Manuscripts

MSS 81
National Association of the Deaf, est. 1880
Collection of the National Association of the Deaf, 1880-1991

Gallaudet University Archives

Descriptive Summary

Repository: Gallaudet University Archives
Call No.: MSS 81
Creator:
Title: Collection of the National Association of the Deaf, 1880- 1991
Quantity: 5.5 Linear Feet (11 document boxes)
Abstract:
Note: This document last updated 2006 January 5.

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information: The National Association of the Deaf Collection was created when several items were donated to the Gallaudet University Archives at different times. Additions to the Collection are ongoing.
Processed by: Nora L. McCabe. 1984 December 8.
Processing Note: Updated on April 10, 1998. Conditions on Use and Access: This collection is open to the public with no restrictions. Photocopies may be made for scholarly research.

Related Material in the Archives:See ALADIN

Historical Sketch

The history of the National Association of the Deaf dates back to 1850, when the New England Gallaudet Association of the Deaf was founded. It served as a predecessor for the National Association for the Deaf, which was established on August 25, 1880 in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was later incorporated in Washington, D.C. in 1900. The first home office opened in 1950 in Chicago, and Halex House in Silver Spring, Maryland, where NAD has its headquarters, was dedicated in 1973.

Four men are given credit for founding the National Association of the Deaf. Robert P. MacGregor was its first president and the founder of the Cincinnati Day School for the Deaf. Edmund Booth of Iowa is known as the "father of NAD" but declined the first presidency in favor of MacGregor. Booth was a graduate of the Hartford school, where he studied under both Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet and Laurent Clerc. He later became the owner and editor of a successful newspaper, the Anamosa Eureka. Henry Rider and Edwin Hodgson, both of New York, were among the first to endorse a national association of the deaf through the printed pres. They both, at separate times, owned the "Deaf Mutes Journal."

The National Association of the Deaf has served in the best interests of deaf Americans for over one hundred years. It has made every effort to create a favorable social image of deaf culture. NAD has fought for compulsory education laws for deaf children and retention of the combined system (oral and sign language) in residential schools for the deaf. It also has successfully diminished impostors who solicit money from the public by pretending they are deaf. In addition, the NAD has protected basic civil rights of deaf Americans, such as the right to equal justice, the right to exercise franchises, assume the responsibilities of taxpayers, equal employment opportunities, and motor vehicle use.

The Miss Deaf America Pageant was established in 1972 at the 31st convention of the National Association of the Deaf in Miami Beach, Florida, and continues to this day.

Scope and Content

The NAD collection is extremely broad, covering a wide range of subjects. It is broken down into six series: Convention Proceedings (1880-1990), NAD Business Correspondence (1910-1915), Abbe de l' Epee Memorial Statue (1915-1930), Centennial Convention (1980), Miss Deaf America Pageant (1972-1974), and General (1880-1991). Convention programs make up the bulk of the collection although the years 1923, 1926, 1952-1962, 1966-1968, 1972-1974, and 1986. The Centennial Convention of 1980 is the most complete of all the conventions in the collection. In addition, not all of the Miss Deaf America Pageant programs are available. Programs for 1974, 1976, and 1978 are missing. Newspaper clippings related to all aspects of the National Association of the Deaf are included in the collection, particularly a scrapbook of clippings from the 1934 convention in New York. In addition, papers related to the de l'Epee memorial statue at St. Mary's School for the Deaf in Buffalo, New York are stored here. Overall the NAD collection provides a rich and insightful history into one of the most foremost deaf organizations in the United States.

Series Descriptions and Folder Lists

Researchers are encouraged to use microfilms for the Proceedings of the NAD. Two microfilms are located in a drawer in the Archives.
The call numbers are as following:
Deaf Rare Microfilm No. 131 v. 1 (1st Proceedings - 1880 to 13th Proceedings - 1920)
Deaf Rare Microfilm No. 131 v. 2 (16th Proceedings - 1930 to 21st Proceedings - 1949)

Note: The 14th (1923) and 15th (1926) are not included in the microfilms. To find the reports for the 14th and 15th:
14th Triennial Convention, Atlanta, GA
Deaf Mutes' Journal: vol. 52 no. 41 (October 11, 1923) p. 4, and
Silent Worker: vol. 36 no. 1 (October, 1923) pp. 11-19.

