NMSD's History & Museum
NMSD has a rich history in the historic city of Santa Fe. It was founded by Deaf Education pioneer, Lars M. Larson, who first planted the school's deep roots in 1885.
Lars and his wife Belle used their own funds to begin teaching five students in a small adobe house in Santa Fe. The couple dreamed of establishing a permanent place where Deaf and Hard of Hearing children could receive a quality education.
Today, NMSD offers a robust statewide program, making a difference in the lives of 700+ Deaf children and 259 families with Deaf or Hard of Hearing infants and toddlers.
NMSD continues to honor the memory of Lars M. Larson and Belle Larson for their commitment to Deaf Education.
NMSD Superintendent Biographies
- ASL with English or Spanish captions
Lars M. Larson 1885-1906 | ||
Wesley O. Connor, Jr. 1906-1944 | ||
Marshall S. Hester, Jr. 1944-1964 | ||
James A. Little 1964-1983 | ||
Dr. Kenneth E. Brasel 1983-1988 | ||
Dr. Gilbert Delgado 1988-1994 | ||
Dr. Madan M. Vasishta 1994-2000 | ||
Dr. Ronald J. Stern 2000-2015 | ||
Dr. Rosemary J. Gallegos 2015-2021 |
Dr. Jennifer Herbold (2021-present)
The Kenneth Brasel Museum
The Kenneth Brasel Museum was established in 1987 to celebrate 100 years of education at NMSD. The museum is curated by NMSD staff and students, and houses one of the most comprehensive collections of American Deaf school history and memorabilia in the nation.
The collection includes:
Extensive photo archives
Original documents
School equipment
Educational materials
The museum not only displays artifacts related to the school’s history, but also serves as a valuable research center for students, historians, and writers interested in Deaf Education from across the globe.
Contact us to make an appointment to visit the museum.
