Manuscripts

Gallaudet University Archives

Descriptive Summary

Repository: Gallaudet University Archives
Call No.: MSS 167
Creator:
Title: Collection of Francis C. Higgins, 1783 - 1996.
Quantity: 4.5 Linear Feet (9 document boxes).
Abstract:
Note: This document last updated 2008 July 2.

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information: Francis C. Higgins donated his papers periodically between 1995 and 1996.
Processed by: Michael J. Olson, 2008.
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 for a full listing

Films

• Recruitment project - [Chemistry class, displaying of TTY] [motion picture]. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: Deaf Film 338-4
• Recruitment project - [Chemistry class] [motion picture]. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: Deaf Film 339-4
• Dedication of Hughes Memorial Gymnasium (I) [motion picture] Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: Deaf Film 402-4
• Edward Miner Gallaudet Statue Dedication [motion picture]. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: Deaf Film 139-4.
• [Guests at the Unveiling of the Edward Miner Gallaudet statue] [motion picture]. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: Deaf Film 139-4.
• Higgins Triplets [motion picture]. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: Deaf Film 156-4
• Life on campus [motion picture]. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: Deaf Film 1-4

Photographs

• Francis C. Higgins [picture] Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: Portraits.

SMSS

• Papers, Francis Cole Higgins, 1970-1980. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: SMSS
  

Biographical Sketch

Francis Cole Higgins was born on September 23, 1913 in Flemington, New Jersey. He became deaf at 3 years old due to an unknown cause. Francis Higgins attended the Flemington, New Jersey Grammar School. He completed his studies there in 1927 and then attended the New Jersey School for the Deaf until 1931. Higgins then earned his Bachelor of Science degree at Gallaudet College in 1936 and then his Master of Science from Rutgers in 1938. He spent the next nine years teaching at the Kentucky School for the Deaf then taught Chemistry and other science courses at Gallaudet College until his retirement in 1983. He taught for 3 more years at the Northwest Campus on a volunteer basis.

Higgins married in 1939 to Catherine Bronson of Alabama. They had five children, including a set of triplets. He was actively involved in the Baptist Church of the Deaf in Washington, DC where he served as lay leader for more than forty years. He has also been actively involved in the Kentucky Chapter of the Gallaudet College Alumni Association as well as the GCAA itself. He has earned numerous recognitions including Man of the Year Award from Alpha Sigma Pi, Man of Merit from Delta Epsilon, awards from the National Fraternal Society of the Deaf, Tower Clock, and religious organizations. He died on February 14, 2000.

Scope and Content

The Collection of Francis C. Higgins consists of letters; copies of documents related to deaf people; booklets; notebooks; program books; poems; articles; minutes of meetings; and certificates.

The collection, which consists of approximately 7,650 pages, dates from 1783 to 1996. The bulk of the collection consists of copies of documents related to the history of deaf people, especially on deaf artists. Francis C. Higgins spent his free time research on the history of deaf people. The bulk dates are mostly between 1980 and 1986 during at that time Higgins researched and wrote to different historical societies and libraries for inquires information on deaf people. In this collection there are several folders related to religion that Higgins was involved in. He wrote a history of Calvary Baptist Church of the Deaf and also included in this collection there are two minutes books related to the church.

Series Descriptions

Series I: General Files
Box 1 (Folder 1) - Box 7 (Folder 5) 1783 -1996

Francis C. Higgins collected many copies of documents related to the history of deaf people and wrote some articles. There are copies of information on deaf artists. Included in this collection are two minutes book of the Calvary Baptist Church of the Deaf from 1916 to 1980; and letters and program book of the National Association of the Deaf Convention held in Kentucky in 1946.

Series II: Gallaudet University Files
Box 7 (Folder 6) - Box 8 (Folder 11) 1864 -1990

There are copies of documents related to the history of Gallaudet University. Higgins was a faculty member of Gallaudet University and there are some faculty papers included. He wrote interesting questions about the history of Kendall Green. The minutes and letters related to the Laurent Clerc Cultural Fund are included in this collection.

Series III: Personal Files
Box 9 (Folders 1 - 22) 1931-1987

There are some letters Higgins received from several writers related to the history of deaf people. A biography of Higgins is included. In this collection, Higgins wrote his journals of his journey to some counties with Gallaudet students.

