Since its inception in 1847 the American Annals of the Deaf is the oldest journal dealing with deafness and the education of deaf persons. The committee at the American School for the Deaf in Hartford, Connecticut, formed the first publication. The first editor of the Annals was Luzerne Rae. In 1861, due to the American Civil War, publication temporarily ceased and then resumed in 1868. Edward Allen Fay, a member of the faculty of Gallaudet University, served as editor for 50 years from 1870 to 1920.

The Annals was the official organ of the Convention of American Instructors of the Deaf that published the proceedings and many of the papers presented at the conventions. It is focused primarily on the education of deaf students and on information for professionals associated with the education of the deaf.