Gallaudet University Archives 

Processed by Staci Rensch and Michael J. Olson November 25, 1997
MSS 119
 

  
 

Deaf President Now

HISTORICAL SKETCH

The Deaf President Now! movement was a historical event at Gallaudet University in which the students staged a protest against the selection of a hearing president for Gallaudet. The campus was shut down for a week from March 6 to March 13, 1988. The deaf community had hoped that Gallaudet would select the first deaf president in the history of Gallaudet, but it did not happen. Instead, the Board of Trustees selected Dr. Elisabeth Ann Zinser as the 7th president over two qualified deaf candidates, Dr. Harvey J. Corson and Dr. I. King Jordan. The selection upset the deaf community and the students led a protest. The deaf community made four demands: that Dr. Zinser resign from the presidency; Jane B. Spilman resign from the chairmanship of the Board of Trustees; the members of the Board of Trustees must consist a majority of 51% who are deaf; and no reprisals against the protesters. As the first week drew to an end, the demands were met and the deaf community won a victory. Dr. I. King Jordan was selected as the 8th and first deaf president in Gallaudet’s history. Phil Bravin was selected as the first deaf chairman of the Board of Trustees. The protest made the world focus its attention on the deaf community for a week. The major newspapers across the United States made national headlines on the Gallaudet protest.

SCOPE AND CONTENT

The Deaf President Now Collection consists of letters, flyers, newspaper clippings, magazines, newsletters, speeches, news releases, minutes, poems, media materials, survey, questionnaires, and statements. The Deaf President Now protest was from March 6 to March 13, 1988.

The collection, which consists of approximately 7,650 pages, dates from 1988 to 1993. The bulk of the collection consists of newspaper clippings, magazines, newsletters, and letters. The bulk dates of the collection is 1988. The strength of the collection is centered on the letters to the Board of Trustees, to Jane B. Spilman, chair of the Board of Trustees; and congratulation letters to President I. King Jordan.

The deaf community is the largest subject of focus in this collection.

This collection also contains several letters of support from members of the United States Congress. The most interesting items in this collection are several cartoons regarding DPN.

There are three series in the collection: General, Letters, and Publications. Series I “General” consists of general information on materials including letters, minutes, news releases, poems, survey, questionnaires, and statements. Series II “Letters” consists of letters in which many people wrote to the Board of Trustees in protest for the selection of Dr. Elisabeth Ann Zinser, also to Jane B. Spilman, chair of the Board of Trustees, some letters written to Phil Bravin, and to Dr. Elisabeth Ann Zinser. There is a collection of congratulation letters written to President I. King Jordan for being selected the 8th and first deaf president. Series III “Publications” consists of publications that printed news on the Deaf President Now protest. They are arranged in alphabetical order.

