The Thomas O. Berg Papers
Scope and Contents
Most of these papers cover the mid-1950s to the late 1980s – in other words, the end of Berg’s tenure at the Idaho School for the Deaf to his retirement from Gallaudet. The most common types of material are correspondence, sports event scoresheets and program books, and sports photographs. The photos are mostly from the Gallaudet track team, as well as from various World Games for the Deaf where Berg served as US track coach.
Records from Berg’s term as track coach at Gallaudet and at the World Games consist mostly of event results and program books. There is a particularly large collection of material related to the 10th International Games for the Deaf (1965); Berg was involved in the planning for this event since it was held mostly at Gallaudet.
There is also a sizable amount of correspondence from the controversial years, 1955-1956, at the end of Berg’s term at the Idaho School for the Deaf, when he clashed with the school superintendent. This incident provoked an independent investigation of the school, and the investigators’ report is included.
Some newspaper clippings collected by Berg are also part of these papers. Most of them are articles about deaf track events published in mainstream (non-deaf) publications. Some are from local Idaho papers about the controversy at the Idaho School for the Deaf.
Also present are some artifacts from Berg’s career, mostly award plaques and memorabilia from events and groups he participated in.
Dates
- Creation: 1923 - 2008
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open to the public with no restrictions. Photocopies may be made for scholarly research.
Biographical / Historical
Born in Butte, Montana, in 1922, Thomas Olof Berg became deaf at age 6 after contracting spinal meningitis. After a difficult recovery that included re-learning to walk, he was sent to the Montana State School for the Deaf and Blind in 1929. In 1933, his family moved to Seattle, and Berg was enrolled in public school there for four years. Unhappy with his lack of social and athletic opportunities in a hearing school, he transferred to the Washington State School for the Deaf in 1937. At that school, he participated in track and football.
Berg entered Gallaudet College in 1939, graduating with a BS degree in 1944. He was an outstanding athlete at Gallaudet, and set the school record for the javelin throw in 1943, a record not broken for over 35 years. He worked briefly as a chemist before joining the faculty of the Maryland School for the Deaf. A year after that, he was recruited to the faculty of the Idaho School for the Deaf and Blind, where he spent ten years teaching and coaching a renowned track program. During this time he married Betty A. Hogan, and they went on to have three children, Frederick, David, and Jennifer.
In 1956, after leaving the Idaho School following conflicts with the administration, Berg was hired as assistant dean of students and head track coach by Gallaudet President Leonard M. Elstad. The next year, Berg was approached by S. Robey Burns of the American Athletic Association of the Deaf (AAAD) about coaching the US track team at the 8th International Games for the Deaf in Milan, Italy, in 1957. Berg went on to be head coach the US track teams at the International Games / World Games for the Deaf in 1957, 1961, 1969, 1973, 1977, and 1989. In 1981 and 1985, he was track coordinator for the World Games. Berg’s World Games teams won over 300 medals.
Berg’s career as track coach at Gallaudet lasted 30 years until his retirement in 1986. During this period, he received many awards, including the Knute Rockne Track Coach of the Year Award, the Helms Foundation Award, and a citation from Mayor Thomas Bradley of Los Angeles. Upon his retirement, Gallaudet awarded Berg an honorary doctorate.
Thomas O. Berg passed away in 2009. In 2012, Gallaudet University’s track was renamed in his honor.
Extent
18 Linear Feet (33 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Papers of Thomas O. Berg, deaf athlete and long-time track and field coach at Gallaudet University. Includes correspondence, event results, photographs, programs and brochures, magazines and newsletters, award plaques and memorabilia, and more.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Assembled from various collections of Berg’s papers given to Gallaudet University by his wife and daughter, Betty and Jennifer Berg, and by his friend Steven Baldwin.
Processing Information
Begun by Corinne Palaia and Michael J. Olson, completed by Christopher Shea, December 2016.
- Title
- The Thomas O. Berg Papers
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Shea, Christopher
- Date
- Original Finding Aid created December 2016, ArchivesSpace version created April 15, 2024
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Box: MSS205.1 (Text)
- Box: MSS205.2 (Text)
- Box: MSS205.3 (Text)
- Box: MSS205.4 (Text)
- Box: MSS205.5 (Text)
- Box: MSS205.6 (Text)
- Box: MSS205.7 (Text)
- Box: MSS205.8 (Text)
- Box: MSS205.9 (Text)
- Box: MSS205.10 (Text)
- Box: MSS205.11 (Text)
- Box: MSS205.12 (Text)
- Box: MSS205.13 (Text)
- Box: MSS205.14 (Text)
- Box: MSS205.15 (Text)
- Box: MSS205.16 (Text)
- Box: MSS205.17 (Text)
- Box: MSS205.18 (Text)
- Box: MSS205.19 (Text)
- Box: MSS205.20 (Text)
- Box: MSS205.21 (Text)
- Box: MSS205.22 (Text)
- Box: MSS205.23 (Text)
- Box: MSS205.24 (Text)
- Box: MSS205.25 (Text)
- Box: MSS205.26 (Text)
- Box: MSS205.27 (Text)
- Box: MSS205.28 (Text)
- Box: MSS205.29 (Graphic Materials)
- Box: MSS205.30 (Graphic Materials)
- Box: MSS205.31 (Realia)
- Box: MSS205.32 (Realia)
- Box: MSS205.33 (Realia)
Repository Details
Part of the Gallaudet University Archives Repository