Deaf Women in History

[From Silent Worker (1911)]

[From Minnesota Reflections (ca. 1910)]

 GREETINGS AND SALUTATIONS!

This website is designed as a resource space for housing information about the lives and achievements of Deaf Women.

In general, it includes biographical information and original documents about Deaf Women born prior to 1940 and who were members of the Deaf community. In a few cases (where noted), it includes information on Women who did not identify as Deaf individuals and who lived in isolation from the Deaf community, although being Deaf clearly influenced their lives.

[From Gallaudet University Archives (ca.1950)]

The section on RESOURCES includes information on historical as well as contemporary Deaf Women.

This site is a work in progress. History is ever changing as new information is uncovered and how life stories are told can be from diverse perspectives.  Sharing information regarding historical Deaf Women and comments would also be appreciated.

Black, Indigenous Deaf Women of color often have been ignored and neglected in historical research and archival collections. Information concerning BIPOC, DeafBlind Women, LGBTQ+, Deaf Disabled Women, Deaf Women who were immigrants, poor, those isolated from the Deaf community and Deaf Women whose lives took place outside of North America has been notably difficult to find.  It is acknowledged that many of the Deaf Women who appear here had greater educational opportunities than most and Deaf Women from specific fields, particularly education and English literature, have left a greater ‘paper trail’ to discover. There are thousands of untold stories and thousands of unknown Deaf Women ancestors. It is hoped that more Deaf people will work to uncover these life stories.

For more information on Deaf historical figures, including Deaf Women: usdeafhistory.com,

on Deaf Artists, including Deaf Women: https://deaf-art.org/

Deaf people and World War 2 including Deaf Women: https://deafww2.com/

RIT Library Deaf Women Info Guide:  http://infoguides.rit.edu/deafwomen

The Utah Association of the Deaf has biographical information about prominent individuals from Utah with a special section on Deaf Women:  http://www.utahdeafhistory.com/biographies-of-prominent-utah-deaf-women.html

—————————————————————————–

Thanks to the Gallaudet University Archives,  the Rochester School for the Deaf Archives, the Utah Association of the Deaf,  the Texas School for the Deaf Heritage Museum and Archives, the Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf, the California School for the Deaf (Fremont), and Arizona Association of the Deaf.  Special thanks also to Joan Naturale, Deaf librarian at RIT.

If you have information you would like to share about historical Deaf Women, please contact KC Christie at signmekc@gmail.com