Manuscripts

MSS 160

Balfour, Louis M., 1908-2007.
Papers of Louis M. Balfour, 1926-2003.

Gallaudet University Archives.

Descriptive Summary

Repository: Gallaudet University Archives
Call No.: MSS 160
Creator:
Title: Papers of Louis M. Balfour, 1926-2003.
Quantity: 13.0 Linear Feet (26 document boxes)
Abstract: Louis M. Balfour (1908-2007) was a retired Deaf printer and researcher on the history of Deaf education and peddling.
Note:

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information: 2004.
Processed by: Michael J. Olson. May 2006.
Processing Note: None
Conditions on Use and Access: This collection is open to the public with no restrictions. Photocopies may be made for scholarly research.

Related Material in the Archives:

Vertical Files

· Louis M. Balfour. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: Deaf Biographical

Photographs

· Louis M. Balfour. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: Portraits

Biographical Sketch

Louis M. Balfour, a life long Deaf researcher of the history of Deaf education and peddling, was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1908. At a young age, Louis moved first to Philadelphia with his parents and siblings, then to Pittsburg and finally, to Chicago in 1916. He was educated in Chicago until the family again moved to Richmond, Virginia in 1922. Louis had a Deaf sister and they both began attendance at the Virginia School for the Deaf in Staunton in the fall of 1922. Louis was active in the school where he participated as a member of the Boy Scouts. He learned printing as a trade at the school. Following his graduation in 1930, he resided in Richmond area where he worked as a paperhanger with his father and uncle. He also worked as a house painter. He worked in Richmond from 1932 - 1942, with an exception in 1941 where he worked in Washington, DC for two months as a painter in one of the Senate Office Buildings.

Louis attended the first Boy Scout Jamboree in 1930 where he met many Boy Scout members from all over the world and began correspondence with them. He continued to be active with the Boy Scout until his marriage to Mildred White, a graduate of the North Carolina School for the Deaf, on December 24, 1938 in Richmond. Louis and Mildred had a daughter, Josephine, who was born in 1940. During World War II, jobs were limited which forced Mildred and Josephine to relocate to Winston-Salem, North Carolina where they lived with Mildred’s parents while Louis searched for employment in the District of Columbia area.

From 1942 to 1944, Louis worked as a printer at the various newspapers plants in the DC area. Louis worked in a printing office at the Army Map Service in Washington, DC from 1944 to 1948. The family moved to the DC area soon after Louis got a secure job. Louis became a member of the Columbia Typographical Union #101 in 1946. After 1948, he worked at the Washington Times-Herald, The Washington Post and Washington Evening Star where he held the position for 19 years until retiring in 1974.

Louis and Mildred had three more children after Josephine: Robert, Latane, and Patricia. They resided in Chevy Chase, Maryland for many years. Louis spent his spare time visiting and researching at various historical societies and libraries. He collected copies of historical information on Deaf education and the families of Bolling, Braidwood, Gallaudet, Cogswell, and Clerc. He spent much of his time researching Deaf peddling and Deaf peddlers.

Louis was a member of various organizations: Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf, Gallaudet University Alumni Association, Convention of American Instructors of the Deaf, the Connecticut Historical Society, and the Virginia Historical Society.

Scope and Content

The Louis M. Balfour Papers consist of letters, clippings, certificates, diary, poems, receipts, greeting cards, postcards, notebooks, manual alphabet cards, research notes, and business cards

The collection, which consists of approximately 22,100 pages, dates from 1926 to 2003. The bulk of the collection consists of his research papers on the history of Deaf education, especially on the families of Bolling, Braidwood, Gallaudet, Cogswell, and Clerc. There are some copies of biographies of individuals who are associated with Deaf education. The bulk dates are mostly between the 1940s and the 1990s.

The largest subject in the collection is focused on the history of Deaf peddling. Louis spent much of his time writing to the Federal authorities and State agencies and encouraged them to crack down on Deaf peddlers. Not only that, he also wrote to the Schools for the Deaf superintendents and principals and also to Deaf organizations about the exploitation of Deaf peddlers.

The most interesting collection is that there are some letters from members of the Boy Scouts from other countries that Louis received between 1930 and 1933. One Boy Scout member from India wrote many letters telling of the social revolution in India.

Series Descriptions and Folder Lists

Series I: Family Correspondence and Files

Boxes 1 – 7 (Folder 11) 1929-2003

Louis M. Balfour corresponded with his wife, Mildred and their children. Also, he corresponded with his sister, brothers, and other relatives. Included in this series, there are some of Louis’ writing exercises to brush up with his English literacy. There is a sub series on Josephine Balfour from 1940 to 1987. She corresponded with his parents and siblings. Also she wrote letters to her alma mater, Augustana College of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The second sub series is about the Boy Scouts from 1930 to 1951. There are letters with members of the Boy Scouts between 1930 and 1933. Included in this collection is a diary which describes Louis’ experiences with the First National Boy Scout Jamboree which was held in 1930. The third sub series is about his employment from 1930 to 1998. He wrote many letters on his difficulties to obtain a steady employment during the Great Depression and World War II. The last and fourth sub series is about Deaf peddling. Included in the collection are several manual alphabet cards produced by Deaf peddlers. Louis researched and collected many articles, clippings, and research notes on Deaf peddling.

