The Robert O. Lankenau Papers
Scope and Contents
The collection of Robert O. Lankenau and the National Association of the Deaf is extremely broad, covering a wide range of subjects. The collection consists of correspondence, reports, letters, organizations-related papers, convention notes, and records from various Executive Board, Home Office Board, Officers, Committee, and General. The collection is broken up into seven series: Executive Secretary Administration; Junior National Association of the Deaf Administration; National Association of the Deaf Administration; National Association of the Deaf Business Correspondence (outgoing); Cultural Programs, President Lankenau’s papers, and General Records which consists of approximately 3,876 papers dated from 1962-1979. There are 13 boxes in this collection. Overall, this collection provides a rich and insightful history of the National Association of the Deaf into one of the foremost deaf organizations in the United States.
Dates
- Creation: 1962 - 1979
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open to the public with no restrictions. Photocopies may be made for scholarly research.
Biographical / Historical
Robert Lankenau was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He attended the Indiana School for the Deaf. He graduated from Gallaudet University in 1942 with a BS in Chemistry and Mathematics and worked at Firestone for over 42 years He was the president of the NAD from 1968-1972. During his tenure as president, he purchased the Halex House where the NAD headquarters relocated. Lankenau was one of the founders of the Ohio Association for the Deaf. He was one of the few people who helped established Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. He contributed to the effort to obtain automobile insurance for deaf drivers. He was a member of Telecommunications for the Deaf, Incorporated (TDI) and served as its president for eight years. He was involved in numerous government commissions and different committees. During the last five years of his life, he devoted his time to research and statistical analysis. Robert Lankenau died on July 22, 2000.
Extent
6.5 Linear Feet (13 document cases)
Language of Materials
English
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The papers of Robert O. Lankenau and the National Association of the Deaf were donated to the Gallaudet University Archives by Robert O. Lankenau.
- Title
- The Robert O. Lankenau Papers
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Brooks, Gary W.
- Date
- Original Finding Aid created May 12, 1999, last updated January 3, 2006, ArchivesSpace version created June 9, 2023
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Gallaudet University Archives Repository