Folder Lists

 

Box	Folder	Title of Folder	Date
1	1	Abbe de L'Epee	1803-1986
1	2	Abbe Sicard	1925-1984
1	3	Albert Newsam	1864-1984
1	4	Alden Fletcher Osgood	1912-1980
1	5	American Deaf Artists	1877-1983
1	6	American Deaf Artists	1897-1994
1	7	Bibliography of Religious Materials Suitable for Use with the Deaf	1967
1	8	Biographies	1842-1979
1	9	Book Lists	1975-1985
1	10	Books on the Deaf - complied by Francis C. Higgins	n.d.
1	11	Calendar Facts about Deaf People	n.d.
1	12	Calvary Baptist Church - Deaf Department - Secretary's Book	1916-1959
2	1	Calvary Baptist Church - Deaf Department - Secretary's Book	1960-1980
2	2	Calvary Baptist Church of the Deaf	1951-1970
2	3	Charles Willson Peale's Letters to General George Weedon	1784-1983
2	4	Deaf Artists	1919-1983
2	5	Deaf Artists	1897-1985
2	6	Deaf Community Study - Form	n.d.
2	7	Deaf Founders of Schools for the Deaf	1947
2	8	Deaf Action Week	1977-1978
2	9	Deaf Scientists	1975
2	10	Deaf Scientists	1903-1986
2	11	Deaf Writers	1893-1982
2	12	Deafness in Literature - complied by Francis C. Higgins	1947-1957
2	13	A Directory of Religious Films for the Deaf	1974
2	14	Drama - Deaf	1984
2	15	Early History on Deaf and Dumb	1842-1971
3	1	Edmund Booth by Loy E. Golladay	n.d.
3	2	Education of the Deaf and Dumb	1846
3	3	Edward C. Bruce	1859-1986
3	4	Eugene Elmer Hannan	1903-1984
3	5	Exemplary Deaf Teachers of the Deaf by Leon Auerbach	n.d.
3	6	Foreign Deaf Artists	1835-1986
3	7	Fowler Home in Guilford, Connecticut	1983
3	8	Francis Green	1864-1901
3	9	From Aristotle to Gallaudet	1972-1988
3	10	Gallaudet Memorial Window in Hartford, Connecticut	1913
3	11	Gallaudet Monument	1854
3	12	George Draper Osgood	1909-1983
3	13	Hard of Hearing People - complied by Francis C. Higgins	1948
3	14	"Have You Tried Talking with Patty?" - A Review	n.d.
3	15	Heinrich von Treischke	1914-1980
3	16	Henry Winter Syle	1890-1976
3	17	A History of the Calvary Baptist Church of the Deaf	1985
3	18	The History of the Calvary Baptist Church of the Deaf - Manuscripts with photos	1985
3	19	Home of Dr. Edward Miner Gallaudet in Hartford, Connecticut	1922
3	20	An Index to Biographies of Deaf Persons in Silent Worker and Deaf American	1948-1982
4	1	Indians of North America Sign Language	1941
4	2	Information about the Deaf in England	n.d.
4	3	Jacob Rodriques Pereira	1929-1974
4	4	John Carlin	1864-1974
4	5	John Kitto	1845-1985
4	6	John Robertson Burnet	1975
4	7	Juliette Gordon Low	1978-1979
4	8	Laurent Clerc	1976-1985
4	9	Laurent Clerc	1851-1985
4	10	Laurent Clerc	1848-1988
4	11	Laurent Clerc Bicentennial Anniversary	1985
4	12	A List of Articles on the Deaf	n.d.
4	13	List of Materials - complied by Francis C. Higgins	1945-1950
4	14	List of Records and Historical Objects in the Museum at the American School	1981
5	1	Lydia Huntley Sigourney	1845-1938
5	2	Manual Alphabet Cards	1940-1996
5	3	Manual Communication Booklet	1977
5	4	Mason Fitch Cogswell	n.d.
5	5	Mason Fitch Cogswell and Alice Cogswell	1845-1986
5	6	National Association of the Deaf 20th Triennial Convention - Program and notes	1946
5	7	National Association of the Deaf 20th Triennial Convention - Letters	1945-1946
5	8	National Literary Society of the Deaf 65th Anniversary	1972
5	9	National Literary Society of the Deaf 75th Anniversary	1982
