Manuscripts

MSS 183
Elstad, Leonard M., 1899 - 1990
Papers of Leonard M. Elstad, 1914 - 1988

Gallaudet University Archives

Descriptive Summary
Repository: Gallaudet University Archives
Call No.: MSS 183
Creator:
Title: Papers of Leonard M. Elstad, 1914 - 1988.
Quantity: 4 linear feet (8 document boxes)
Abstract: This collection consists of Leonard M. Elstad's personal papers. Included are letters, speeches, articles, reports, financial reports, certificates, brochures, booklets, publications, program books, newspaper clippings, and photographs.
Note:

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information: The Papers of Leonard M. Elstad was donated to the Gallaudet University Archives by John Mills, a grandson of Leonard M. Elstad, on November 7, 2006.
Processed by: Michael J. Olson, Spring 2011.
Processing Note:
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

Deaf Biographical

Leonard M. Elstad. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: Deaf Biographical

Deaf Portraits

Leonard M. Elstad. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: Portraits

Deaf Manuscripts

There are many manuscripts related to Leonard M. Elstad. Please refer to online catalog ALADIN for more information.

Deaf Films

There are several films on Leonard M. Elstad. Please refer to online catalog ALADIN for more information.

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Leonard M. Elstad was born in Osseo, Wisconsin, on February 8, 1899. He was the son of Rev. Ole H. Elstad, a Lutheran minister. Dr. Elstad was educated in Wisconsin and North Dakota. His association with education started in 1917 as he taught in a one-room rural school in North Dakota. He graduated from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, in 1922. He came to Gallaudet College and graduated with a Master's Degree in 1923. He became a teacher at Gallaudet after a year in the program. He coached women's basketball and men's baseball. The following year he taught and also was a principal of the Kendall School.

In 1925, Dr. Elstad was hired to become assistant principal of the Wright Oral School in New York City. In 1932, he became superintendent of the Minnesota School for the Deaf in Faribault, Minnesota. Gallaudet College hired him to become their third president in 1945, preceded by Percival Hall.

Dr. Elstad, who had two honorary degrees, presided over an important period of Gallaudet's history, which came to be called the "Elstad Expansion Era." Gallaudet achieved accreditation in 1957 and was significantly expanded, both in terms of enrollment and the number and capacity of the buildings on campus. The buildings were erected during his time include: the Edward Miner Gallaudet Memorial Library; Elizabeth Peet Residence Hall; Percival Hall Memorial Building; Mary Thornberry Hearing and Speech Center; Gallaudet College Auditorium, which was named after him, Elstad Auditorium; Ely Residence Hall; Student Union Building; and the Frederick H. Hughes Gymnasium. Dr. Elstad put all staff under the Civil Service Retirement plan in 1949.

Dr. Elstad retired in 1969 and passed away on June 27, 1990, at the age of 91.

Scope and Content

The papers of Leonard M. Elstad consist of 8 document boxes for a total of 4 linear feet and approximately 6,800 pages. The materials within the collection range from 1914 to 1988 with the majority of content from 1930 to 1973.The bulk of the collection consists of correspondence concerning arrangements for speaking engagements of which Dr. Elstad was an expert-he was an excellent public speaker. Also included in this collection are Dr. Elstad's connections with Gallaudet College, mostly via correspondence. Information about the Wright Oral School, where Dr. Elstad was a superintendent during the late 1920s and early 1930s, is included in this collection. Dr. Elstad wrote his personal letters to relatives and friends.

Series Description

Series 1: General Correspondence 1930 - 1974

Boxes 1 Folder 1 - Box 4 Folder 13
This series contains correspondence between Dr. Elstad and other people regarding various subjects. Dr. Elstad received his congratulatory letters from well-wishers for selection as 3rd President of Gallaudet College. The bulk of this collection is correspondence regarding speaking engagements. Dr. Elstad was a very excellent public speaker and presented at various meetings, conventions, etc.

Series 2: Gallaudet College 1931 - 1973

Boxes 4 Folder 14 - Box 5 Folder 14
In this section Dr. Elstad corresponded with his colleagues, relatives and friends about activities at Gallaudet College as well as survey reports of the Columbia Institution for the Deaf. Correspondence with alumni is included.

Series 3: Wright Oral School 1925 - 1946

Boxes 5 Folder 15 - Box 5 Folder 21
Dr. Elstad was the superintendent of the Wright Oral School in New York City. Included are letters written between Dr. Elstad and John D. Wright, founder of the school, concerning an agreement and financial
information.

