• Collection ID 2009.0001.2
  • Title Mary T. McCowen photograph collection [graphic].
  • Dates [ca. 1895-1974 (bulk 1930)]
  • Physical description
    • 18 photographic prints : b&w ; 8 x 10 in. and smaller.
    • 1 negatives : b&w ; 2 1/2 x 1 3/4 in.
    • 1 folder of non-graphic material.
  • Collection summary
    • Photographs relating to Mary T. McCowen (d. 1930) and the McCowen Oral School for Deaf Children in Chicago (Ill.). Includes informal portrait photographs of Miss McCowen during her retirement in Tucson, Arizona, and Denver, Colorado, including images of her with friends or alone; and exterior views of the property and building of McCowen's school at 6550 South Yale in Chicago (Ill.), where she pioneered the teaching of lipreading and speech techniques to deaf children. Also included in the collection are images of McCowen with various family members, such as her grandmother and adopted son Roy; former students; a photograph of Mary McCowen's gravesite; and a photograph of Alexander Graham Bell, Mary McCowen, and others on the steps of the Chicago Normal School. Non-graphic material includes annotated envelopes about the Alexander Graham Bell photograph. (It is possible that the school in the Bell photograph is the Normal Practice School in Normal Park, not the Chicago Normal School).
    • Photographers of items in the collection include Mary T. McCowen, Roy McCowen, and Sarah McElroy.
  • Acquisition information Gift of Jeanette L. McElroy (2009.0001.2).
  • Terms Governing Use and Reproduction Donor didn't deed copyright or other rights to Chicago Historical Society.
  • Biographical or Historical Note Miss McCowen founded her first school in 1883 at 61st and Wabash in Chicago. It was a boarding school and later operated at 414 Normal Parkway, where McCowen resided after she retired from the Chicago Public Schools. She died in September 1930 at the age of 82.
  • Location of Other Archival Materials Note Related materials at Chicago History Museum, Research Center, include the Mary T. McCowen papers and a document by her cataloged separately.
  • Names
    • McCowen, Mary T., 1849-1930 Portraits.
    • Bell, Alexander Graham, 1847-1922 Portraits.
    • McCowen, Roy Portraits.
    • McCowen Oral School for Deaf Children (Chicago, Ill.) Buildings.
    • McCowen Oral School for Deaf Children (Chicago, Ill.) Students.
    • McCowen, Mary T., 1849-1930, photographer.
    • McCowen, Roy, photographer.
    • McElroy, Sarah K., photographer.
  • Subjects
    • Deaf persons Illinois Chicago 1890-1969. lctgm
    • Deaf Education Illinois Chicago 1890-1929.
    • Deaf Means of communication Illinois Chicago 1890-1929.
    • Public schools Illinois Chicago.
    • Women teachers Illinois Chicago 1890-1929. lctgm
    • School principals Illinois Chicago 1890-1929. lctgm
  • Geographic coverage
    • Chicago (Ill.) Intellectual life 1890-1979.
    • Englewood (Chicago, Ill.)
    • Denver (Colo.) Social life and customs 1920-1929.
    • Tucson (Ariz.) Social life and customs 1910-1929.
  • Genre
    • Exterior views. aat
    • Film negatives. gmgpc
    • Gelatin silver prints. gmgpc
    • Group portraits. gmgpc
    • Photographic prints. gmgpc
    • Portrait photographs. gmgpc
  • Geographic name United States Illinois Cook County Chicago.