FOLDER LIST

Box Folder Title of Folder Date
1 1 The 1988 Gallaudet Protest:  Student Protest or Consumer Revolt? By Sharon N. Barnatt 1989
1 2 Advertisement—Deaf President Now by The Deaf America Show, Inc. 1988
1 3 Articles 1988
1 4 The Articles List of Deaf President Now Movement by Chien Min Chao 1988
1 5 The Articles List of DPN- Sample 1988
1 6 The Articles List of DPN- Alabama – Arkansas 1988
1 7 The Articles List of DPN- California  Part 1 1988
1 8 The Articles List of DPN- California  Part 2 1988
1 9 The Articles List of DPN- Colorado – Delaware 1988
1 10 The Articles List of DPN- Florida 1988
1 11 The Articles List of DPN- Georgia – Hawaii 1988
1 12 Board of Trustee’s Addresses 1988
1 13 Cartoons 1988
1 14 Catalogue-Gallaudet University Press 1989
1 15 Congratulation letter from the Washington Post Deaf printers 1988
1 16 Copy of photographs taken by R. L. Williams 1988
1 17 Daily Events Summary Sheet 1988
1 18 DPN Council—Letters-Harvey Goodstein 1988
1 19 DPN Exhibition 1988
1 20 DPN Fact Sheet 1988
1 21 DPN Flyers 1988
1 22 DPN Fund 1988
1 23 DPN “I have a Dream” –Speech 1988
2 1 DPN Master Schedule 1988
2 2 DPN “None So Deaf As Those Who Will Not Hear” – Speech 1988
2 3 DPN Questionnaires 1988
2 4 DPN Rally by John F. Levesque 1988
2 5 DPN Stickers 1988
2 6 District of Columbia Public Library –Deaf Heritage Week 1988
2 7 An Examination of Media Coverage During Gallaudet Student Protest of March 1988 by Thomas Kraft 1991
2 8 Free Speech and Free Signs:  From Berkeley, 1964, To Gallaudet, 1988 by John B. Christiansen and Sharon Barnatt 1989
2 9 Invitation Card to the Inauguration of President I. King Jordan 1988
2 10 Letters 1988
2 11 Letter—Gallaudet University Alumni Association Connecticut Chapter 1988
2 12 Letter—Rev. Jesse Jackson 1988
2 13 Letter—President I. King Jordan 1988
2 14 Letter—President I. King Jordan 1988
2 15 Letter—Student Body Government 1988
2 16 Letters of Support 1988
2 17 Letters to Congress 1988
2 18 List of People who sent congratulation letters 1988
2 19 List of protest display signs 1988
2 20 Media materials 1988
2 21 Memorandum from Barbara White re: Autograph of Mitch Snyder 1991
2 22 Memorandums 1988
2 23 Memorandums from Catherine W. Ingold, Provost 1988
2 24 Minutes—DPN Council 1988-1989
2 25 Minutes—University Faculty 1988
2 26 Miscellaneous 1988
2 27 News Release—Dr. Elisabeth A. Zinser 1988
2 28 News Update from Students, Faculty and Staff  1988
2 29 Newspaper clippings 1988
2 30 Newspaper clippings—First year anniversary 1989
2 31 Notes on DPN meetings 1988
2 32 Poems 1988
3 1 President’s Council on Deafness 1988
3 2 Press Releases 1988
3 3 Proclamations 1988
3 4 Proposal of Demonstration 1988
3 5 Survey 1988
3 6 Statement—Black Concerns Committee 1988
3 7 Statement—Dr. Harvey J. Corson 1988
3 8 Statement—Faculty and Staff 1988
3 9 Statement—President I. King Jordan to Senate 1988
3 10 A “Value Added” Approach to DPN by Christiansen, Barnatt, Meisegeier, and White –A Paper 1989
3 11 Letters to the Board of Trustees—A 1988
3 12 Letters to the Board of Trustees—B 1988
3 13 Letters to the Board of Trustees—C 1988
3 14 Letters to the Board of Trustees—D-E 1988
3 15 Letters to the Board of Trustees—F 1988
3 16 Letters to the Board of Trustees—G 1988
3 17 Letters to the Board of Trustees—H 1988
3 18 Letters to the Board of Trustees—I-J 1988
3 19 Letters to the Board of Trustees—K 1988
3 20 Letters to the Board of Trustees-L 1988
3 21 Letters to the Board of Trustees—M 1988
