MSS 67

Buzzard, Henry, 1923-

Papers of Henry L. Buzzard, 1951-1993

Gallaudet University Archives.

Descriptive Summary

Repository: Gallaudet University Archives
Call No.: MSS 67
Creator: Henry L. Buzzard
Title: Papers of Henry L. Buzzard, 1951-1993
Quantity: 0.5 Linear Feet (1 document box)
Abstract: This collection focuses primarily on the Reverends Henry and Edward Syle.
Note: This document last updated 2005 November 23.

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information: The Family of Herbert Syle III gave the Collection of Henry L. Buzzard along with the Papers of Rev. Henry Winter Syle and Rev. Edward W. Syle to the Gallaudet University Archives. The gifts were made in 1994.

Processed by: Collen M. Crisp. 1996 August 20.
Processing Note:
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:

Films

 

·         [Library Building] [motion picture] Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: Deaf Film 144-4

 

Manuscripts

 

·         Papers, 1880-1987. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: MSS 59

 

Photographs

 

·         Henry L. Buzzard [picture] Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: Portraits

Small Manuscripts

·         Papers, Winifred Hallock Nies Northcott, 1982. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: SMSS

·         Papers, Norman Tsu, 1973. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: SMSS

·         Papers, Henry L. Buzzard, 1965-1975. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: SMSS

·         Papers, James Nestor Orman, 1922-1976. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: SMSS

Vertical Files

·         Henry L. Buzzard. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: Deaf Biographical

Buzzard is mentioned and included in many various MSS collections. For a complete listing, check ALADIN.

Biographical Sketch

            Henry L. Buzzard was born in Normal, Illinois on June 7, 1923. He became deaf at a early age. In 1926, he enrolled at Central Institute for the Deaf in St. Louis, Missouri. He completed his education there in 1938. He attended a high school in his hometown and graduated in 1942. He attended Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana for one year. In 1943, he also attended Eastern Illinois State College in Charlestown and received a diploma. Buzzard entered the Wabash College again and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry in 1946. Buzzard attended Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts and received a Master of Arts degree in Geography in 1949. He attended the University of Illinois at Urbana and received a Masters in Library Science in 1951.

            Buzzard worked as a cartographic aid for the United States Air Force in the Washington, DC area. He was employed as an assistant librarian and cataloguer at Gallaudet College from 1952-1956. He was also a library instructor. He married Juliet Barnett in 1956 and resigned to work as a library cataloguer for the United States Army map service for ten years, until 1966. Buzzard and his family moved to New York City in 1966 where he worked as a school librarian at the New York School for the Deaf in White Plains, New York. He retired in 1979; however, he continued to volunteer as an archivist and historian for the school.

            Buzzard was a lay reader for St. Ann’s Church for the Deaf in New York City and also served as a deacon. He was ordained to the Deaconate on September 26, 1996 and was ordained as a priest in the Episcopal Church on June 28, 1997. He continues to be active as a priest at St. Ann’s church for the Deaf.

Scope and Content

            The Collection of Henry L. Buzzard consists of correspondence and notes related to the papers of Rev. Henry W. Syle and his father, Rev. Edward W. Syle. Buzzard was a retired librarian at the New York School for the Deaf in White Plains, New York. He spent much of his time researching the history of the school, the deaf community, and Rev. Syle. Buzzard corresponded with a descendant of Rev. Syle, Mr. Herbert Syle III, on the papers of Rev. Syle. Eventually, the papers of Rev. Syle were donated to the Gallaudet University archives in 1994.

The collection, which consists of approximately 200 pages, dates from 1951-1993. The bulk of the collection consists of Buzzard’s notes on Rev. Henry Winter Syle. The bulk dates are mostly between 1992-1993, of which Buzzard researched and made notes. The strength of the collection is centered mostly on Rev. Henry W. Syle.

The primary subjects in the collection are Revs. Henry W. Syle and Edward W. Syle. There is also a file of correspondence between William L. King and Elizabeth Syle Madison on a biography of Judge David Davis. Judge Davis was related to Rev. Henry W. Syle. President Lincoln was a close friend of Judge Davis and Lincoln selected Davis to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Series Descriptions and Folder Lists

No Series.