MSS 139

Gallaudet College Alumni Association, est. 1889
Collection of Gallaudet College Alumni Association, 1975-1990

 

 

Gallaudet University Archives.

 

 

Descriptive Summary

Repository: Gallaudet University Archives
Call No.: MSS 139
 Creator:
Title: Collection of Gallaudet College Alumni Association, 1975-1990
 Quantity: 1.5 Linear Feet (3 document boxes)
Abstract:
Note: This document last updated 2005 December 7.

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information:. The Gallaudet College Alumni Association Collection was given to the Gallaudet University Archives. The gift was made in the 1990s. 

Processed by: Sara Robinson. 2004 November 8.
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

 

The Gallaudet College Alumni Association was established in 1889. The association got its start with the unveiling of Daniel Chester French’s sculpture of Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet and Alice Cogswell. This statue was a gift from the alumni and friends of the College. The day after the unveiling, the alumni who had gathered for the unveiling met to establish an alumni association.

In 1893, when the Columbia Institution changed its name to Gallaudet College in honor of T.H. Gallaudet, the alumni played a large role in this. The alumni continued to make waves on Kendall Green. One example is the generous donation of $50,000 for a memorial building in honor of Edward M. Gallaudet.

In 1967, to keep up with the alumni, the college opened an alumni office on campus and hired a full time director to oversee its daily operations.

Thousands of alumni return to Kendall Green to visit their alma mater every year. Homecoming serves as a great occasion for their reunions. In 1989, more than 1,000 alumni visited for the association’s centennial reunion.

The Gallaudet University Alumni Association currently boasts a membership of 15,000+ alumni.

 

 

Scope and Content

The collection includes correspondence, news clippings, biographical sketches, press releases, contracts, information packets, by-laws, guidelines, committee papers, board minutes, reports, letters, agendas, chapter drafts, and resolutions. The dates range from 1975-1988. Materials are evenly distributed among this range. This gives the researcher a glimpse into the workings of the alumni association and its concerns/interests. Most interesting item in this collection is the letter from Edward C. Merrill to Chairman of the Board, Jane Basset Spilman, regarding the selection of a hearing candidate for president in 1988.

 

Series Descriptions and Folder Lists

No Series.

 

Box

Folder

Title of Folder

Date

1

1

Alumni Leadership Training Program

1978-1979

1

2

Awards for Edward C. Merrill

1978-1982

1

3

Black Deaf on Board of Trustees

1988

1

4

Board Meeting Minutes

1976-1986

1

5

Chapters

1976-1988

1

6

Congratulation Letters

1979-1987

1

7

Congressional Appropriations

1988

1

8

Congress of the National Confederation of the Deaf, France

1980-1985

1

9

Course Offerings

1978-1985

1

10

Cued Speech

1978-1980

1

11

Disability Advocacy and Legislation

1978-1989

1

12

Deaf Accessibility at Gallaudet

1979-1988

1

13

Deaf Heritage Month

1988

1

14

Deaf in Television

1978-1979

1

15

Deaf Organizations

1978-1990

1

16

Deaf Population Census

1979

1

17

Earl Ubell Controversy

1986

1

18

Edward C. Merrill Correspondence

1978-1981

1

19

Establishment of New Programs of Study

1980, 1988

1

20

Financial Records

1986

1

21

Funds and Donations

1978-1988

1

22

GCAA By-Laws

1978-1979

1

23

GCAA Guidelines Part 1

1975

1

24

GCAA Guidelines Part 2

1975

1

25

GCAA Guidelines Part 3

1975

2

1

GCAA Information Packets

1978-1989

2

2

GCAA Guidelines Sections E and H

1976-1985

2

3

GCAA Meetings, Correspondence, Papers, and Elections

1978-1986

2

4

GCAA Reunion Reports

1985

2

5

Gallaudet Commencement

1988

2

6

Gallaudet Fellows

1985

2

7

Gallaudet International Tours

1978-1988

2

8

Gallaudet Sports

1979-1988

2

9

Gallaudet Statistics

1979, 1985

2

10

General Correspondence

1976-1988

2

11

Gerald “Bummy” Burstein

1985-1988

2

12

I. King Jordan Memos

1988

2

13

Inauguration of I. King Jordan

1988

2

14

Information Memos from Edward C. Merrill

1978-1979

2

15

Information re: GCAA Newsletter

1986-1987

2

16

Issues re: Change of Alumni Reunions

1985

2

17

Issues re: Deaf Education

1979-1987

2

18

Jerry C. Lee Resignation

1987

2

19

Letters re: Deaf President Now

1987-1988

2

20

Letters re: Mailing List

1985-1986

2

21

Letter to Spilman from Merrill re: President Selection

1988

2

22

Memos to Board Members

1978-1988

2

23

Miscellaneous

1979-1988

2

24

Naming of Campus Streets

1978

3

1

NIDCD

1978, 1988

3

2

News clippings

1985-1988

3

3

News clippings re: Gerald Adler

1979-1980

3

4

News clippings with Letters

1979-1988

3

5

Outstanding Young Alumnus Award

1977-1981

3

6

Press Releases

1986-1988

3

7

Provost Selection

1986

3

8

P.L. 95-602

1979

3

9

Renovation, Naming, and Policies re: Alumni House

1979-1981

3

10

Teletext and Captioning

1979-1987

3

11

Thomas H. Gallaudet Stamp

1979-1985

3

12

Timeshare in Ocean City

1986

3

13

University Status

1985-1986

3

14

University Week

1988

3

15

Vocational Rehabilitation

1986

3

16

World Games for the Deaf

1978-1985