James Simpson, a deaf educator, served as the third superintendent of the South Dakota School for the Deaf for more than twenty years. His leadership transformed the school from a small territorial program into a permanent and growing state institution.

Born deaf on January 21, 1855, in Michigan, Simpson did not begin school until the age of fourteen. He later attended the Michigan School for the Deaf and the Fanwood School for the Deaf in New York, where he graduated as valedictorian. Encouraged by his mother, he learned to speak and became a skilled lipreader.

In 1881, Simpson arrived in Sioux Falls at the invitation of E. G. Wright. At that time, the school was still new and small. Under his leadership, enrollment grew rapidly—from only a handful of students to more than fifty—and the school became firmly established within the territory and later the state.

Simpson was not only an administrator, but a leader who understood the needs and experiences of deaf students. His work helped shape the school into a place of both education and community.​​

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Growth of the Campus

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During Simpson’s years, the campus changed dramatically. What began as a simple wooden building grew into a well-developed campus of permanent Sioux quartzite structures.

•    The Main Building (1884), serving as classrooms, dormitory space, and the                    superintendent’s residence
•    A boys’ dormitory (1886) and expansions to the girls’ dormitory
•    A vocational building (1887)
•    Barns, farmland, and agricultural facilities
•    Steam heating (1885) and electric lighting (1890)
•    A boiler plant (1900)
•    The first concrete silo in the Dakotas (1892)

This rapid expansion was supported in part through strong relationships with territorial leaders. Simpson worked with influential figures such as Richard F. Pettigrew, whose legislative support helped secure funding for important facilities, including dormitory construction in the mid-1880s.​

Education and Daily Life

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Simpson emphasized practical education alongside academics. Students were taught trades such as printing, carpentry, and tin work. The school also operated a working farm, where students gained hands-on experience.

Printing became especially important, leading to the creation of a student publication that later became known as The South Dakota Advocate.

Simpson and his family lived in the Main Building, making the school both a workplace and a home. It is believed that several of his children were born there, and family life was closely connected to the daily life of the campus.​

Life on Campus

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Life at the school during Simpson’s years extended well beyond the classroom. He was known for his deep personal involvement in the lives of his students.

In 1898, when a student, Lorraine Louthan, passed away at the school, funeral services were held on campus. Superintendent Simpson personally accompanied the family and the remains on their journey home, reflecting the close and caring nature of the school community.

Simpson also took part in important milestones in students’ lives. In 1899, the wedding of early student Hester Black was held on campus, showing how the school served not only as a place of education, but also as a center of community life.

He was also known to challenge false claims that targeted the deaf community. In one newspaper account from 1899, a self-proclaimed “healer” claimed he could restore hearing and speech. Simpson allowed him to attempt his method on a student—but the effort failed, exposing the claim as unfounded.

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Statehood and Challenges

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After South Dakota became a state in 1889, the school came under new governance through the State Board of Charities and Corrections. While state funding allowed continued expansion, it also introduced political pressures.

In 1903, administrative decisions significantly reduced Simpson’s salary. Unwilling to accept the reduction, he chose to resign after more than two decades of service.

Final Years and Legacy

Shortly after his resignation, Simpson’s health declined. He traveled to the Black Hills in hopes of recovery, but returned to Sioux Falls, where he passed away later in 1903.

His impact on the school was lasting. During his leadership, SDSD grew in size, structure, and purpose. What began as a small territorial school became a stable and respected institution serving deaf students across the region.

“No history of the South Dakota School for Deaf Mutes can be complete without a sketch of the life of one man… James Simpson.”

Click image to view the historical feature page about the first permanent wooden school building (1881)