MSS 74
Council of Organizations Serving the Deaf, 1965-1977

Collection of Council of Organizations Serving the Deaf, 1967-1974

Gallaudet University Archives.

Descriptive Summary

Repository: Gallaudet University Archives
Call No.: MSS 74
Creator:
Title: Collection of Council of Organizations Serving the Deaf
Quantity: 2.0 Linear Feet (4 document boxes)
Abstract:  The Council of Organizations Serving the Deaf (C.O.S.D.) served as a clearing house, a contact point for information, and combined actions by national organizations serving the Deaf.
Note: This document last updated 2005 November 30.

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information: The papers of the Council of Organizations Serving the Deaf were given to Gallaudet College Archives in 1977.  The gift was made by Jack Gannon.

Processed by: Carie Lyn Kelly. 1984 June 29. Revised by Ulf Hedberg and Michael Olson, 1997 November 3.
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:

See ALADIN

Historical Sketch

            Agency History

1965                 U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare requested the

                        National Health Council to survey the need for a coordinating agency

                        for the organizations serving the deaf.

1966                 The National Health Council Began its one year needs assessment

                        survey.

1967                 January 27, The Council of Organizations Serving the Deaf was

                        organized and incorporated under New York laws.

1968                 1st Annual Forum: "New Horizons on Deafness"

                        Washington, D.C. April 24-27.

1969                 Annual Forum: "The Deaf Man and the World"

                        New Orleans, LA. February 19-21.

1970                 Annual Forum: "Legal Rights of the Deaf"

                        Chicago, IL. February 25-27.

1971                 Annual Forum: "Medical Aspects of Deafness"

                        Atlantic City, N.J. March 3-5.

1972                 Annual Forum: "Perspectives in Education of the Deaf"

                        Memphis, TN. February 3-5.

1973                 Federal Grant Support was given for the last time

1973                 Annual Forum: "The Child Deaf and His Family"

                        Williamsburg, VA. March 28-30.

1974                 Annual Forum: "Continous Growth - The Process of Change in

                        Social Milieu"

                        Denver, CO. April 7-10

1975                 Annual Forum: "The Impact of Change"

                        Atlanta, GA. March 28-30

1976                 Annual Forum: "Organizations and Agencies Serving the Deaf"

                        Indianapolis, IN in March.

1977                 May 9, The Council of Organizations Serving the Deaf legally disbanded.

Scope and Content

The Council of Organizations Serving the Deaf, ( C.O.S.D.) served as a clearing house, a contact point for information, and a combined action by National Organizations serving the deaf.

Following a year long study by the National Health Council, under a grant from the Social and Rehabilitation Service of the U.S. officially incorporated on January 27, 1967.

The C.O.S.D. papers, which consist of approximately 3,400 pages, dated from 1967-1977. The bulk of the collection is made up of financial documents, specifically: accounts, ledger, and vouchers relating to the Council's activities from the years 1967-1974.

The Council was composed of four classes of members: Active members - consisted of organizations which existed to serve deaf people, were national in scope, and were supported primarily by voluntary dues or contributions. Depending on size, each organization was entitled to one or two votes on the Council of Directors.

Associate Members - organizations with an interest in deafness, yet did not meet active membership qualifications. Members could participate in programs, but did not receive representation on the Board, yet could participate in the program.

            Individual Members - people interested in supporting the Council's work. These members could participate in the program, yet could not vote unless elected to the Board of Directors at Large.

Committee members meet ay least three times a year, and also maintained communication through newsletters, memoranda and board letters. These correspondence report national as well as international developments relating to deafness. Such correspondence can be found among the papers.

Also included in the collection are minutes. Agendas and documentation of expenses from C.O.S.D. meetings, workshops and convention. This were held across the United States and occurred during various times of the year.

An Annual Forum was sponsored by the Council ever spring in conjunction with the election meeting of the Board of Delegates. The goal of the forum was to focus on topics of current and long range interest in the field of deafness. Participation was by invitation to professionals, as well as to those of affiliated organizations.

Each Annual Forum provides opportunity for professionals to exchange information and experience, to report new developments to a wide audience, and to identify action potentials for the Council and participants.

Correspondence and documentation relating to the planning, organizing, and financing of each forum are include in the papers.

Throughout its history, the C.O.S.D., it had been receiving Federal Grants.

Grantee reports, grant applications and proposals for the years 1968-76 have been kept among the papers. In 1973, The C.O.S.D. received its last Federal Grant. Without the federal grant support, the Council no longer had the funds to continue to meet its objectives. Therefore, the Council of Organizations Serving the Deaf legally disbanded on May 9, 1977.

Organization Members of C.O.S.D.

1.         Alexander Graham Bell Association

2.         American Athletic Association of the Deaf

3.         American Instructors of the Deaf

4.         Board of Missions for the Deaf, The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod

5.         Canadian Association of the Deaf

6.         Conference on Services for Elderly Deaf People

7.         Conference of Church Workers Among the Deaf

8.         Conference of Executives of American Schools for the Deaf

9.         Congressional Committee, 1975

10.        Continuing Education Program

11.        Council on Exceptional Children

12.        Educational Commission of the United States

13.        Episcopal Conference for the Deaf

14.        Gallaudet College

15.        International Catholic Deaf Association

16.        Lions International Convention

17.        National Advisory Committee on Education of the Deaf

18.        National Association of the Deaf

19.        National Association of Hearing and Speech Agencies

20.        National Congress of Jewish Deaf

21.        National Fraternal Society of the Deaf

22.        National Grange Convention

23.        Operation Tripod

24.        Professional Rehabilitation Workers with the Adult Deaf

25.        Project Dawn

26.        The Presidents Committee on Employment of the Handicapped

27.        U.S. Offices of Education Conference on Program Objective

28.        World Federation of the Deaf

Series Descriptions and Folder Lists