Series 4: Articles, Papers, and Speeches 1942 - 1974

Boxes 6 Folder 1 to Box 6 Folder 28
Dr. Elstad wrote many articles on the education of deaf. His speeches are also included.

Series 5: General Files and Publications 1914 - 1988

Boxes 7 Folder 1 to Box 7 Folder 31
Dr. Elstad wrote an autobiographical sketch which is included in this series. There are some booklets, certificates and clippings which belonged to Dr. Elstad, as well as several publications written about him.

Series 6: Photographs 1910s - 1970s

Box 8
Included in this collection are 41 envelopes that contain photographs that Dr. Elstad collected for his personal use.

Folders List

ElstadLeonardPersonal


Box	Folder	Title of Folder	Date
001	01	Correspondence - American Red Cross	1966
001	02	Correspondence - Ayers, K. B., President of the Ohio School for the Deaf and Deaf Alumni Association	1930
001	03	Correspondence - Bjorlee, Ignatius	1944-1945
001	04	Correspondence - California Trip	1971-1972
001	05	Correspondence - Congratulatory Letters re: Editor of the American Annals of the Deaf	1945
001	06	Correspondence - Congratulatory Letters re: President of Gallaudet, "A-H"	1945
001	07	Correspondence - Congratulatory Letters re: President of Gallaudet, "J-Z"	1945
001	08	Correspondence - Cosmo Club Membership	1946-1971
001	09	Correspondence - Dahl, Victor E.	1958-1973
001	10	Correspondence and Speeches - European Trip	1950
001	11	Correspondence - Fraternity Problems	1934-1951
001	12	Correspondence - Gallaudet College Centennial Fund and David Peikoff	1966-1967
001	13	Correspondence - Geisperger, Fritz	1963-1964
001	14	Correspondence - General	1941-1974
001	15	Correspondence - Hall, Percival	1945-1949
001	16	Correspondence - Henning, Don G.	1944-1961
002	01	Correspondence - International Deafness Educational Assistance Fund	1970-1973
002	02	Correspondence - Lindholm, Toivo	1938-1941
002	03	Correspondence - Mathis, Steven	1971-1972
002	04	Correspondence - Moylan, Charles E.	1965
002	05	Correspondence - Muskie, Edmund S.	1962
002	06	Correspondence - Nieder-Heitmann, Norman	1968-1969
002	07	Correspondence - Personal	1932-1959
002	08	Correspondence - Personal	1960-1963
002	09	Correspondence - Personal	1964-1966
002	10	Correspondence - Personal	1967-1973
002	11	Correspondence - Personal	n.d.
002	12	Correspondence - Personal - Relatives	1945-1973
003	01	Correspondence re: Anne Sullivan Gold Medal Award	1966
003	02	Correspondence regarding Conference of Teachers of the Deaf in Germany	1963-1964
003	03	Correspondence regarding Institute on the Rehabilitation of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing	1961
003	04	Correspondence re: Mathilda Elstad	1961
003	05	Correspondence regarding new Principal at the NYSD	1932
003	06	Correspondence regarding speaking engagements	1945
003	07	Correspondence regarding speaking engagements	1951-1957
003	08	Correspondence regarding speaking engagements	1959
003	09	Correspondence regarding speaking engagements	1960
003	10	Correspondence regarding speaking engagements	1961
003	11	Correspondence regarding speaking engagements	1962
003	12	Correspondence regarding speaking engagements	1963
004	01	Correspondence regarding speaking engagements	1964
004	02	Correspondence regarding speaking engagements	1965
004	03	Correspondence regarding speaking engagements	1966
004	04	Correspondence regarding speaking engagements	1966
004	05	Correspondence regarding speaking engagements	1967-1971
004	06	Correspondence regarding the superintendency of the Minnesota School for the Deaf	1932
004	07	Correspondence - St. Olaf College	1965
004	08	Correspondence - re: St. Olaf College - Class of 1922 Reunion	1962-1967
004	09	Correspondence - Skyberg, Victor O.	1932
004	10	Correspondence - Smith, J. L.	1930
004	11	Correspondence - Social Security Administration re: Mrs. L. Elstad	1967-1970
004	12	Correspondence - Spence, Victor R.	1932
004	13	Correspondence - Trip to South Africa	1966
