The Francis C. Higgins Collection
Scope and Contents
The Collection of Francis C. Higgins consists of letters; copies of documents related to deaf people; booklets; notebooks; program books; poems; articles; minutes of meetings; and certificates.
The collection, which consists of approximately 7,650 pages, dates from 1783 to 1996. The bulk of the collection consists of copies of documents related to the history of deaf people, especially on deaf artists. Francis C. Higgins spent his free time research on the history of deaf people. The bulk dates are mostly between 1980 and 1986 during at that time Higgins researched and wrote to different historical societies and libraries for inquires information on deaf people. In this collection there are several folders related to religion that Higgins was involved in. He wrote a history of Calvary Baptist Church of the Deaf and also included in this collection there are two minutes books related to the church.
Dates
- Creation: 1783 - 1996
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open to the public with no restrictions. Photocopies may be made for scholarly research.
Biographical / Historical
Francis Cole Higgins was born on September 23, 1913 in Flemington, New Jersey. He became deaf at 3 years old due to an unknown cause. Francis Higgins attended the Flemington, New Jersey Grammar School. He completed his studies there in 1927 and then attended the New Jersey School for the Deaf until 1931. Higgins then earned his Bachelor of Science degree at Gallaudet College in 1936 and then his Master of Science from Rutgers in 1938. He spent the next nine years teaching at the Kentucky School for the Deaf then taught Chemistry and other science courses at Gallaudet College until his retirement in 1983. He taught for 3 more years at the Northwest Campus on a volunteer basis. Higgins married in 1939 to Catherine Bronson of Alabama. They had five children, including a set of triplets. He was actively involved in the Baptist Church of the Deaf in Washington, DC where he served as lay leader for more than forty years. He has also been actively involved in the Kentucky Chapter of the Gallaudet College Alumni Association as well as the GCAA itself. He has earned numerous recognitions including Man of the Year Award from Alpha Sigma Pi, Man of Merit from Delta Epsilon, awards from the National Fraternal Society of the Deaf, Tower Clock, and religious organizations. He died on February 14, 2000.
Extent
4.5 Linear Feet (9 document cases)
Language of Materials
English
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Francis C. Higgins donated his papers periodically between 1995 and 1996.
- Title
- The Francis C. Higgins Collection
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Olson, MIchael
- Date
- Original Finding Aid created early 2008, last updated July 2, 2008, ArchivesSpace version created November 7th, 2023
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Gallaudet University Archives Repository