Archives' Collections

Gallaudet University has the world’s largest collection on deaf people, deaf culture, deaf history, sign languages, audiology, speech, deaf education and deaf related organizations.

The Library Deaf Collections is composed of books, videorecordings, periodicals and other forms of non-print media. These materials are identified in locations such as: Deaf Stacks, Deaf Media, Deaf Videos (DVDs and VHS), Deaf Periodicals, and Deaf Microfilm. These materials are located on the main floor of the Merrill Learning Center (MLC). The deaf vertical files, which include the Deaf Subject Vertical File, Deaf Biographical Vertical File, and Deaf School Vertical File are also on the main floor; these Files require the assistance of Library staff. The Deaf Copy 1 material, if not available in the Deaf Stacks, also requires the assistance from Library staff.

The Archives contains manuscripts, photographs, portraits, films, rare books and autographed books, artifacts, and other materials or items. Archival call numbers have several locations, such as: MSS, SMSS, Gallaudetiana, Portraits, Deaf Film, and others. These materials may be obtained in the Archives Research Room, B125 in the Merrill Learning Center.