The Deaf President Now Council Collection on the Deaf President Now Protest

Collection

Identifier: MSS148

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Deaf President Now Protest collection includes six boxes. The first box consists of cartoons, documents of the master schedule, and funds during the protest, along with the letters of caution and endorsements. Letters from the Board of Trustees, Dr. Zinser, and Politicians are placed in the second box. Also in the second box are the minutes from the DPN council and information secured by the media. The next three boxes include most of the press releases and news clippings about the protest.

The fifth box also contains information from the Presidential Search Committee, rallies, and Dr. Jerry C. Lee’s resignation. The information about the people involved in the DPN and statements by Dr. I. King Jordan, Jane Spilman, and Dr. Elisabeth Zinser are found in the last box other than thank you letters.

Dates

Creation: 1986 - 1988

Biographical / Historical

The Deaf President Now was a historical event at Gallaudet University in which the students staged a protest against the selection of a hearing president of Gallaudet. The campus was shut down for a week from March 6 to 13, 1988. The deaf community had hoped that Gallaudet selected the first deaf president in Gallaudet’s history, but it did not happen. The Board of Trustees selected Dr. Elisabeth Ann Zinser as the 7th president over two qualified deaf candidates, Dr. Harvey J. Corson and Dr. I. King Jordan. The selection made the deaf community upset, and the students led the protest. The deaf community made four demands: Dr. Zinser resign from the president, Jane B. Spilman resign from the chair of the Board of Trustees, the members of the Board of Trustees must consist of a majority of 51% who are deaf, and no reprisals against the protesters.

Extent

3 Linear Feet (6 document cases)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Material related to the 1988 Deaf President Now protest at Gallaudet University, including correspondence, minutes, clippings, and schedules.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated to the Archives by the Media Committee of the Deaf Preident Now Council, May 31, 1988.

Subjects

Topical

Deaf President Now (DPN)

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title: The Deaf President Now Council Collection on the Deaf President Now Protest
Status: Completed
Author: Olson, Michael J.
Date: Original creation November 1988. Revised April 1, 2003. Last update December 1, 2005. ArchivesSpace version created August 31, 2023.
Language of description: English
Script of description: Latin