The Deaf President Now Collection consists of letters, flyers, newspaper clippings, magazines, newsletters, speeches, news releases, minutes, poems, media materials, surveys, questionnaires, and statements. The Deaf President Now protest was from March 6 to 13, 1988. The collection, which consists of approximately 7,650 pages, dates from 1988 to 1993. The bulk of the collection consists of newspaper clippings, magazines, newsletters, and letters. The bulk date of the collection is 1988. The strength of the collection is centered on the letters to the Board of Trustees, to Jane B. Spilman, chair of the Board of Trustees; and congratulation letters to President I. King Jordan.

The deaf community focuses the largest subject in the collection on the Deaf President Now protest.

Among the collection there are several letters from the members of the United States Congress in which they wrote in support of the students. The most interesting items in the collection are several cartoons related to the DPN.

There are three series in the collection: General, Letters, and Publications. Series I “General” consists of general information on materials including letters, minutes, news releases, poems, surveys, questionnaires, and statements. Series II “Letters” consists of letters in which many people wrote to the Board of Trustees in protest for the selection of Dr. Elisabeth Ann Zinser, also to Jane B. Spilman, chair of the Board of Trustees, some letters written to Phil Bravin, and Dr. Elisabeth Ann Zinser. There is a collection of congratulation letters written to President I. King Jordan for the selection of the 8th and first deaf president. Series III “Publications” consists of publications that printed the news on the Deaf President Now protest. They are arranged in alphabetical order.