MSS 140

Higgins, Francis Cole, 1913 –

Papers of Francis C. Higgins, 1818-1997

 

 

Gallaudet University Archives.

 

 

Descriptive Summary

Repository: Gallaudet University Archives
Call No.: MSS 140
 Creator:
Title: Papers of Francis C. Higgins, 1818-1997.
Quantity: 1.5 Linear Feet (3 document boxes)
Abstract:
Note: This document last updated 2005 December 12.

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information: The Francis C. Higgins Papers were given to the Gallaudet University Archives by Francis Higgins. The gift was made in 1998.
 Processed by: Sara Robinson. 2004 November 18.
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 for a full listing.

 

Films

·         Recruitment project - [Chemistry class, displaying of TTY] [motion picture]. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: Deaf Film 338-4

·         Recruitment project - [Chemistry class] [motion picture]. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: Deaf Film 339-4

·         Dedication of Hughes Memorial Gymnaisum (I) [motion picture] Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: Deaf Film 402-4

·         Edward Miner Gallaudet Statue Dedication [motion picture]. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: Deaf Film 139-4.

·         [Guests at the Unveiling of the Edward Miner Gallaudet statue] [motion picture]. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: Deaf Film 139-4.

·         Higgins Triplets [motion picture]. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: Deaf Film 156-4

·         Life on campus [motion picture]. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: Deaf Film 1-4

 

Photographs

·         Francis C. Higgins [picture] Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: Portraits.

 

Small Manuscripts

·         Papers, Francis Cole Higgins, 1970-1980. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: SMSS


Biographical Sketch

Francis Cole Higgins was born on September 23, 1913 in Flemington, New Jersey. He became deaf at 3 years old due to an unknown cause. Francis Higgins attended the Flemington, New Jersey Grammar School. He completed his studies there in 1927 and then attended the New Jersey School for the Deaf until 1931. Higgins then earned his Bachelor of Science degree at Gallaudet College in 1936 and then his Master of Science from Rutgers in 1938. He spent the next nine years teaching at the Kentucky School for the Deaf then taught Chemistry and other science courses at Gallaudet College until his retirement in 1983. He taught for 3 more years at the Northwest Campus on a volunteer basis.

Higgins married in 1939 to Catherine Bronson of Alabama. They had five children, including a set of triplets. He was actively involved in the Baptist Church of the Deaf in Washington, DC where he served as lay leader for more than forty years. He has also been actively involved in the Kentucky Chapter of the Gallaudet College Alumni Association as well as the GCAA itself. He has earned numerous recognitions including Man of the Year Award from Alpha Sigma Pi, Man of Merit from Delta Epsilon, awards from the National Fraternal Society of the Deaf, Tower Clock, and religious organizations.

 

Scope and Content

 

The Higgins collection includes 48 letters from significant figures in Deaf history. A detailed letter index can be found in the listing for Box 3. The letters include letters from Amos Draper, E.M. Gallaudet, Edward A. Fay, Elizabeth Peet, and John A. Jacobs. In addition to the letters, there are also articles, speeches, biographies of Higgins and various individuals, handwritten notes, histories of Gallaudet, news clippings, and reports by Higgins. The significant portion of this collection, aside from the letters, are Higgins’ pages, notes, and photographs from the manuscript of his book,  “A pictorial guide to places of historical and artistic interest related to deaf people in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area.” The collection dates from 1818 to 1997. The bulk is dated during the 1940s-1980s.

 

Series Descriptions and Folder Lists

No Series.

 

Box

Folder

Title of Folder

Date

1

1

Articles by Other Authors

1943-1980

1

2

Articles and Essays by Francis Higgins

n.d.

1

3

Biographies of Francis Higgins

1963-1990

1

4

Biographies of Various Individuals

1927-1984

1

5

Brochures and Pamphlets

1981-1985

1

6

David Suppala

1994-1995

1

7

The Deaf Man in Science by Higgins

n.d.

1

8

Elisabeth A. Zinser

1987

1

9

Francis Higgins Handwritten Notes

n.d.

