Regina Olson Hughes

Regina Olson Hughes (1895–1993) was an American scientific illustrator in Botanical Art. Born February 1, 1895 in Herman, Nebraska, she became fascinated gone the world of birds and flowers. Her parents were Gilbert and Johanna (Sullivan) Olson. At age 10, she approved scarlet fever and her hearing slowly diminished until she became adequately deaf at age 14. In order for her to communicate afterward her peers, she relied on lip reading and written notes for business work. Hughes retained her speech skills and continued to speak fluently throughout her adulthood. She became talented in American Sign Language taking into account she enrolled in Gallaudet University.

She loved her rural home, rampant next weeds, plants and flowers. An combination in art moreover dominated her childhood. Her parents provided art tutoring. Plants and flowers were her favorite subjects. In 1923, Hughes married Frederick H. Hughes and lived upon Gallaudet University's campus for thirty years. He was Gallaudet's legendary Deaf economics professor, theater enthusiast, and football coach. In 1956, he died of a heart attack. She died August 12, 1993 due to heart failure at age 98.