The Papers of John V. Van Cleve consists of 7 document boxes and 1 smaller box containing photographs for a total of 4 linear feet. The materials within the collection range from 1923 to 1986. The earliest documents from 1923 to 1969 are article reprints on Ramon and Valentin de Zubiaurre (see folder list below). The majority of content is from 1980-1985.

Documents in the papers range from articles, booklets, correspondence, lists, manuscripts, newsletters, notes, and outlines.

The bulk of the papers are correspondence and manuscripts. The strongest component of the collection is manuscripts. In this set are materials that were used for the Gallaudet Encyclopedia of Deaf People and Deafness. There are drafts for entries into the Encyclopedia, proposals for entries, and edited pieces of work. (Manuscripts that required editing were labeled “problem entries” by Van Cleve. See folder list below.) Most of the manuscripts are from 1983-1985—the Encyclopedia was published in 1987. The weakest part of the collection is minutes and agenda of the advisory board for the Encyclopedia. There is only one folder in the collection with the dealings of the committee responsible for collecting and organizing the various materials to make the Encyclopedia a possibility, as well as funding, payment, and other responsibilities. It can be surmised that the advisory board met frequently and often but the materials in this collection pertaining to the board are miniscule.

Also included in the collection is one small box containing photographs from 1968 to the early 1980s. Most of these pictures are portraits or photographs of deaf events from foreign countries that were published in the Gallaudet Encyclopedia of Deaf People and Deafness. Please see archives staff for assistance with viewing photographs.