Samuel Showell
Guest curator Bobbie Blackson introduces Samuel Showell, a leading figure in the Deaf Community of the early 20th Century.
Samuel Showell during his time as Superintendent at the Queensland Adult Deaf and Dumb Mission.
1909, March
Samuel Showell
Samuel Showell was also featured in the series on “Prominent Deaf-Mutes and Workers of Australia”. This article includes information on his early life in England and his beginnings in Australia.
From the South Australian Monthly News 1909, Vol.4 No.7.
1903
1904
“…there shall be no need to pass around the hat for our education, seeing that we pay rates and taxes the same as other people, and are entitled to free education without having the stigma of charity attached to it.”
Samuel Showell
1904, January
Samuel Showell attended the first national Congress of deaf people in Melbourne in 1903-04. He sent this Letter to the Editor of The Age, defending deaf children’s right to public education using sign language.
1904
“…signs to a large extent are natural to the untaught deaf mute, and can only be eradicated by a severity perilously bordering on cruelty.”
Samuel Showell
1911
Australasian Deaf and Dumb Association Congress
Samuel Showell was involved in the Australasian Deaf and Dumb Association, and attended their 1911 Congress in Melbourne. Check out the full program below to find Showell’s presentation about employment of deaf people (p. 4).
1925
1918
This newspaper article describes the opening of the Mission’s new building, and some of the activities that happened there.
Samuel Showell included interpreting in his duties as Missioner/Superintendent. He would have been one of Australia’s earliest deaf interpreters!
1925, December
Samuel Showell is listed as officiating at the marriage of Leslie Watts and Edith Morey in December 1925.
1933
This newspaper article describes an event at the Queensland Deaf and Dumb Mission to pay tribute to Samuel Showell and unveil a photograph of him in the Mission’s hall.
