Manuscripts - The Robert O. Lankenau Papers, 1934-2000

MSS 198

Lankenau, Robert O., 1919-2000

The Robert O. Lankenau Papers, 1934-2000

Gallaudet University Archives

Descriptive Summary

Repository: Gallaudet University Archives

Call No.: MSS 198

Creator: Lankenau, Robert O., 1919-2000

Title: The Robert O. Lankenau Papers, 1934-2000

Quantity: 7.5 linear feet (13 document cases, 1 record box)

Abstract: Personal papers of Robert O. Lankenau, longtime Firestone chemist and president of the National Association of the Deaf. Includes artifacts, correspondence, photographs, clippings, writings, TDD conversations, and more.

Note:

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information: Assembled from collections donated in 2004 and 2005. Processed By: Christopher Shea, July 2014.

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:

Films

• Edward Miner Gallaudet Statue Dedication [motion picture]. Gallaudet University Archives, call number: Deaf Film 139-4

Manuscripts

• Papers of Robert O. Lankenau, 1962-1979. Gallaudet University Archives, call number: MSS 93
• Papers of Robert O. Lankenau, 1933-1998. Gallaudet University Archives, call number: MSS 149

SMSS

• Robert O. Lankenau, 1942. Gallaudet University Archives, call number: SMSS

Vertical Files

• Lankenau, Robert O. Gallaudet University Archives, call number: Deaf Biographical

Biographical Sketch

Robert O. Lankenau was born in 1919 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He became deaf at age 11 due to spinal meningitis, and in 1932 transferred to the Indiana School for the Deaf, where he completed his education. He attended Gallaudet College afterward, graduating in 1942 with a BS in chemistry and mathematics.

Mr. Lankenau settled in Akron, Ohio, and began working for the Firestone-Bridgestone Tire and Rubber Company as a junior chemist. Over the course of 43 years of employment with them, he eventually advanced to senior chemist, overseeing their industrial hygiene department. He married Betty Jean Martens, a classmate from the Indiana School, and they had two daughters together.

He was very active in local and national deaf organizations, including the National Association for the Deaf. He was a board member of the NAD and held several different officer positions within the organization, including serving as president from 1968 to 1972. It was under his presidency that the NAD purchased its long-time headquarters at Halex House in Maryland. Mr. Lankenau also helped found the Ohio Association of the Deaf and was at different times a board member, president, and secretary.

Other groups Mr. Lankenau participated in included the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (he helped found the RID chapter in Ohio), the National Fraternal Society of the Deaf, ODARA, and National Telecommunications of the Deaf, also known as Tele-Deaf Inc. (TDI). He was also well known in the Ohio state government, where he served on or testified before many committees on deafness and disability services. While a member of Ohio’s Public Utilities Commission, he helped to create a statewide telephone relay system.

In 1991, after the death of his wife, Mr. Lankenau remarried to Marlene Ronchen and had a daughter with her. The last five years of his life were spent assisting with research projects for various departments and faculty members at Gallaudet.

Mr. Lankenau passed away in 2000.

Scope and Content

Most of the material in this series is from later in Mr. Lankenau’s life and career, from the mid-1980s through 2000. There is relatively little material related to his work at NAD or his employment at Firestone.

Many of these papers are drawn from Mr. Lankenau’s work related to telephone and relay service in Ohio, including records from various government and phone company commissions and advisory boards he served on. Related material includes correspondence from his work at TDI, mostly concerned with the selling and/or servicing TDDs.

Also included is correspondence and other material from some projects Mr. Lankenau worked on during his latter years, including research assistance for Jack R. Gannon’s history of the World Federation of the Deaf and a project with Dr. Ben Bahan to collect speeches by well-known deaf leaders.

These papers also include many photos from Mr. Lankenau’s life, most of them taken during his college days at Gallaudet. There is also a large collection of plaques and certificates that he was awarded by various deaf groups.

Series Descriptions

Series 1. Personal papers, 1940-2000

Box 1

This series includes news clippings Mr. Lankenau collected about himself and his family, some autobiographical sketches he wrote, course materials for his teaching at the University of Akron, and a collection of personal emails, correspondence, and notes on projects

Series 2. Indiana State School for the Deaf publications and papers, 1934-1988

Box 1

Yearbooks from ISD, including Mr. Lankenau’s and Betty Jean Lankenau’s graduation years, plus a typed manuscript of the former yearbook. Also included are two copies of ISD’s newspaper, The Hoosier: Mr. Lankenau’s graduation number and a later issue with an article he wrote on careers in chemistry for the deaf. A certificate of congratulations he received as a student at ISD is also present.

Series 3. Gallaudet emails and memorabilia, 1939-2000

Boxes 1-2

Material from Mr. Lankenau’s time at Gallaudet, both as a student and later as a member of the Gallaudet community. Includes emails from Gallaudet staff and administration; a certificate for his sports letter; Kappa Gamma membership certificates for himself and Robert Sampon; two early volumes of the Tower Clock yearbook; and programs from plays and shows that Mr. Lankenau was a part of, among other things. For more on the last, see series 20.