004	14	Letter - Bjorlie, H. O.	n.d.
004	15	Letter - Byrd, Robert C.	1961
004	16	Letter - Craig, Sam B.	1945
004	17	Letter - Elstad, Alvin	1970-1972
004	18	Letter - Elstad, Ole H.	1931
004	19	Letter -Faribault Public Schools	n.d.
004	20	Letter - Filkins, Ora N.	1945
004	21	Letter - Fraternities	1971
004	22	Letter - Hanson, George E.	1972
004	23	Letter - Harvey, Douglas	1933
004	24	Letter - Henning, Mrs. Donald	n.d.
004	25	Letter -Hollingsworth, C. H. - Georgia School for the Deaf	1945
004	26	Letter - Olson, Floyd B. to Victor O. Skyberg	1932
004	27	Letter - Settles, Clarence J. - Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind	1945
004	28	Letter - Swope, Chester D.	1972
004	29	Letter - Washburn, Margaret	1971
004	30	Letter - Winston, Matie E.	1932-1936
004	31	Letters regarding James Alby	1969
005	01	Except from the Minutes of the meeting of the Board of Directors regarding Percival Hall	1945
005	02	Gallaudet College Alumni Association	1939-1973
005	03	Gallaudet College Board of Directors	1969
005	04	Gallaudet College - Funds	n.d.
005	05	Gallaudet College - General	1953-1973
005	06	Illustration of L. M. Elstad with buildings by Jan Afzelius	1956
005	07	Installation of Leonard M. Elstad as Third President of the College	1947
005	08	Map of Gallaudet Campus	n.d.
005	09	Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools	1946-1947
005	10	Report - Columbia Institution for the Deaf	1946-1947
005	11	Retirement	1968-1969
005	12	Salary of the President	1949-1965
005	13	Student Body President's Address	n.d.
005	14	Survey Report on Columbia Institution for the Deaf	1946
005	15	Accounts with Wright Oral School	1929-1933
005	16	Agreement between Wright Oral School and Leonard M. Elstad	1925-1931
005	17	Correspondence - Wright, John Dutton	1931-1932
005	18	Correspondence - Wright, John Dutton	1933-1946
005	19	Correspondence regarding accounts with Wright Oral School	1930-1936
005	20	Financial Reports with Wright Oral School	1930-1933
005	21	Wright Oral School	1935-1936
006	01	Article - "Adventures of a Writer" by Albert W. Atwood	n.d.
006	02	Article - "Do All Teachers Who Leave Get Better Jobs?"	n.d.
006	03	Article - "Gallaudet College" by Leonard M. Elstad and Albert W. Atwood	n.d.
006	04	Article on Dr. Powrie Vaux Doctor	1971
006	05	Articles	1947-1974
006	06	Articles - General	1950-1967
006	07	Articles written by Dr. Powrie Vaux Doctor	1942-1971
006	08	Paper given by Dr. E. A. Stevenson, CEASD	1948
006	09	Paper on "Rehabilitation of the Deaf in American Education" presented at Berlin	1964
006	10	Speeches - Alumni Reunion, Gallaudet College	1964
006	11	Speeches - Alumni Reunion, Gallaudet College	1947
006	12	Speeches - Baccalaureate Service, Gallaudet College	1969
006	13	Speeches - Canadian Association of the Deaf	1970
006	14	Speeches - Dedication of the Mary L. Thornberry Hearing and Speech Center	1969
006	15	Speeches - Dedication of the Washburn Arts Center	1969
006	16	Speeches - Dr. Daniel T. Cloud	n.d.
006	17	Speeches - Dr. Edward C. Merrill, Jr.	1969
006	18	Speeches - "The Fjords Resound with Music"	n.d.
006	19	Speeches - The Gallaudet Dynasty	1968
006	20	Speeches - General	1945-1966
006	21	Speeches - "Green Pastures"	1962
006	22	Speeches - "Lenten Talk to Episcopal Deaf Group"	1971
006	23	Speeches - National Rehabilitation Association - Award	n.d.
006	24	Speeches - New Students and Staff of Gallaudet	1961
006	25	Speeches - New York School for the Deaf	n.d.
006	26	Speeches - "Presentation Talk"	1945
006	27	Speeches - Retirement of Lucille H. Pendell	1972
006	28	Speeches - South Africa Trip	1966
007	01	Autobiography/Biography Sketch	1936-1965
007	02	Blank Stationary with Envelopes	n.d.
007	03	Booklet - St. Olaf Memories - Fortieth Anniversary Souvenir	1914
007	04	Brochure - The American School for the Deaf	n.d.
007	05	Certificates	1946-1959
007	06	Chattel Mortgage	1941
007	07	The Church of the Epiphany	1971-1973
007	08	Clippings	1946-1973
007	09	Clippings and Photographs scrapbook on Rotary	1957-1958