5	10	New Jersey School for the Deaf	1848-1988
5	11	Notes on Buildings	n.d.
5	12	Notes on Deaf People	n.d.
5	13	On the Accomplishments of Some Deaf Women	1969
5	14	The Origin of the Sign Language	1856-1958
5	15	Papers on Teaching Science to the Deaf	1970-1978
5	16	Papers on the Deaf in Science	1971-1979
6	1	Peter B. Gulick	1896-1975
6	2	The Pioneer Spirit of the Deaf	1952-1963
6	3	Poems	1948
6	4	Poems by or about the Deaf in The Silent Worker	1888-1929
6	5	Program Books	1952-1969
6	6	Program Books	1970-1987
6	7	Religion - Deaf	1963-1972
6	8	Successful Deaf People - complied by Francis C. Higgins	n.d.
6	9	Rev. Thomas Gallaudet	1901-1975
6	10	Rutha Curtiss Hesley	1972-1983
6	11	Signs in Deaf Mute Education	1867
6	12	Spanish Deaf	1920-1974
6	13	Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet	1852-1987
6	14	Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet	1848-1985
7	1	Walter Geikie	1834-1985
7	2	Wells Louet Hill	1899-1929
7	3	William W. Beadell	1931-1975
7	4	William Mercer	1783-1983
7	5	William Mercer	1983-1989
7	6	Committees of the Gallaudet Faculty	1968-1981
7	7	Contact Program for Gallaudet Graduate Students	1971-1972
7	8	Deaf Heritage Contest - Deaf Way I	1989
7	9	Deaf President Now	1988
7	10	District of Columbia Chapter, Gallaudet College Alumni Association - ByLaws	1955-1990
7	11	Edward Miner Gallaudet Statue Evaluation Committee	1967-1968
7	12	Ephphatha Bible Class (Baptist) Gallaudet College - Constitution	1965
7	13	Gallaudet College Alumni Association Alumni House Committee	1966-1967
7	14	Gallaudet College and Poems of Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet and the College	1864-1984
7	15	Gallaudet College Hall of Fame	1973
7	16	Gallaudet Day	1951-1987
8	1	German Exchange Program	1981
8	2	History of Gallaudet College	1872-1986
8	3	Know Your Kendall Green Questions	1970-1976
8	4	Laurent Clerc Cultural Fund - Minutes and Letters - Part 1	1975-1976
8	5	Laurent Clerc Cultural Fund - Minutes and Letters - Part 2	1971-1977
8	6	Learning English through Study Skills by Willard C. Madsen	1970
8	7	Lists of Films at Gallaudet	1966-1987
8	8	Quebec: A Fantastic Educational Experience by Mary Beth Ethridge	1986
8	9	Science Survey - Gallaudet College	1972
8	10	Theodore Dick - Cook at House One	1986
8	11	Walking Down Memory Lane with the Class of 1936	1931-1936
9	1	Articles written by Francis C. Higgins	1939-1976
9	2	Beside the Fire and other Poems by Thomas Tiplady	1938
9	3	Biography of Francis C. Higgins	1950-1987
9	4	Books written by Francis C. Higgins	1947-1950
9	5	Certificates	1933-1952
9	6	Diploma from Gallaudet University	1986
9	7	Family of Francis C. Higgins	1950-1985
9	8	Journals of Francis C. Higgins' Travels	1976-1987
9	9	Kappa Gamma Fraternity	1973-1980
9	10	Letters	1943-1986
9	11	Letters - Buzzard, Henry L.	1974-1985
9	12	Letter - Cornett, R. Orin	1965
9	13	Letter - Fletcher, Rev. Robert C.	1969
9	14	Letters - Galloway, Victor	1952-1954
9	15	Letter - General Electric Company	1940
9	16	Letters - Groce, Nora re: Thomas Hart Benton	1986-1987
9	17	Letter - Kunkler, Jeanne	1947
9	18	Letter - Miss Gallaudet Pageant Committee	1973
9	19	Letter - Sampson, Robert C. re: Henry Winter Syle	1985
9	20	Letter - Santin, Mario	1980
9	21	Letters - Stevens, Kelly H.	1981-1982
9	22	Letter re: John Robert Gregg	1948