Series 4. GUAA correspondence and reunion papers, 1942-1998

Box 2

Material from Mr. Lankenau’s membership in the GUAA, mostly programs and correspondence from the Class of 1942’s 55th reunion in 1997 and Gallaudet’s 36th triennial reunion in 1998.

Series 5. Akron and Ohio deaf group papers, 1962-1997

Box 2

This series is a collection of materials from various groups in the Akron region, such as the local chapters of the NFSD and Ohio Association for the Deaf, as well as the Akron Club of the Deaf. Also included are a few items from other parts of Ohio. Of particular interest is a file of correspondence and legal documents related to a 1990 conflict in the Akron Club of the Deaf over the purchase of real estate.

Series 6. Firestone materials, 1978-1983

Box 2

A small collection of items related to Mr. Lankenau’s career at Firestone, including company newsletters with articles about him.

Series 7. AAAD programs and badges, 1969-1994

Box 2

Programs from the American Athletic Association of the Deaf’s 25th and 50th anniversaries, as well as identification badges for Mr. Lankenau and Marlene Lankenau at the 50th anniversary.

Series 8. NAD correspondence and Junior NAD items, 1968-1973

Box 3

Items from Mr. Lankenau’s NAD presidency, including correspondence on NAD’s book sales (which began during his term) and a certificate and place card from the Junior NAD.

Series 9. Ohio Commission for the Deaf records, 1979-1985

Box 3

Records from the Ohio government concerning the establishment of an Ohio Commission for the Deaf, including draft texts of bills and reports from consultants. Also includes some of Mr. Lankenau’s correspondence with politicians and other activists for the deaf about the commission.

Series 10. Public Utilities Commission of Ohio records on telephone service and relay, 1990-1996

Box 3

Reports and some correspondence commissioned by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) on the topic of universal access to telephone service. Mr. Lankenau served on a Communicatively Impaired Advisory Board created by the commission, and this series includes some material produced by that board as well. See also series 13 for more on PUCO’s work on relay service.

Series 11. TDI Records, 1972-1998

Box 4

Mr. Lankenau was one of the founding members and a president of Tele-Deaf Inc. (TDI), a company founded to obtain, sell, and repair/recondition TDDs for the deaf community. This series includes TDI board minutes, correspondence (mostly about TDD sales and repair), and printed-out texts of TDD conversations Mr. Lankenau had about TDI business.

Series 12. Ohio Relay Service records, 1992-1998

Boxes 4-5

The bulk of this series consists of monthly service reports and training materials for CAs (communications assistants). The latter were used to educate CAs on deaf culture and TDD use. Some training material from Michigan’s relay service, which Ohio used as a model for its own system, is included here.

Series 13. Telephone Relay Service Consumers Advisory Group records, 1996-1998

Box 5

The Telephone Relay Service Consumers Advisory Group was created by PUCO (see series 10) to provide advice and oversight on the implementation of relay service in Ohio. Mr. Lankenau was a member, and most of this series consists of correspondence and e-mails among group members. The most common topic is proposals for relay service presented by telephone companies such as Ameritech (see series 14) and Sprint.

Series 14. Ameritech Universal Service Advisory Committee minutes and reports, 1995-1997

Boxes 5-6

Ameritech was the local telephone service provider for several Midwestern states, including Ohio, from 1984 to 1998. The committee referenced in this series was created by Ameritech to help extend its services to those who had difficulty with telephone use, including the elderly, low-income, and disabled. Mr. Lankenau served as the deaf community’s representative on this committee. See series 13 and 15 for more on Ameritech.

Series 15. TTY Distribution Program records, 1994-1997

Box 6

Ameritech (see series 14) created a program to make low-cost TDDs available to customers who could not normally afford one. This series includes brochures and fliers on the program, as well as correspondence, e-mails, and TDD conversations from a PUCO (see series 13) subcommittee created to monitor the program.

Series 16. Community Services for the Deaf records, 1991-1994

Box 6

Records from an advisory committee on deaf services created by the Family Services Department of Ohio’s Summit County. Mr. Lankenau was a member of this committee. Includes committee minutes, correspondence, and a manual on the functions and policies of the advisory committee.

Series 17. Speeches project correspondence and notes, 1996-2000

Boxes 6-7

Later in life, Mr. Lankenau worked with Dr. Ben Bahan of Gallaudet and the Gallaudet Archives on a project to collect texts of speeches by prominent members of the deaf community. Most of this series consists of letters and e-mails from Mr. Lankenau to those chosen for this project, as well as some contact lists and notes.