007	10	Convention of American Instructors of the Deaf	1969
007	11	Empherma	1943-1969
007	12	Federal Civil Defense Administration - Identification Cards	1954
007	13	International Certificates of Vaccination	1958
007	14	Management Achievement Award	1965
007	15	Passport Application	1958
007	16	Poems	n.d.
007	17	Professional Rehabilitation Workers with the Adult Deaf	1970
007	18	Program Books - General	1947-1973
007	19	Publication - The Buff and Blue	1946-1969
007	20	Publication - "The Companion" - James Lewis Smith	1933
007	21	Publication - Gallaudet Alumni Bulletin	1949-1963
007	22	Publication - Gallaudet Alumni Newsletter	1972-1973
007	23	Publication - Just Once a Month	1947
007	24	Publication - Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf - 125th Anniversary	1988
007	25	Publication - U. S. Department of H. E. W. - Programs for the Handicapped	1969
007	26	Receipts	1946-1973
007	27	Report - Committee for Study of Vocational Training in Schools for the Deaf	1945
007	28	Report - Committee on the Relations of the Home and the School for the Deaf	1945
007	29	Rotary International Club	1945-1974
007	30	The Story of Myself	1920
007	31	Who's Who in America	n.d.
008	01	Photographs - Commencement	1960s
008	02	Photographs - Commencement - Lyndon B. Johnson and Leonard M. Elstad	1962
008	03	Photographs - Campus View	1930s
008	04	Photographs - Clerc Hall	1960s
008	05	Photographs - Plan of Proposed Building - Religion Center	1960s
008	06	Photographs - Student Union Building	1950s
008	07	Photographs - Leonard M. Elstad at various speaking engagements	1950s-1960s
008	08	Photographs - Leonard M. Elstad attending various events	1950s-1960s
008	09	Photographs - Meeting: International Congress on the Care of the Deaf Mute, The Netherlands	1950
008	10	Photographs - Congressmen - Homer Thornberry and Robert C. Byrd with Leonard M. Elstad	n.d.
008	11	Photographs - Congressmen - Lyndon B. Johnson and Robert C. Byrd with Leonard M. Elstad	n.d.
008	12	Photographs - Unveiling of Edward Miner Gallaudet Statue	1969
008	13	Photographs - Visitors at Kendall School and Gallaudet College	1960s
008	14	Photographs - Portraits - Elstad, Leonard M.	1910s-1920s
008	15	Photographs - Portraits - Elstad, Leonard M.	1930s
008	16	Photographs - Portraits - Elstad, Leonard M.	1940s
008	17	Photographs - Portraits - Elstad, Leonard M.	1950s
008	18	Photographs - Portraits - Elstad, Leonard M.	1960s
008	19	Photographs - Portraits - Elstad, Leonard M. with Sidney Cohen	1960s
008	20	Photographs - Portraits - Elstad, Leonard M. with Margaret Elstad	1950s
008	21	Photographs - Portraits - Elstad, Leonard M. with family	1946
008	22	Photographs - Portraits - Elstad, Margaret	1970s
008	23	Photographs - Portraits - Elstad, Margaret with visitors at House One	1960s
008	24	Photographs - Portraits - Elstad, Mathilda	1947
008	25	Photographs - Portraits - Hegstrom, Beverly and Thomas	1970s
008	26	Photographs - Portraits - Jones, Hon. Boisfeuillet	1962
008	27	Photographs - Portraits - MacKinnon, Christine	1903
008	28	Photographs - Portraits - Mills, John	1960s
008	29	Photographs - Portraits - Schneider, Vincent Richard	1961
008	30	Photographs - Portraits - Unidentified Male	1950s
008	31	Photographs - Portraits - Unidentified people and building	1960s
008	32	Photographs - Portraits - Unidentified Female	1960s
008	33	Photographs - Former Principals of Kendall School with Dr. Elstad	1960s
008	34	Photographs - Convention of American Instructors of the Deaf	1959
008	35	Photographs - Convention of Executives of American Schools for the Deaf	1956
008	36	Photographs - Rotary International	1960s
008	37	Photographs - Schools - New York - Wright Oral School?	1920s
008	38	Photographs - Dinner in honor of Albert Atwood	1960s
008	39	Photographs - Dinner in honor of Eric Greenway	1958
008	40	Photographs - Ole H. Elstad's gravestone	1954
008	41	Photographs - Sports - Gallaudet Women's Basketball Team with Dr. Elstad	1920s