15th Triennial Convention, Washington, DC
Deaf Mutes' Journal: Vol. 55 no. 33 (August 19, 1926) p. 3,
Deaf Mutes' Journal: Vol. 55 no. 34 (August 26, 1926) p. 2,
Deaf Mutes' Journal: Vol. 55 no. 36 (September 9, 1926) p. 1, and
Silent Worker: Vol. 39 no. 1 (November, 1926) pp. 15-19.

No Series

Box	Folder	Title of Folder	Date
1	1	Proceedings of the First National Convention of Deaf-Mutes	1880
1	2	Proceedings of the Second National Convention of Deaf-Mutes	1883
1	3	Proceedings of the Third Convention of the National Association of the Deaf	1889
1	4	Proceedings of the World's Congress of the Deaf and the Report of the Fourth Convention of the National Association of the Deaf	1893
1	5	Proceedings of the Convention of the National Association of the Deaf	1896-1907
1	6	Proceedings of the Sixth Convention of the National Association of the Deaf	1900
1	7	Proceedings of the Eighth Convention of the National Association of the Deaf	1907
1	8	Proceedings of the Ninth Convention of the National Association of the Deaf and Third World Congress of the Deaf	1910
1	9	Proceedings of the Tenth National Convention of Deaf-Mutes	1913
2	1	Proceedings of the Eleventh (Special) Convention of the National Association of the Deaf	1915
2	2	Proceedings of the Twelfth Convention of the National Association of the Deaf	1917
2	3	Proceedings of the Thirteenth Convention of the National Association of the Deaf	1920
2	4	Proceedings of the Sixteenth Triennial Convention of the NAD and the Fourth World Congress of the Deaf	1930
2	5	Proceedings of the Seventeenth Triennial Convention of the NAD	1934
2	6	Proceedings of the Eighteenth Triennial Convention of the NAD	1937
2	7	Proceedings of the Nineteenth Triennial Convention of the NAD	1940
2	8	Proceedings of the Twentieth Triennial Convention of the NAD	1946
2	9	Proceedings of the Twenty-First Triennial Convention of the NAD	1949
3	1	Proceedings (Minutes) of the 34th Biennial Convention of the NAD - Rochester, New York	1978
3	2	Proceedings of the Centennial Convention of the NAD - Cincinnati, Ohio	1980
3	3	Proceedings of 1984 Biennial Convention - Baltimore, Maryland	1984
3	4	Proceedings of the 41st Biennial Convention - Denver, Colorado	1992
3	5	Proceedings of the 43rd Biennial Convention - Portland, Oregon	1996
3	6	Program - 15th Triennial Convention - Washington, DC	1926
3	7	Program - 16th Triennial Convention - Buffalo, New York	1930
3	8	Program - 27th Biennial Convention - Washington, DC	1964
3	9	Program - 30th Biennial Convention - Minneapolis, Minnesota	1970
3	10	Program - 31st Biennial Convention - Miami Beach, Florida	1972
3	11	Program - 32nd Biennial Convention - Seattle, Washington	1974
3	12	Program - 33rd Biennial Convention - Houston, Texas	1976
3	13	Program - 36th Biennial Convention - St. Louis, Missouri	1982
3	14	Program - 37th Biennial Convention - Baltimore, Maryland	1984
3	15	Program - 39th Biennial Convention - Charleston, South Carolina	1988
3	16	Program - 40th Biennial Convention - Indianapolis, Indiana	1990
3	17	Program - 41st Biennial Convention - Denver, Colorado	1992
4	1	Correspondence - Aldrich, Chester H.	1912
4	2	Correspondence - Banks	1910-1913
4	3	Correspondence - Booth, F. W.	1911-1913
4	4	Correspondence - Davis, William E.	1912-1913
4	5	Correspondence - Editors	1913
4	6	Correspondence - Fuller, L. B.	1911
4	7	Correspondence - Hanson, Olof - General	1910-1915
