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Manuscript Collection
Manuscripts – Papers of Jane Norman,...
King Jordan Student Academic Center 1255
(202) 250-2604
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Descriptive Summary Repository: Gallaudet University Archives Call No.: MSS 132 Creator: Title: Papers of Jane Norman, 1945-1980. Quantity: 1.0 linear feet (2 document boxes) Abstract: Note: This document last updated 2006 January 6.
Administrative Information Acquisition Information: The Jane Norman papers were given to the Gallaudet University Archives by Jane Norman. The gift was made in 1999. Processed by: Octavian Robinson. 2004 October 24 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:
Biographical Sketch Jane Norman was born in Covington, Virginia, and raised in Alexandria, Virginia. Her parents and younger sister are all deaf, and her younger sister, Fredericka, was also involved in Deaf Theater. Jane was educated in a mainstream environment until the age of 11. She was then transferred to the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind, where she attended for approximately five to six years, graduating in 1957. After completing her education at VSDB, she attended Gallaudet College for two years. She left and went to the Milo Bennett Linotype School in English, Indiana. She followed in her father’s footsteps and became a printer and a member of the International Typographical Union. This enabled her to support herself through school, both at Gallaudet and at New York University. She graduated from Gallaudet in 1968 with a major in English Literature. She then completed her Master’s degree in Educational Theatre at New York University. During her time at Gallaudet, she was Homecoming Queen and Kappa Gamma Queen. She also married Edward Wilk during her undergraduate years at Gallaudet and divorced after 17 months of marriage.
Norman’s career in the theatre started when she joined the National Theatre of the Deaf while at NYU. After two years of work with the NTD, she went on to San Francisco to start Newsign with co-newscaster Peter Wechsberg. She has won the Television Academy’s Governors Award, McQuade Award, 2 Emmys, recognition from President’s Committee, was a finalist for the National Academy of Arts and Sciences and has received the National Honor Award. She has accomplished many milestones in her career, including newscasting the Deaf Mosaic, Rainbow’s End, Newsign, and producing/directing/writing various stage productions.
She is currently a professor at Gallaudet University in the Communication Studies department.
Scope and Content The Jane Norman papers consist of two boxes. Most of the papers are related to her acting career with the National Theatre of the Deaf, Newsign, and Rainbow’s End. Also included are materials related to her father and sister, Fred and Fredericka Norman. The papers include clippings, publications, scripts, business cards, letters, reports, and brochures. This collection has 13 scripts from Rainbow’s End as well as the Final Report of Rainbow’s End to the United States Department of Education. Those papers contain a wealth of information about Deaf theater in the United States. The collection dates from 1964 to 1980, with the bulk dating from 1970s.
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