3 22 Letters to the Board of Trustees—N-P 1987-1988
3 23 Letters to the Board of Trustees—R 1988
3 24 Letters to the Board of Trustees—S 1988
3 25 Letters to the Board of Trustees—T 1988
3 26 Letters to the Board of Trustees—V-W 1988
3 27 Letters to the Board of Trustees—Unidentified 1988
4 1 Letters to Jane B. Spilman—A 1987-1988
4 2 Letters to Jane B. Spilman—B 1987-1988
4 3 Letters to Jane B. Spilman—C 1988
4 4 Letters to Jane B. Spilman—D 1988
4 5 Letters to Jane B. Spilman—E-F 1988
4 6 Letters to Jane B. Spilman—G 1988
4 7 Letters to Jane B. Spilman—H 1988
4 8 Letters to Jane B. Spilman—I-J 1988
4 9 Letters to Jane B. Spilman—K 1988
4 10 Letters to Jane B. Spilman—L 1988
4 11 Letters to Jane B. Spilman—M 1988
4 12 Letters to Jane B. Spilman—N  1988
4 13 Letters to Jane B. Spilman—O-P 1988
4 14 Letters to Jane B. Spilman—Q-R 1988
4 15 Letters to Jane B. Spilman—S 1988
4 16 Letters to Jane B. Spilman—T 1988
4 17 Letters to Jane B. Spilman—V-W 1988
4 18 Letters to Jane B. Spilman—X-Y-Z  1988
4 19 Letters to Jane B. Spilman—Unidentified 1988
5 1 Letters to the Board of Trustees—Negatives 1988
5 2 Letters to Phil Bravin 1988
5 3 Letters to Phil Bravin—Before the Protest 1988
5 4 Letters to Phil Bravin—Petitions 1988
5 5 Letter to Lil Holt from Dr. Elisabeth A. Zinser 1988
5 6 Letters to Jane B. Spilman—Positives 1988
5 7 Letters of Support 1988
5 8 Letters of Negatives 1988
5 9 Letters to Dr. Elisabeth A. Zinser—Positives 1988
5 10 Letters to Dr. Elisabeth A. Zinser—Negatives 1988
6 1 Letters of Congratulations—A  1988
6 2 Letters of Congratulations—B 1988
6 3 Letters of Congratulations—C 1988
6 4 Letters of Congratulations—D-E 1988
6 5 Letters of Congratulations—F 1988
6 6 Letters of Congratulations—G 1988
6 7 Letters of Congratulations—H-I 1988
6 8 Letters of Congratulations—J 1988
6 9 Letters of Congratulations—K 1988
6 10 Letters of Congratulations—L 1988
6 11 Letters of Congratulations—M 1988
6 12 Letters of Congratulations—N-O 1988
6 13 Letters of Congratulations—P-Q 1988
6 14 Letters of Congratulations—R 1988
6 15 Letters of Congratulations—S 1988
6 16 Letters of Congratulations—T 1988
6 17 Letters of Congratulations—U-Z 1988
6 18 Letters of Congratulations—Unidentified 1988
7 1 ABC News Nightline transcript—“Deaf Students Protest” 1988
7 2 AFL-CIO News 1988
7 3 ASD American Era 1988
7 4 The APA Monitor 1988
7 5 The Arizona Daily Star 1988
7 6 The Atlanta Journal and Constitution 1988
7 7 Black Issues In Higher Education 1989
7 8 The Buff and Blue 12 February 1988
7 9 The Buff and Blue 26 February 1988
7 10 The Buff and Blue 4 March 1988
7 11 The Buff and Blue 11 March 1988
7 12 The Buff and Blue 25 March 1988
7 13 The Buff and Blue 22 April 1988
7 14 The Buff and Blue 29 April 1988
7 15 The Buff and Blue 9 May 1988
7 16 Challenged American 1988
7 17 The Charlotte Observer 1988
7 18 Chicago Tribune 1988
7 19 The Christian Science Monitor 1988
7 20 The Chronicle of Higher Education 1988
7 21 The Chronicle of Higher Education 1988
7 22 Congressional Record 1988
7 23 Congressional Record 1989
7 24 Daily News 1988
7 25 The Dallas Morning Star 1988
7 26 DAV 1988
7 27 DCARA News 1988
7 28 Deaf Life 1988
7 29 Deaf USA 1988
7 30 Dee Cee Eyes 1988
7 31 Dove Bladet 1988
7 32 EDPress News 1988
7 33 Education Daily 1988
7 34 The Endeavor 1988
7 35 The Evening Bulletin 1988
7 36 The Frat 1988
7 37 Gallaudet Alumni Newsletter May-June 1988
7 38 Gallaudet Alumni Newsletter—Special Issue Summer 1988
7 39 Gallaudet Alumni Newsletter  Jan-April 1989
7 40 Gallaudet Alumni Newsletter May-June 1989
