Silent Histories, Lasting Voices: Tracing Deaf Culture in the Archives

  • The Silent Worker Newspaper

    The Silent Worker newspaper was written during a time that Deaf culture experienced the push for oralism and the silence of their own language. This documentation was for Deaf individuals where it held life, education, and art in between the pages. This Deaf-run publication helped preserve the voices, stories, and values that shaped Deaf identity.
  • The Oralism Era

    Suppression of Deaf expression—sign language—was a goal for oralist education policies throughout the mid 20th century. Deaf people however were strong in their resilience, continuing to gather, share stories, and create visual art. This was a main way they preserved their culture during this era and reflected a silent resistance.
  • Deaf Pride and Cultural Renaissance

    Due to publications and performances highlighting pride in ASL and its history, Deaf individuals began advocating more for Deaf language as a symbol of cultural identity.