Manuscripts - Records of National Fraternal Society of the Deaf, 1900-2006

Acquisition Information: The records of National Fraternal Society of the Deaf were donated to the Archives by the National Fraternal Society of the Deaf on September 2005 and January 2006.

Processed by: Ulf Hedberg. 1 May 2008.

Films

• Picnics: Maryland Association of the Deaf at Baltimore, Virginia Association of the Deaf, Frat # 47-Outing, 50th Anniversary of Maryland Association of Deaf and Tolchester Beach [motion picture]. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: Deaf Film 5-16
• Baltimore Division Frat Outing Herring Run [motion picture]. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: Deaf Film 284-4
• Baltimore Division Frat Outings Cottage at Grove Beach [motion picture]. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: Deaf Film 229-4
• N.F.S.D. Convention at Toronto [motion picture]. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: Deaf Film 251-4

Vertical Files

• National Fraternal Society of the Deaf (U.S.). Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: Deaf Associations
• National Fraternal Society of the Deaf (U.S.). Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: African Americans

Photographs

• Photograph album of Eulalia M. Burdick. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: AL 2
• Photograph album of Lydia S. Waters. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: AL 91

Scrapbooks

• Scrapbook of clippings. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: Scrapbook Album 17
• Scrapbook of clippings. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: Scrapbook Album 23

SMSS

• Papers, David Peikoff, 1929-1986. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: SMSS
• Papers, Homer Earl Grace, 1975. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: SMSS
• Papers, William F. Durian, 1946. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: SMSS
• Papers, David A. Davidowitz, 1930-1971. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: SMSS

Manuscripts

• Papers, 1915-1986. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: MSS 63
• Papers, 1909-1975. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: MSS 115
• Papers, 1933-1998. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: MSS 149
• Papers, 1887-1958. Gallaudet University Archives, Call Number: MSS 151

Historical Sketch

At the time it was established, there was discrimination against Deaf people by insurance companies. At the Michigan School for the Deaf in Flint, during the alumni reunion in 1898, the graduates who were the members of a local fraternal order called McKinley Lodge No. 922 met and considered a proposal to establish a fraternal society for Deaf people. At the next reunion in 1901, they formally established the Fraternal Society of the Deaf as a mutual benefit organization. Later, it was incorporated by the State of Illinois. Those early members were often referred to as “The Coming Men of America.” However, the Fraternal Society of the Deaf wanted to offer insurance of various kinds and to be classified as a profit organization. To comply with the laws of the state of Illinois, they had to reorganize; in 1907 they took on the name National Fraternal Society of the Deaf (NFSD). Their stated goals were to provide life insurances including death and accident benefits, to serve as an advocate for the deaf, and to provide community service and recreational opportunities through divisional activities.

For 106 years, the NFSD had 168 divisions: the first one was founded as Chicago No. 1 in 1901 (sometimes referred to as the Grand Division) and the latest division was St. Augustine, Florida No. 168, established in 1991. The first convention ever held was in Chicago in 1903–conventions continued until the last one in Lake Buena Vista, Florida in 1999. At each convention, the NFSD attracted hundreds of its members for election of new officers, business meetings, and socializing. Each meeting ended with a formal banquet. The NFSD also provided training for field representatives to assist members in the selection of benefits and advise them on the formation of an estate.

Between 1901 and 1935, there was no permanent office, NFSD instead often used officers’ homes or rented space. It was not until 1936 NFSD owned a building at 433 South Oak Park Avenue in Chicago. Its last headquarters were at 1118 South Sixth Street in Springfield, Illinois in 2007.

Women started demanding admission to the NFSD in 1915. At the time, the NFSD’s organization work was the responsibility of the head of the family; the men rejected attempts to give the women equal membership. Women persisted until 1937, when the NFSD allowed them to form social auxiliaries. The purpose of these auxiliaries was promote the best interests of the division with which they were affiliated. In 1951, during the NFSD convention, it was agreed that women would be given regular insurance membership.

During the last decade of the 20th century, membership began to decrease. Due to changing laws across the country, Deaf people were able to purchase insurance at low cost from other insurance companies which often competed for their business. The NFSD agreed to merge with the Catholic Order of Foresters effective January 1, 2005 to transfer existing insurance coverage. As of January 1, 2007, the NFSD has no members or Divisions.