4	8	Correspondence - Hanson, Olof to Aldrich, Chester H.	1912
4	9	Correspondence - Hanson, Olof to Booth, F. W.	1912-1913
4	10	Correspondence - Hanson, Olof to Davis, William E.	1912-1913
4	11	Correspondence - Hanson, Olof to Editors	1912-1913
4	12	Correspondence - Hanson, Olof to Howard, J. C.	1910-1915
4	13	Correspondence - Hanson, Olof to Pearse, Carroll G.	1912
4	14	Correspondence - Hanson, Olof to Regensburg, Oscar	1910-1913
4	15	Correspondence - Hanson, Olof to Seeley, P. R.	1911-1913
4	16	Correspondence - Hanson, Olof to Stewart, R. E.	1913
4	17	Correspondence - Howard, J. C. to Hanson, Olof	1910-1915
4	18	Correspondence to the Members of the Executive Committee	1910-1914
4	19	Correspondence - Miscellaneous	1910-1913
4	20	Correspondence - Motion Picture Fund	1912-1913
4	21	Correspondence - Pearse, Carroll G.	1912
4	22	Correspondence - Regensburg, Oscar to Hanson, Olof	1910-1913
4	23	Correspondence - Regensburg, Oscar	1910-1913
4	24	Correspondence - Rothert, W. H.	1912
4	25	Correspondence - Seeley, P. E.	1911-1913
4	26	Correspondence - Sowell, J. W.	1911-1913
4	27	Correspondence - Stewart, R. E.	1911-1913
4	28	Hanson Honorary Fund - Donation List	1913
4	29	Miscellaneous	1910-1913
4	30	Original Report of Cleveland, Ohio Convention - Stenographer's Copy - 10th Triennial Convention	1913
5	1	Clippings (Xerox copies)	1910-1912
5	2	Clippings (Xerox copies)	1912-1913
6	1	Correspondence - A	1928-1930
6	2	Correspondence - B	1928-1931
6	3	Correspondence - C	1915-1930
6	4	Correspondence - D	1927-1930
6	5	Correspondence - E	1923-1928
6	6	Correspondence - F	1927-1930
6	7	Correspondence - G	1928-1931
6	8	Correspondence - H	1928-1931
6	9	Correspondence - K	1930
6	10	Correspondence - L	1927-1930
6	11	Correspondence - M	1926-1931
6	12	Correspondence - Mc	1929-1930
6	13	Correspondence - N	1926-1931
6	14	Correspondence - O	1929-1930
6	15	Correspondence - P	1928-1929
6	16	Correspondence - R	1927-1931
6	17	Correspondence - S	1927-1930
6	18	Correspondence - T	1928-1930
6	19	Correspondence - U - V	1928-1929
6	20	Correspondence - W	1929-1930
6	21	Correspondence - Z	1929
6	22	Agreement by and between NAD and Eugene E. Hannan	1928
6	23	Miscellaneous	1928-1930
6	24	Newspaper Clippings	1921-1929
7	1	Agreement between NAD and Eugene E. Hannan	1928
7	2	Clippings (Xerox copies)	1930
7	3	Contribution Form	n.d.
7	4	Correspondence - Ebstain, F. to Hannan, Eugene E. (copy)	1927
7	5	Correspondence - Frankenheim, S. to Hannan, Eugene E. (copy)	1928
7	6	Correspondence - Frankenheim, S. to Tilden, Douglas (copy)	1928
7	7	Correspondence - Hamar, F. to Frankenheim, S.	1928
7	8	Correspondence - Hannan, Eugene E. to Frankenheim, S.	1927-1930
7	9	Correspondence - Herouard, S. to Frankenheim, S.	1928
7	10	Correspondence - LeClerq, C. J. L.	1930
7	11	Correspondence - Leighton, A. E.	1930
7	12	Correspondence - Morice, L.	1928
7	13	Correspondence - Picaud, G. to Frankenheim, S.	1928
7	14	Correspondence - Roberts, Arthur L. to Burke, M. A. (copy)	1928
7	15	Correspondence - Roberts, Arthur L. to Frankenheim, S.	1928-1929
7	16	Correspondence - Roberts, Arthur L. to Hannan, Eugene E. (copy)	1928
7	17	Correspondence - Stevens, Kelly H.	1928
7	18	Correspondence - Tilden, Douglas to Frankenheim, S.	1927-1928
7	19	Declaration of Free Entry and Invoice of Purchased Merchandise	1929
7	20	History of the Abbe de L'Epee Statue - Complied by Bernard Bragg (Xerox copies)	1950
7	21	Insurance for Eugene E. Hannan	1928
