Walter Goreth Durian was born on May 23, 1889 in New Market, New Jersey. He attended the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf in 1895 but he left the school in 1907, when he was a junior, to accept a printing job in Erie, and later in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was dissatisfied with his lack of education; he entered the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf two years later to prepare for Gallaudet College.

Durian was admitted to Gallaudet College in 1909 and received a B.A. Degree in 1914. After his graduation, he went to the American School for the Deaf and worked as a printing instructor. Under his direction, a small print shop was equipped in 1914. The school newspaper, “American Era” was established by Walter Durian in 1914.

In 1955, Durian retired after 41 years of service to the American School for the Deaf. In 1957, the school named a new vocational building after him in recognition of his services as teacher, editor, and unofficial archivist. He died on February 13, 1959 in West Hartford, Connecticut at the age of 68.