Series II: General Files

Box 7 (Folder 12) – Box 10 (Folder 26) 1926-2003

Louis corresponded with his deaf friends, various churches, and organizations. Included are some correspondents who are related to Bolling Family. There are some file folders on Brightwood Citizens Association of DC. Included is one letter from Ulysses S. Grant, III, a descendant of President of the United States, Ulysses S. Grant.

Series III: Research Notes

Box 10 (Folder 27) – Box 18 (Folder 5) 1930-2003

Louis researched and made many copies of the materials on history of Deaf education from various historical societies and libraries, also from the Volta Bureau Library. He researched on Alexander Graham Bell’s notes on Bolling and Braidwood. There are several pages of bibliographies on Deaf education. The bulk copies of materials on Deaf education are included. Also, there are several notebooks included. There are newspaper clippings related to Deaf history and people in general.

Series IV: Educational Institutions and Organizations

Box 18 (Folder 6) – Box 22 (Folder 7) 1931-2003

Louis wrote many letters to the superintendents and principals of the schools for the deaf across the country concerning Deaf peddlers and also inquiring for information on the history of Deaf education. He wrote letters to various people at Gallaudet University, included Presidents Leonard M. Elstad, Edward C. Merrill, Jr., Jerry C. Lee, W. Lloyd Johns and Irving King Jordan. He has done much of his correspondence with people at the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Volta Bureau. He wrote and inquired with various historical societies and libraries for information on history of Deaf education and biographies of people who associated with Deaf education.

Series V: Federal and State Agencies

Box 22 (Folder 8) – Box 26 1931-2003

Louis spent much of his spare time writing letters to Senators and Representatives of Congress to complain about the plight of Deaf peddlers and encourage making a law that prevent Deaf peddlers from peddling. Also, he wrote to local State Governors and Legislators concerning Deaf peddlers. Included in this collection, many letters Louis wrote with Federal Government agencies for same inquires on Deaf peddlers. He corresponded with J. Edgar Hoover of the Federal Bureau of Investigation concerning Deaf peddling.