1

10

Histories of Gallaudet by Higgins

1936-1978

1

11

Kitty O'Neil

1979

1

12

Letters to Francis Higgins

1943-1990

1

13

Letters to George McClure

1938-1951

1

14

Letters to University Faculty

1973-1976

1

15

List of Schools for the Deaf and Blind in China

1947

1

16

Merv Garrettson

1996-1997

1

17

Miscellaneous

1927-1988

1

18

News Clippings

1915-1997

1

19

Percival Hall

1950

1

20

Publications

1946-1997

1

21

Photocopies by Higgins

1818-1917

1

22

The Pioneer Spirit of the Deaf by Higgins

n.d.

1

23

National Deaf Mute College Presentat.. Day Program

1885

1

24

Reports by Higgins

1948-1949

1

25

What the Outlook is in the Sciences by Higgins

1951

2

1

Manuscript: Table of Contents/Miscellany

1982

2

2

Manuscript: Cemeteries

1931-1932

2

3

Manuscript: Churches for the Deaf

n.d.

2

4

Manuscript: Gallaudet College

n.d.

2

5

Manuscript: Houses

n.d.

2

6

Manuscript: Memorials

n.d.

2

7

Manuscript: Monument

n.d.

2

8

Manuscript: Museums

n.d.

2

9

Manuscript: Organizations

n.d.

2

10

Manuscript: Portraits/Stained Glass

n.d.

2

11

Manuscript: Schools

n.d.

2

12

Manuscript: Statues

n.d.

3

1

McClure from General Williams O. Johnson

n.d.

3

2

McClure from Edward A. Fay

1899

3

3

J.A. Jacobs from J.S. Brown

1857

3

4

J.A. Jacobs from John R. Burnet

1848

3

5

J.A. Jacobs from J. Scott Hutton

1868

3

6

J.A. Jacobs to J. Scott Hutton

1868

3

7

J.A. Jacobs from J. Scott Hutton

1868

3

8

J.A. Jacobs from J. Scott Hutton

1866

3

9

J.A. Jacobs from I.T. Trow

1863

3

10

J.A. Jacobs from J.S. Brown

1854

3

11

J.A. Jacobs from Collins Stone

1854

3

12

Luzrene Ray to J.A. Jacobs

1847

3

13

Harvey P. Peet to J.A. Jacobs

1847

3

14

Harvey P. Peet to J.A. Jacobs

1847

3

15

Harvey P. Peet to J.A. Jacobs

1844

3

16

Thomas H. Gallaudet to Mason F. Cogswell

1818

3

17

Higgins from Wesley Lauritsen

1985

3

18

Higgins from Henry L. Buzzard

1994

3

19

Higgins from Homer Thornberry

1954

3

20

Higgins from Jeanne G. Kunkler

1949

3

21

Higgins from A.L. Roberts

1954

3

22

Higgins from Harry Best

1951

3

23

Higgins from Maxine Tull Boatner

1950

3

24

Higgins from Leonard M. Elstad

1950

3

25

Higgins from Percival Hall

1950

3

26

McClure from Helen Keller

1951

3

27

Higgins from Elizabeth Peet

1950

3

28

Higgins from Howard L. Terry

1950

3

29

Higgins from Agatha Tiegel Hanson

1950

3

30

Higgins from Percival Hall

1950

3

31

Higgins from Harris Taylor

ca 1949-1950

3

32

Higgins from J.H. McFarlane

1949

3

33

Higgins from J.H. McFarlane

1949

3

34

Higgins from Edwin W. Nies

1941

3

35

Higgins from Tom L. Anderson

1943

3

36

McClure from Thomas F. Fox

1938

3

37

Higgins from Cadwallader Washburn

1934

3

38

McClure from F.W. Booth

1930

3

39

Edward A. Fay from I. Goldberg

1920

3

40

McClure from Edward A. Fay

1917

3

41

McClure from John B. Hotchkiss

1913

3

42

McClure from Olof Hanson

1913

3

43

McClure from J. Schuyler Long

1910

3

44

McClure from Edward M. Gallaudet

1907

3

45

McClure from Edward A. Fay

1901

3

46

McClure from Alexander G. Bell

1905

3

47

McClure from Alexander G. Bell

1901

3

48

McClure from Amos G. Draper

1891