Elizabeth Blomquist Symonds silk ribbon

Collection — Box: 1

Identifier: RITDSA-0060

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The silk ribbon or neckpiece is fringed silk ribbon with the name of the exchange student inked on the side. The collection also includes two letters from Symonds to RIT President Dr. Paul Miller, a postcard, and a letter acknowledging Symonds' donation to the Deaf Studies Archives.

Dates

Creation: circa 1925-1979

Creator

Symonds, Elizabeth Blomquist (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to researchers.

Historical Information: Elizabeth Blomquist Symonds silk ribbon

The silk ribbon was likely given to Elizabeth Blomquist Symonds by Ziao Fong Hsia, a Chinese deaf-mute student from China who graduated from the Rochester School for the Deaf. Both attended the Bevier Art School of the Rochester Athenaeum and Mechanics Institute. Ziao Fong Hsia graduated from RAMI in 1923. In a letter to RIT President Dr. Paul Miller, Symonds wrote:

I told you about our classmate, a deaf mute from China. He was attending the School for the Deaf in Rochester then changed his enrollment to our school, then known as Bevier Art School of Mechanics Institute. While here he began to know simple words and phrases. He even learned to dance by feeling the vibrations of the music as his feet touched the floor....His father, a man of position and wealth, was having his son educated to head a school for deaf mutes in China upon his return from Rochester.

Extent

.5 Linear Feet (1 folder in 1 legal size document box)

Language

English

Additional Description

Overview

Silk ribbon and correspondence belonging to Rochester Athenaeum and Mechanics Institute art school student Elizabeth Blomquist Symonds.

Arrangement

Collection consists of one folder.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Accession number(s): 11:63

The Elizabeth Blomquist Symonds silk ribbon collection was gifted to the National Technical Institute for the Deaf in September, 1979. The collection was transferred to the Deaf Studies Archives in July 2011 by Robert Baker of NTID.