Scope and Content

The records of the National Fraternal Society of the Deaf (NFSD) consist mainly of administrative files, correspondence, division files, financial records, publications, and degree point files.

The collection, which consists of approximately 85,000 pages, dates from 1900 to 2006. Most documents date from one of three eras: prior to 1930s, 1940s, and 1960s-1970s. The majority are part of a degree point system created in 1948. During the 1960s and 1970s, there was heavy correspondence mostly concerned with community services. The principal subjects in the collection are the operation and conventions of the NFSD, meeting minutes, programs related to business meetings and conventions, and a collection of membership cards.

Series Descriptions

Box 1-9, OV1-26

In this group, there are the meeting minutes from 1922 to 2003 and convention programs from 1927 to 1999. The largest of this group is membership cards in alphabetical order. Finally, there are folders of correspondence with the board of directors from 1903 to 1925, and bound meeting minutes from 1911 to 1914. Two large bound registers that list new members from 1901 through 1947 are included in this group.

Series 2: Correspondence

Box 9-21

For the most part, this correspondence relates to advocacy, outreach to Deaf communities and the NFSD generally. Also included are records concerning legal work with the state government, specifically on vocational rehabilitation issues and the infamous Krakover case, who was a Deaf peddler. Finally, there are several folders relating to the right to drive automobiles.

Series 3: Degree Point Records

Box 22-44

This unit contains correspondence with divisions, members, and the headquarters related to earning degrees. The purpose was to encourage members to assume Division duties and improve the work of their units. The explanation of degree point can be found in the constitution and bylaws and in a pamphlet “An Interpretation of the Degree and Point System” which can be found in this unit.

Series 4: Division Records

Box 44-49, OV 26-27, 34

There are folders of address books, bylaws, division rules, local rules, and programs related to local divisions in the United States and Canada.

Series 5: Finance

Box OV 27-33

For the most part, this series is made up of annual statements of the NFSD’s operation from 1973 to 1999; missing documents are from 1983 to 1990, and 1993. In this group, one can find the volumes of benefits and claims paid to members from 1902 through 1948.

Series 6: General

Box 50-52, OV 34

This covers only information on various topics in general, including essays and history written by Francis P. Gibson and poems written by Arthur L. Roberts and J. Frederick Meagher. All were officers and active members of the NFSD.

Series 7: Publication

Box 52-66

The first issue of “The Frat” was published in 1902. It skipped 1903 and then re-appeared in 1904 through 1907. Between 1907 and 1911, the issues of “The Frat” appeared in other Deaf publications such as “The Silent Worker,” “The Silent Success,” and “The Southern Optimist.” Later, “The Frat” returned to its own publishing in 1911 until its last issue in 2006. All issues are in the chronological order.

List of the Grand Presidents of the NFSD

1901-1903 Peter N. Hellers

1903-1905 Francis P. Gibson

1905-1909 Jacob J. Kleinhans

1909-1912 E. Morris Bristol

1912-1927 Harry C. Anderson

1927-1929 Francis P. Gibson

1929-1931 Frederick J. Neesam

1931-1957 Arthur L. Roberts

1957-1967 L. Stephen Cherry

1967-1984 Frank B. Sullivan

1984-1993 Robert R. Anderson

1993-1996 Wayne D. Shook

1996-2006 Al Van Nevel

List of NFSD’S Conventions

1903 Chicago, Illinois

1905 Detroit, Michigan

1907 Cincinnati, Ohio

1909 Louisville, Kentucky

1912 Columbus, Ohio

1915 Omaha, Nebraska

1918 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

1921 Atlanta, Georgia

1924 St. Paul, Minnesota

1927 Denver, Colorado

1931 Boston, Massachusetts

1935 Kansas City, Missouri

1939 Toronto, Canada

1943 Chicago, Illinois

1947 Los Angeles, California

1951 Chicago, Illinois

1955 Buffalo, New York

1959 Detroit, Michigan

1963 Memphis, Tennessee

1967 New York City, New York

1971 Chicago, Illinois

1975 New Orleans, Louisiana

1979 Toronto, Canada

1983 Denver, Colorado

1987 Secaucus, New Jersey

1991 Milwaukee, Wisconsin

1995 Salt Lake City, Utah

1999 Lake Buena Vista, Florida

List of NFSD’s Divisions

Click Here to View the Folders List
Click Here to View the Photographs List