7	22	Miscellaneous	n.d.
7	23	Photographs *Note: Removed to Schools for the Deaf Photograph File under St. Mary's School	1928-1929
7	24	Souvenir - a medal with a ribbon	1930
8	1	Calendar Packets	1980
8	2	Centennial Book	1980
8	3	Centennial Book	1980
8	4	Centennial Bulletin # 1	1980
8	5	Centennial Bulletin # 2	1980
8	6	Centennial Daily # 1	1980
8	7	Centennial Daily # 2	1980
8	8	Centennial Daily # 3	1980
8	9	Centennial Daily # 4	1980
8	10	Centennial Daily # 5	1980
8	11	Centennial Daily # 6	1980
8	12	Centennial Daily # 7	1980
8	13	Convention News	1980
8	14	Encyclopedia of Deaf People and Deafness	1980
8	15	Greater Los Angeles Council on Deafness, Inc. - Information Brochure	1980
8	16	Hearing Hearts - Magazine	1980
8	17	Junior National Association of the Deaf	1980
8	18	Junior National Association of the Deaf - Information Brochure	1980
8	19	Memorabilia - buttons, key chains, stickers, and ribbons	1980
8	20	Miscellaneous	1980
8	21	Notepad - National Association of the Deaf Centennial	1980
8	22	Proceedings of the First National Conference on Scouting for the Hearing Impaired - August 5 to 7	1979
8	23	Program - International Association of Parents of the Deaf	1980
8	24	Programs - Centennial Luncheon	1980
8	25	Program - Tales from a Clubroom	1980
8	26	Ticket Booklets	1980
9	1	Program - Miss Deaf America Pageant	1972
9	2	Program - Miss Deaf America Pageant	1976
9	3	Program - Miss Deaf America Pageant	1980
9	4	Program - Miss Deaf America Pageant	1982
9	5	Program - Miss Deaf America Pageant	1984
9	6	Program - Miss Deaf America Pageant	1986
9	7	Program - Miss Deaf America Pageant	1988
9	8	Program - Miss Deaf America Pageant	1990
9	9	Program - Miss Deaf America Pageant	1992
9	10	Program - Miss Deaf America Pageant	1994
9	11	Program - Miss Deaf America Pageant	1998
9	12	Program - Miss Deaf America Pageant	2000
9	13	Program - Miss Deaf America Pageant	2002
9	14	Program - Miss Deaf America Pageant	2004
10	1	Banquet Program - 15th Triennial Convention - Washington, DC	1926
10	2	Biennial Report to Members	1968
10	3	Booklet - The NAD Story	1964
10	4	NAD Bulletins	1935-1940
10	5	Calendars - NAD Centennial	1980
10	6	Handbook - NAD State Association - Parts I, II, and III	n.d.
10	7	Handbook - NAD State Association - Part IV	n.d.
10	8	Letters - Position for Executive Director of Sign Language	1967-1968
10	9	Miscellaneous Materials	1930-1992
10	10	Moving Picture Fund - Help Preserve The Sign Language	1938
10	11	NAD Cultural Program	1970-1979
10	12	Newsletter - 37th Biennial Convention - Baltimore, Maryland	1984
10	13	Newsletter - 39th Biennial Convention - Charleston, South Carolina	1988
10	14	Papers - 36th Biennial Convention - St. Louis, Missouri	1982
10	15	Papers - 39th Biennial Convention - Charleston, South Carolina	1988
11	1	Papers - 40th Biennial Convention - Indianapolis, Indiana	1990
11	2	Papers - 42nd Biennial Convention - Knoxville, Tennessee	1994
11	3	Reports - Annual reports of NAD	1981-1987
11	4	Ribbon - 15th Triennial Convention - Washington, DC	1926
11	5	Ribbons - NAD Unveiling Gallaudet Statue Replica - West Hartford, Connecticut	1926
11	6	Ribbon - 16th Convention and Semi-Centennial - Buffalo, New York	1930
11	7	Scrapbook - 17th Triennial Convention - New York City	1934
11	8	Souvenir Program Book - 21st Triennial Convention - Cleveland, Ohio	1949
11	9	Souvenir Program Book - NAD Rally Night - Chicago, Illinois	1950