Box	Folder	Title of Folder	Date
1	1	Announcement Cards	1979-1997
1	2	Application for Certificate of Birth of Rose Cohen	1931-1946
1	3	Autobiography	1974
1	4	Autographs	n.d.
1	5	Bank Books	1949-1974
1	6	Business Cards	n.d.
1	7	Certificates	1930-1998
1	8	Class Assignment - Writings	1930
1	9	Columbia Typographical Union #101	1948-1990
1	10	Conservation notes	n.d.
1	11	Contracts	1932-1972
1	12	Correspondence - Book Orders	1952-1999
1	13	Correspondence - Collectibles	1974-2003
1	14	Correspondence - Family Services Society of Richmond	1940-1946
1	15	Correspondence - Financial	1942-1999
1	16	Correspondence - General - Personal	1931-1959
1	17	Correspondence - General - Personal	1960-1979
1	18	Correspondence - General - Personal	1980-1989
2	1	Correspondence - General - Personal	1990-1999
2	2	Correspondence - Holtz, Herman J.	1943-2000
2	3	Correspondence - Housing and Rent Problems	1943-1946
2	4	Correspondence - Life Insurance	1941-1987
2	5	Correspondence - Photography Equipments	1942-1998
2	6	Correspondence - Real Estate	1949-2002
2	7	Correspondence - Smith, Patricia Balfour	1960-1996
2	8	Correspondence - Stevens, Ida Cohen	1932-1982
2	9	Correspondence - Timberlake, Josephine B.	1937-1968
2	10	Correspondence - Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission	1981-1996
2	11	Diaries written by Louis	1943-1994
2	12	Greeting Cards	1943-1979
2	13	Greeting Cards	1981-1989
2	14	Greeting Cards	1990-2000
3	1	Greeting Cards - Louis from family	n.d.
3	2	Holiday Greeting Cards produced by Louis	n.d.
3	3	Holy Cards	1982-1988
3	4	Latane (Tim) Timberlake Balfour - General	1955-2001
3	5	Letters - Cohen, Jacob	1933-1934
3	6	Letters from Relatives	1946-1995
3	7	Letters - Ida V. White from Louis	1941-1942
3	8	Letters - Latane Balfour from Josephine B. Timberlake	1953-1968
3	9	Letters - Louis from Baltimore City Health Dept. re: Birth Certificate	1938-1942
3	10	Letters - Louis from Harry Cohen	1943
3	11	Letters - Louis from Immigration and Naturalization Service	1929-1946
3	12	Letters - Louis from Mildred Balfour	1938-1944
3	13	Letters - Louis from Samuel Cohen	1932-1988
3	14	Letters - Louis and Mildred from Becky Stevens Schalow	1964-1983
3	15	Letters - Louis and Mildred from Joseph Kulik	1960
3	16	Letters - Louis and Mildred from Latane Balfour	1970
3	17	Letters - Louis and Mildred from Phyllis Mellow	1973-1974
3	18	Letters - Louis and Mildred from Robert Balfour	1986-1998
3	19	Letters - Mildred Balfour	1938-2001
3	20	Letters - Mildred from Elizabeth (Liz)	1944
3	21	Letters - Mildred from Ida Cohen Stevens	1939-1944
3	22	Letters - Mildred from Ida Wright	1944-1973
3	23	Letters - Mildred from Louis	1938-1939
4	1	Letters - Mildred from Louis	1940-1973
4	2	Letters - Robert Balfour from Josephine B. Timberlake	1951-1964
4	3	Library Charge Cards - Richmond, VA Public Library	1937-1942
4	4	Louis' Business Cards	n.d.
4	5	Louis' Personal Records	1975-2001
4	6	Membership Cards	1948-1994
4	7	Patricia Balfour Smith - General	1957-1997
4	8	Poem - "Auld Lang Syne" by Mildred White Balfour	1937
4	9	Postcards	1935-1964
4	10	Receipts	1946-1948
4	11	Robert Balfour - General	1950-1987
4	12	Selective Service System - Richmond, VA	1940-1943
4	13	Survey of the Vocational Status of the Deaf in the District of Columbia	1947
4	14	Sympathy Cards	1940-1990
4	15	TTY Conservation papers	n.d.
4	16	War Ration Book	1942-1943
4	17	Writing Exercises	n.d.
5	1	Application for Federal Employment - Josephine Balfour	1962
5	2	Augustana College - Josephine Balfour	1955-1960
5	3	Birth Certificate - Josephine Balfour	1940
5	4	Calvin Coolidge High School - Josephine Balfour	1957-1958
5	5	Class work assignments - Josephine Balfour	1954-1962
5	6	Correspondence - Balfour, Josephine	1943-1944
5	7	Correspondence - Balfour, Josephine	1950-1987
5	8	Correspondence - Balfour, Robert (Bobby) from Josephine	1958-1963
5	9	Correspondence - Brown, Clarence Blair "Pat"	1955-1962
5	10	Correspondence - General	1947-1963
5	11	Correspondence - Relatives	1950-1962
5	12	General Materials	1955-1969
5	13	Letters - Josephine Balfour from Joseph Kulik	1959-1963
5	14	Letters - Josephine Balfour from Josephine B. Timberlake	1943-1962
5	15	Letters - Latane (Tim) Balfour from Josephine Balfour	1959-1963
5	16	Letters - Louis and Mildred from Josephine Balfour	1958-1964
5	17	Letters - Mildred from Josephine Balfour	1950-1964
5	18	Letters - Patricia Balfour from Josephine Balfour	1963-1967
5	19	Notebooks	n.d.
5	20	Diary of the First National Scout Jamboree	1930
5	21	Letters - Boy Scouts - General	1930-1948
5	22	Letters - Boy Scouts of America	1930-1939
5	23	Letters - Boys' Life	1930-1931
5	24	Letters - Cox, Robert A. H. - England	1930-1933
5	25	Letters - Fernau, Connie - Pennsylvania	1937-1948
6	1	Letters - Fukuda, Teizaburo - Japan	1931-1951
6	2	Letters - Giere, Calvin N. - Minnesota	1930-1931
6	3	Letters - Groenendyk, Peter C. - Holland	1931
6	4	Letters - Hooper, Harold - Canada	1931-1940
6	5	Letters - Krog-Jensen, Niels - Denmark	1930-1933
6	6	Letters - La Rosa, Theodore M. - Pennsylvania	1930-1933
6	7	Letters - Makio, Dick N. - Hawaii	1931-1932
6	8	Letters - Nowy, Josef - Austria	1931-1932
6	9	Letters - Prendeville, David - New Zealand	1931
6	10	Letters - Sawkins, William - Canada	1930-1932
6	11	Letters - van Katwijk, Anthony - Holland	1930-1931
6	12	Letters - Vazirani, Jagatrai H. - India	1930-1933
6	13	Transcript of letters from Boy Scout members	1930-1931
6	14	Correspondence - Employment	1930-1942
6	15	Correspondence - Employment	1943-1949
6	16	Correspondence - Employment	1950-1998
6	17	Employment - General	1942-1976
7	1	Manual Alphabet Cards	n.d.
7	2	Manual Alphabet Cards used by Peddlers	n.d.
7	3	Manual Alphabet Cards in Braille	n.d.
7	4	Peddling - Articles	1948-1984
7	5	Peddling - Articles "The Deaf Do Not Need to Peddle or Beg"	1953
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