Manuscripts - MSS 58 - Kruger, Arthur A., 1911-1992

MSS 58 – Kruger, Arthur A., 1911-1992
Papers of Arthur A. Kruger, 1889-1993
Gallaudet University Archives

Descriptive Summary

Repository: Gallaudet University Archives
Call No.: MSS 58
Creator:
Title: Papers of Arthur A. Kruger, 1919-1993
Quantity: 15.0 Linear Feet (30 document boxes)
Abstract:
Note: This document last updated 2006 January 3.

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information: Kruger’s wife, Eva Kruger, gave the Arthur A. Kruger Papers to the Gallaudet University Archives. The gift was made on March 30, 1992.
Processed by: Michael J. Olson. 1994 May.
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:

Photographs

• Art Kruger [picture]. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: Portraits

Vertical Files

• Arthur Kruger. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: Deaf Biographical

Biographical Sketch

Arthur A. Kruger, known as “Art”, was born on March 6, 1911 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He became deaf at the age of three from a fall. He attended the Bala Oral School; the McIntyre Grammar School in Philadelphia; the Northeast High School and finally, the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf at Mt. Airy in 1926. He graduated from the school in 1927; however, he returned to that school for his postgraduate work and graduated the following year. In the fall of 1928, Art attended Gallaudet College and graduated on June 13, 1933. While he was a student at Gallaudet, he was involved in extracurricular activities, for example, he wrote many articles for the Buff and Blue, a student newspaper. In 1931, he became interested in writing articles for some newspapers, such as The Deaf Mutes’ Journal, especially on sports. It was called “All ¬American Selections” and he continued to write on the same subject for The Silent Worker.

Following Art’s graduation from Gallaudet, he moved to New York City where he worked as a researcher for a New York University professor for three years. He also worked as a cost accountant for a large wholesale grocery firm in New York City. He met Eva Segal, a graduate of the New York School for the Deaf and got married. When the World War II broke out, Art joined with other deaf people to Akron, Ohio where they worked in building planes at Goodyear Aircraft plant. Art and Eva spent five years in Akron and the war ended they moved to Los Angeles. Art got a job with Western Costume Corporation as a costume clerk and rose to manager until his retirement in 1975. He worked there for 30 years.Art was involved with the sports and while he was in Akron, he and other Gallaudet Alumni and deaf sports enthusiasts founded the American Athletic Association of the Deaf in 1945: At that time it was called the American Athletic Union of the Deaf. Art was its first president.

There, he formed the first national deaf basketball tournament ever held and served as its first chairman. The tournament was held on April 14, 1945 and the Akron Club of the Deaf sponsored it. The AAAD tournament was so successful that it continues on every year.

Art became involved with the United States participation in the World Games for the Deaf in 1952. He served as a team director of the United States World Games for the Deaf from 1957 to 1966. He became the chairman of the organization in 1966 until he stepped down in 1978. He was the architect of the AAAD’s Hall of Fame. He was the first sports leader to be recognized by the Selections Committee when he was elected to the AAAD Hall of Fame in 1954.For many years, Art was a sports editor for The Silent Worker and Deaf American magazines. He wrote many and lengthy articles on the deaf athletes, sports at the schools for the deaf and historical interests on deaf sports.

Art and Eva moved to Staunton, Virginia after Art’s retirement from the Western Costume Corporation in 1976. He continued his activities with the deaf sports nationally. In 1985, Art and Eva moved again to Laurel, Maryland. He was volunteered with the Alumni activities at Peikoff Alumni House on the campus of Gallaudet University.

Art collected and complied 13 volumes of Deaf sports in which he had hoped to publish, but it never materialized. His manuscripts are now deposited in Gallaudet University Archives where it can be available to the researchers.

Mr. Kruger received many awards and honors. In 1982, he was awarded an honorary doctorate of pedagogy degree from Hofstra University in New York. In 1976, Art received the Powrie Vaux Doctor Medallion for International Service from Gallaudet College. In 1980, he was presented the Edward Miner Gallaudet Award from the Laurent Clerc Cultural Fund of the Gallaudet University Alumni Association for his work with the deaf throughout the world.

Art passed away on March 10, 1992 of a heart failure with pneumonia in Laurel, Maryland. He was cremated and buried in King David Memorial Gardens in Falls Church, Virginia.

Scope and Content

The Arthur A. Kruger Papers consist of correspondence, articles, clippings, letters, program books, brochures, statistics, minutes, reports, constitution and bylaws, photographs, certificates, diaries, and publications. Mr. Kruger was involved in the deaf sports during his lifetime. He was the first president of the American Athletic Association of the Deaf in 1945. He was one of the first organizers of the first national deaf basketball tournament held in Akron, Ohio in 1945.

The collection, which consists of approximately 25,500 pages, dates from 1919 to 1993, although here are Xerox copies of articles published in various publications from 1889 to 1918. The bulk of the collection consists of program books, articles, and publications. The bulk dates are mostly between 1980 and 1991, of which was during Art’s retirement years. The strength of the collection is centered mostly on the deaf sports. There is a manuscript on history of deaf sports Art collected and complied.

The largest subject in the collection is focused on the deaf sports. Art collected lots of information on deaf athletes, schools for the deaf sports programs, World Games of the Deaf from the articles, clippings, and publications. There is a 14 volume of manuscript on deaf sports Art collected and complied that he had hoped to publish, but never materialized.

The collection includes correspondence and minutes of the American Athletic Association of the Deaf meetings of which Art was involved. Also includes in the collection is a collection of statistics and reports on deaf athletes and their schools for the deaf.

The most interesting in the collection include a diary Art wrote when he was hitchhiking across the United States in 1932.

The Arthur A. Kruger Papers is a treasure for all of deaf sports enthusiasts and researchers.

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