MA-1904, Honorary Phd-1914
Employment	Editor and teacher at PIDD until 1914 Conducted his own school in Tamworth, NH Conducted a resort in White Mountain Uraimont Cottage, Tamworth, NH
PSAD Involvement	Attended the first convention, and served as a secretary, 1886-1889
Miscellenous	Married twice;first to a deaf lady and second to a hearing lady
Date of Death	1940

Samuel S. Haas
Date of Birth	June 10, 1859
Birthplace	N/A
Attended Gallaudet	9-1878 to 6-1884
Employment	Artisan in Shamokin, PA.
PSAD Involvement	Attended the first convention; Board member, 1884-1886 and 1913-1921 and 2nd VP 1912
Miscellenous	N/A
Date of Death	July 5, 1939

Theodore A. Kiese
Date of Birth	November 24, 1856
Birthplace	Delaware
Attended Gallaudet	9-25-1873 to 6-1880, BPH
Employment	Teacher at Kendall School
PSAD Involvement	PSAD: Attended the first convention and was a board member, 1881-1884
Miscellenous	Married a hearing lady
Date of Death	November 15, 1909

William A. Miles
Date of Birth	March 1, 1862
Birthplace	N/A
Attended Gallaudet	9-23-1880 to 6-1882
Employment	N/A
PSAD Involvement	None
Miscellenous	N/A
Date of Death	January 27, 1917

Paul Shakespeare Morey
Date of Birth	May 23, 1862
Birthplace	N/A
Attended Gallaudet	Gallaudet 9-1879 to 6-1881
Employment	N/A
PSAD Involvement	None
Miscellenous	N/A
Date of Death	N/A

Lincoln Smith
Date of Birth	September 10, 1860
Birthplace	N/A
Attended Gallaudet	9-23-1880 to 6-1881
Employment	N/A
PSAD Involvement	None
Miscellenous	N/A
Date of Death	N/A

B. Frank Widaman
Date of Birth	September 29-1858
Birthplace	N/A
Attended Gallaudet	9-23-1880 to 6-1881
Employment	Printer, Wrapper in Valve Factory, Job Compositor - Greensburg, PA.
PSAD Involvement	Attended the first convention
Miscellenous	N/A
Date of Death	September 21, 1948?

Robert Middleton Ziegler
Date of Birth	August 22, 1857
Birthplace	Middlesex, Cumumberland Co.
Attended Gallaudet	9-1876 to 6-1882, BA
Employment	Supervisor/Chief Supervisor at PIDD boys dormitory and a Clerk
PSAD Involvement	PSAD: Attended the first convention, 41 years, all positions except Treasurer; Pres. 4 yrs, 1st VP 3 yrs, 2nd VP 4 yrs, Secretary 17 yrs, Board Member 13 yrs
Miscellenous	Had a deaf Brother, John and a deaf uncle, Benjamin Married to Mary and had no children.
Date of Death	January 20, 1929

If you have any information about any of these individuals listed above, please contact our historian.

Sources:

Gallaudet Almanac
Gallaudet Admission Records
GUAA records
GUAA Obituary
PSD Admission Records
Buff & Blue Newspaper
Archives’ Deaf Bio
Archives Photograph - class pictures
PSAD Records, Minutes and Annual Reports

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