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Film & VideoArchitecture & Design

Community Narratives: Levi Strauss and the California School for the Deaf (CSD)

The Community Narratives videos presented in the exhibition Levi Strauss: A History of American Style bring visibility to topics ranging from Deaf culture and history to disability-led innovation and inclusive fashion design. The videos feature Deaf community member and storyteller Stefanie Ellis-Gonzales communicating in American Sign Language (ASL), and are also captioned, making them accessible to a hearing audience. On this page, we invite you to explore the history of the California School for the Deaf by watching the video "Levi Strauss and the California School for the Deaf (CSD)," or by reading the transcript or an extended video description below.

ABout community narratives

The Community Narratives were created to highlight the value of integrating a Deaf lens into museum exhibitions and programs, and of enhancing opportunities for Deaf artists, educators, and community members to share their unique cultural knowledge and perspectives.

Central to the mission of The Contemporary Jewish Museum (The CJM) is our commitment to highlighting a multiplicity of perspectives. Every community member brings a unique lived experience to the interpretation of The Museum’s exhibitions. Our visitors’ reflections enrich our thinking as a museum and help all of our audiences experience artwork in new ways. 

The CJM offers a number of free programs and resources for audiences who are Deaf or hard of hearing. ASL tours of The CJM’s exhibitions are led by guest Deaf docents with voice interpretation for the hearing public, and provide a space for visitors to connect and explore art through a Deaf cultural perspective. 

To request more information, share feedback, or ask questions, please email access@thecjm.org.

ACCESSIBILITY INFO
Video transcript

Hello, I am Stephanie Ellis-Gonzales. I was born Deaf and I have a Deaf family. I work at a Ohlone College and my children attend California School for the Deaf in Fremont. The California School for the Deaf, or CSD, was founded in 1860 and throughout its 160 years has been a leader in bilingual education, American Sign Language, or ASL, and English providing Deaf students with language-rich opportunities. California School for the Deaf promotes positive Deaf identity, confidence, and leadership, resulting in students leading productive and fulfilling lives. The school grew and moved from San Francisco to Berkeley and it's now known as one of the best Deaf schools in the country. Levi Strauss was one of the first contributors to the school.

Part of his contribution went towards its clock tower bell on the Berkeley campus. When California School for the Deaf relocated to Fremont in 1980 a new tower was built to permanently house the historic bell, where it remains today as a historic landmark. The Deaf community is very proud of CSD and many notable alumni attended the school, including national and international leaders in different fields. Theophilus Hope D'Estrella, born in 1851, was one of the very first students to attend CSD and went on to become the very first Deaf student to attend University of California, Berkeley. California School for the Deaf's legacy as a center for Deaf education, culture and leadership persists today throughout California, the U.S., and the world, and we are grateful to Levi Strauss for his significant contribution.

Video description

The video begins with an introductory slide on a black background showing the words “Community Narratives with Stefanie Ellis-Gonzales.” The next slide features the title of the story: Levi Strauss and the California School for the Deaf (CSD). Onscreen, a medium-light-skinned woman with shoulder-length brown hair and a blue sweater appears, who is standing in a classroom and communicating in American Sign Language (ASL). Behind her is a bookcase and a bright orange curtain. At the bottom of the video, captions appear in bold white lettering against a black box corresponding with Stefanie’s signing. While Stefanie is discussing the history of CSD, a historical black-and-white photograph of the school appears at the top right corner of the screen. This image is from the 1890s or early 1900s, when CSD was located on what is now the UC Berkeley campus. A defining feature of the building is its soaring clock tower and bell, which was donated to the school by Levi Strauss. At the end of the video, a title card appears listing acknowledgements of all those involved in the creation and production of the video: Thank you to Stefanie Ellis-Gonzales, Storyteller and Deaf Community Advocate. Dan Veltri of Treehouse Video, Videographer. Cecile Puretz, Access and Community Engagement Manager. Image courtesy of the Historical Museum, California School for the Deaf. The final slide features the names of the supporters of the exhibition: Levi Strauss: A History of American Style is generously provided by Maribelle and Stephen Leavitt; Lisa and Douglas Goldman Fund; Evelyn & Walter Haas, Jr. Fund; The David Berg Foundation; John & Marcia Goldman Foundation; Colleen and Robert D. Haas; Dana Corvin and Harris Weinberg, in honor of Paulette Meyer and David Friedman, and Catherine and James Koshland; Kendra and Tom Kasten; Dorothy R. Saxe; and Marilyn and Murry Waldman. Media sponsorship is provided by the San Francisco Chronicle and KQED. The final slide reads: Access Programs at The Contemporary Jewish Museum are made possible by major support from Wells Fargo Foundation. Additional generous support by the Morse Family Foundation.

About the Presenter
Headshot of Stefanie Ellis-Gonzales
Stefanie Ellis-Gonzales

Stefanie Ellis-Gonzales is a counselor for Deaf and hard of hearing students at Ohlone College in Fremont, California. She provides a wide range of support and services for the culturally, socio-economically, ethnically, and academically diverse Deaf and hard of hearing student population. In addition, she is a Training and Development Specialist with DeafTEC, a National Science Foundation grant housed at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) at the Rochester Institute of Technology, with the intent of providing greater educational access and employment opportunities in the STEM field for Deaf individuals. Stefanie’s background also includes teaching, presenting workshops, and writing. As a parent of a Deaf child with autism, Stefanie has a vested interest in increasing education, resources, advocacy, and networking opportunities for professionals and families of Deaf children with autism. She is the Northern California GUAA Chapter secretary and enjoys volunteering in the community and at the California School for the Deaf (CSD) in Fremont. She and her husband, Len, are the proud parents of third-generation Deaf children.

Related content

Watch our Community Narratives video on Helen Cookman and the creation of Levi's® functional jeans:

Screenshot of a video player showing the title slide of "Helen Cookman and the Creation of Levi's® Functional Jeans." The image links to the video.

Additional Resources

To learn more about the topics explored in this video, check out the following resources, which was used in shaping the Community Narratives.

supporters

Support for Levi Strauss: A History of American Style is generously provided by Maribelle and Stephen Leavitt; Gaia Fund; John Pritzker Family Fund; Lisa and Douglas Goldman Fund; Evelyn & Walter Haas, Jr. Fund; Mimi and Peter Haas Fund; The David Berg Foundation; John & Marcia Goldman Foundation; Suzanne and Elliott Felson; Colleen and Robert D. Haas; Dana Corvin and Harris Weinberg, in honor of Paulette Meyer and David Friedman, and Catherine and James Koshland; Kendra and Tom Kasten, in honor of Robert D. Haas; Michael Righi; Dorothy R. Saxe; David Saxe; Marilyn and Murry Waldman; and Rosanne and Al Levitt.

Lead Corporate Sponsorship is provided by Levi’s®.®️

Media Sponsorship is provided by the San Francisco Chronicle and KQED. In-kind support is provided by Corduroy Media.

Access Programs are made possible by Leadership Support from Wells Fargo. Additional support is provided by a Senior Mobility Initiative grant from the Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund and by the Morse Family Foundation.