Eugene Petersen was a deaf counselor who, in 1986, was awarded Gallaudet’s Powrie V. Doctor Chair to work on a book of oral histories of deaf people. The book was not published, due to Mr. Petersen’s death. His papers are held by the National Technical Institute for the Deaf.

Dr. Kannapell was a member of Mr. Petersen’s advisory committee during the time he held the Doctor Chair. This series consists of correspondence between Mr. Petersen and Dr. Kannapell and the other members of the committee, an outline of Mr. Petersen’s planned book, and copies of several transcripts from interviews conducted by Mr. Petersen.