Dr. Donald James Kidd was born on June 9, 1922 in Nordegg, Alberta, Canada and grew up in McKenzie Island, Ontario. He was the elder of two sons born to George H. Kidd and the former Ruth Stewart.

Deaf since 9 months of age, probably from double pneumonia, Dr. Kidd was a product of the oral method. He did not learn sign language until 1943-1944. He was educated at both Canadian and New York oral schools, graduating from Kenora High School, Kenora, Ontario, Canada in 1941. Dr. Kidd did all of his postsecondary work at the University of Toronto – B.A. (1945) and M.A. (1946) in chemical engineering, and Ph.D. (1951) in geochemistry.

He is believed to be the first deaf Canadian to receive a doctorate.

Following graduation, Dr. Kidd had a distinguished career as a geologist and geochemist. He served as a research geologist with the Geophysical Engineering & Surveys Co. of Ontario, and later as a consulting geologist for the Arctic Institute of North America, among other companies.

In 1956, he became a geochemist for the Research Council of Alberta at the University of Toronto. Dr. Kidd joined the Gallaudet faculty in 1961 as an instructor of mathematics in the preparatory department. Three years later, in 1964, he was promoted to assistant professor of physics.

Dr. Kidd was married to the former Mary Jessie Campbell, a hearing woman, and adopted two children – Ronald Allan, who was deaf, and Julia Margaret. Dr. Kidd passed away on September 10, 1966 from a heart attack at the age of 44.