8 1 Gallaudet Today Spring 1988
8 2 Gallaudet Today Summer 1988
8 3 Gallaudet Today Fall 1988
8 4 Gallaudet Today Winter 1988-1989
8 5 Gallaudet Today Spring 1989
8 6 Gallaudet Today Summer 1993
8 7 The Georgetown Voice 1989
8 8 Guardian 1988
8 9 Handi-News 1988
8 10 Here ‘N Zayres 1988
8 11 Horizon 1988
8 12 Information from Heath 1988
8 13 International Rehabilitation Review 1988
8 14 Insight 1988
8 15 Intower 1988
8 16 The Journal of the Association of Governing Boards Of Universities and Colleges 1988
8 17 Los Angeles Times 1988
8 18 Loudoun Times-Mirror 1988
8 19 Mainstream 1988
8 20 Monitor-Ohlone College 1988
8 21 National Association of the Deaf Broadcaster-Special 1988
8 22 The New York Review of Books 1988
8 23 The New York Times 1988
8 24 News-Press 1988
8 25 Newsweek 1988
8 26 Northern Virginia Daily 1988
8 27 Notes 1988
8 28 On the Green 1988
8 29 People 1988
8 30 The Philadelphia Inquirer 1988
8 31 Preview Gallaudet University 1988
8 32 The Prince George’s Journal 11 March 1988
8 33 The Prince George’s Journal 17 March 1988
8 34 The Providence Journal 1988
8 35 The Register-Guard 1988
8 36 Research at Gallaudet 1988
8 37 Resource 1988
8 38 Rolling Stone 1989
8 39 Runner’s World 1988
8 40 The Salt Lake Tribune 1988
8 41 San Jose Mercury News 1988
8 42 Silent Messenger 1988
8 43 Silent News 1988
8 44 Social Issues and Healthcare Review 1988
8 45 The Spectator 1988
8 46 Stanford Daily 1988
8 47 Star Bulletin-Honolulu 3 May 1988
8 48 Star Bulletin-Honolulu 8 May 1988
8 49 The Sun-Baltimore  1988
9 1 The Takoma Voice 1988
9 2 Tallahassee Democrat 1988
9 3 Time 1988
9 4 U SNews and World Report 1988
9 5 USA Today 1988
9 6 USA Today 1989
9 7 Valley Advocacy & Communication Center Newsletter 1988
9 8 The Virginian-Pilot 1989
9 9 The Voice March 1988
9 10 The Voice April 1988
9 11 Washington Money News 1988
9 12 The Washington Post 22 February 1988
9 13 The Washington Post 2 March 1988
9 14 The Washington Post 3 March 1988
9 15 The Washington Post 7 March 1988
9 16 The Washington Post 8 March 1988
9 17 The Washington Post 9 March 1988
9 18 The Washington Post 10 March 1988
9 19 The Washington Post 11 March 1988
9 20 The Washington Post 12 March 1988
9 21 The Washington Post 13 March 1988
9 22 The Washington Post 14 March 1988
9 23 The Washington Post 15 March 1988
9 24 The Washington Post 16 March 1988
9 25 The Washington Post 20 March 1988
9 26 The Washington Post 21 March 1988
9 27 The Washington Post 22 March 1988
9 28 The Washington Post 27 March 1988
9 29 The Washington Post 12 September 1988
9 30 The Washington Post 19 October 1988
9 31 The Washington Post 22 October 1988
9 32 The Washington Post 23 October 1988
9 33 The Washington Post 29 October 1988
9 34 The Washington Post 1988
9 35 The Washington Post (Health) 1988
9 36 The Washington Post (National Weekly Edition) 1988
9 37 The Washington Times 2 March 1988
9 38 The Washington Times 7 March 1988
9 39 The Washington Times 8 March 1988
9 40 The Washington Times 9 March 1988
9 41 The Washington Times 10 March 1988
9 42 The Washington Times 11 March 1988
9 43 The Washington Times 14 March 1988
9 44 The Washington Times 15 March 1988
9 45 The Washington Times 22 April 1988
9 46 The Washington Times 16 June 1988
9 47 The Washington Times 18 October 1988
9 48 The Washington Times 19 October 1988
9 49 Waterbury Republican 1988
9 50 Weekly Reader 1988
9 51 Winston-Salem Journal 1989
9 52 York Daily Record 1988
   
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