The Episcopal Conference of the Deaf Records

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: MSS092

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Episcopal Conference of the Deaf Collection consists of minutes and proceedings of the conference, financial reports, reports, list of members, letters, programs, and clippings. The Episcopal Conference of the Deaf was organized in 1880 and held annual conventions. The collection, which consists of approximately 2,550 pages, dates from 1952 to 1989. The bulk of the collection consists of proceedings of the conference. The bulk dates are mostly between 1952 and 1989. The strength of the collection is centered on the proceedings of the conference. The largest subject in the collection is focused on the religious cultural groups of deaf people. In the collection-included proceedings from 1952 to 1996, however, for the years 1965, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995 are not included. There is a file on program on celebrating the Feast Day of Rev. Thomas Gallaudet with Rev. Henry Winter Syle that was held in Washington, DC in 1989.

Dates

Creation: 1952 - 1996

Biographical / Historical

The Episcopal Church was the first to begin work with the deaf in the United States in 1850. The Episcopal Conference of the Deaf was organized in 1880, incorporated in 1924. In 1850, Rev. Thomas Gallaudet, eldest son of Rev. Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, began a Sunday school class for the deaf people at St. Stephens Church in New York City. At that time, Rev. Thomas Gallaudet was an instructor at the New York School for the Deaf. He was concerned about the lack of religious services for the deaf people; he resigned his teaching position and entered the ministry. He was ordained as an Episcopal priest in 1851. He founded St. Ann’s Church for the Deaf in New York City.

In 1881, Rev. Thomas Gallaudet and other priests formed a conference called the Conference of Church Workers Among the Deaf. The conference was held annually with deaf members of the Episcopal churches in the eastern part of the United States. For more information on the history of the Episcopal Conference of the Deaf, read Rev. Otto B. Berg’s A Missionary Chronicle: Being a History of the Ministry to the Deaf in the Episcopal Church, 1850-1980.

Extent

1.5 Linear Feet (3 document cases)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Conference proceedings from annual conventions and other records of the Episcopal Conference of the Deaf.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated to the Archives by Rev. Otto B. Berg, 1980s.

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title: Episcopal Conference of the Deaf Records
Status: Completed
Author: Steedman, Margaret A. Revised by Michael J. Olson.
Date: Original creation November 20, 1998. Revised April 5, 2001. Last update December 2, 2005. ArchivesSpace version created June 13, 2023.
Language of description: English
Script of description: Latin