The McCay Vernon Papers consist of class notes, correspondence, manuscripts and articles written by Dr. McCay Vernon. Dr. Vernon is presently professor of Psychology at Western Maryland College and Editor in Chief of the American Annals of the Deaf.

The collection, which consists of approximately 14,850 pages, dates from 1949 1983. The bulk of the collection consists of Vernon’s articles, manuscripts and papers. Being one of the most prolific writers in the field of deafness, Vernon has included more than 150 articles etc. in the series dated from 1969 1983. Some of the issues addressed in his literature include: Deafness and Mental Health., Genetics and Deafness, Total Communication, Diagnostic and Assessment Tools, Psycho Social aspects related to the Deaf Blind, Ushers Syndrome, Vocational Rehabilitation, and Political Rights and the Multihandicapped Deaf.

McCay Vernon holds a Master’s Degree in both Deaf Education and Psychology. A large part of the collection consists of personal class notes taken while pursuing his degrees. Lecture notes dating from 1950 1960 can be found for the following courses in Child Development, Educational Psychology, Human Development, Experimental Psychology, Methods of Teaching the Deaf and Personality Adjustment.

Also included from the Graduate School are some of Vernon’s term papers: Rational “Psychology of Albert Ellis, Recent and Outstanding Research on Prenatal Care, and Relative Intelligence and Achievement of Jews and Gentiles.

Since 1969, McCay Vernon has been Editor in Chief of the American Annals of the Deaf. In The A.A.D. series of this collection, included are letters of acceptance and rejection of submitted publications ¬along with the reviewing board’s comments.

The Annals provide reviews of books relating to the field of deafness. Included in this series are Vernon’s letters requesting reviews and copies of the reviews. The correspondences along with the reviews are arranged by subject in alphabetical order.

Other correspondences found are those with the managing editor, the Annals Committee, Administrative Committee, letters to the Editor, and New Trends Publishing Company.

During the mid 1970s and early 1980s, Vernon became interested in film as a medium to educate the general public on the issues and aspects of deafness. Proposals and correspondence for the following films can be found in Vernon’s collection: Deaf Blindness (1981), Human Difference The Study of Exceptionality (1980), Preschool Program, Quota Film Series Communication Disorders (1982), Mainstreaming: Hearing Impaired Children in Regular Schools (1975), We Tiptoed Around Whispering, Listen, Total Communication, Swan Lake: Conversations with Deaf Teenagers and Intolerable (1975).

The final component of the McCay Vernon Collection consists of general and personal correspondence. Being a nationally recognized psychologist, writer and consultant in the field of deafness, Dr. Vernon’s expertise is sought on a national level.

Correspondence includes invitations to speak at conferences, seminars, and conventions on topics such as Rubella, Multihandicapped deaf, Ushers Syndrome, and Deaf Blindness. Other letters are requests for available materials, reprints of articles and information on available services. Consultation on legal matters, information on assessment procedures and dissertation evaluations are also discussed.

Among McCay Vernon’s correspondents are: Linda Annala, Bernard Bragg, Robert Davila, Sen. John East, Joanna Greenberg, Gov. Harry Hughes, Barbara Kannapell, Jacqueline Mendelsohn, Michael Olanski, Art Roehrig, William Stokoe and Jerry Vlaska.