Series 18. Gannon book project e-mails and notes, 1999-2000

Boxes 7-8

Mr. Lankenau also assisted Dr. Jack R. Gannon in compiling information for his history of the World Federation of the Deaf. This series is mostly correspondence between Mr. Lankenau and various groups affiliated with the WFD, requesting details on their history and activities.

Series 19. Publications, 1942-1969

Box 8

A small collection of booklets acquired by Mr. Lankenau, including ones signed by Ben Schowe and the prominent chemist Otto Eisenschiml.

Series 20. Photographs, 1930s-1973

Boxes 8-9

The bulk of this series is black-and-white snapshots from Mr. Lankenau’s time as a Gallaudet student, arranged by subject. This includes some photos from stage shows that Mr. Lankenau played in (see series 3 for more) and other student activities, as well as campus and classroom photographs. There are a few photos from later in Mr. Lankenau’s life, including photos from his 35th year of service party at Firestone in 1975.

Series 21. Objects, 1967-1990

Boxes 10-14

Most of this series consists of framed certificates and plaques given to Mr. Lankenau by the various deaf groups he worked with, including the NAD, Ohio Association of the Deaf (OAD), and TDI. Also includes some pieces of older TDD technology, including modems and an Ultratec Minicom TDD.

Series Description and Folder Lists

Box	Folder	Title	Date(s)
1	1	Autobiographical sketches	1998
1	2	Bernard G. Davidson business card	Undated
1	3	Biographical drafts and clippings	1968-1998
1	4	Clippings and photographs on awards	1983-1992
1	5	Family and other memorabilia	1940-1970
1	6	Newspaper clipping with mother’s obituary	1970
1	7	Obituary and eulogies for Robert Sherman Harper	1999
1	8	Personal correspondence	1970-1997
1	9	Personal emails	1998-2000
1	10	Personal emails with jokes	1999-2000
1	11	Personal notes	Undated
1	12	Sabrina Baltenbach-Lankenau name change form	1994
1	13	Syllabi and notes for courses at University of Akron	1989-1996
1	14	Indiana State School for the Deaf certificate	1934
1	15	Indiana State School for the Deaf history, 1843-1944	1988
1	16	Indiana State School for the Deaf newspapers	1937, 1956
1	17	Indiana State School for the Deaf yearbooks	1937-1938
1	18	Typescript of Indiana State School for the Deaf yearbook	1937
1	19	Correspondence and emails on graduate fellowship fund	1999
1	20	Emails and releases from Gallaudet	1996-2000
1	21	Gallaudet commencement invitation	Undated
1	22	GCAA sports letter certificate	1940
1	23	Kappa Gamma membership certificates and card	1940-1941
1	24	Lithograph of Ole Jim	1991
2	1	Memorabilia from Gallaudet	1939-1983
2	2	Programs from events at Gallaudet	1996-1998
2	3	Tower Clock yearbooks	1941-1942
2	4	Correspondence and TDD texts on GUAA and Class of 1942 reunion	1997
2	5	Gallaudet Alumni Association membership certificate	1942
2	6	GUAA and Class of 1942 55th reunion correspondence and bylaws	1997-1998
2	7	GUAA badge and programs	1997-1998
2	8	Akron chapter of Ohio Association of the Deaf materials	1991-1997
2	9	Akron Club of the Deaf correspondence and legal filings	1990
2	10	Akron deaf materials	1985, 1993
2	11	Akron NFSD chapter sign and program	1962
2	12	Akron Rubber Group 50th anniversary program	1978
2	13	Clippings on Lankenau cottage	Undated
2	14	Firestone newsletters	1979-1981
2	15	Laboratory accreditation application	1983
2	16	AAAD 50th National Basketball Tournament badges	1994
2	17	AAAD 25th anniversary program	1969
2	18	AAAD 50th anniversary programs	1994
3	1	Correspondence on NAD book sales	1971-1973
3	2	Junior NAD award certificate	1968
3	3	Junior NAD place card	Undated
3	4	Correspondence and bills on establishment of the Ohio Commission for the Deaf	1979-1985
3	5	Ohio General Assembly bills on Ohio Commission for the Deaf	1979-1984
3	6	Legislative Service Commission reports on Ohio Commission for the Deaf	1983-1984
3	7	Reports on establishment of Ohio Commission for the Deaf	1983-1984
3	8	Correspondence with Public Utilities Commission of Ohio	1995-1996
3	9	Public Utilities Commission of Ohio consumer’s guide	1990
3	10	Public Utilities Commission of Ohio correspondence and releases on Communicatively Impaired Advisory Board	1991-1992
3	11	Public Utilities Commission of Ohio reports and correspondence on relay service	1991-1992
3	12	Public Utilities Commission of Ohio reports on telephone services	1992-1999
3	13	Public Utilities Commission of Ohio reports on telephone services	1995-1996
3	14	Public Utilities Commission of Ohio requests for proposal on relay service	1992-1996
4	1	Correspondence and TDD texts on TDI	1986-1995
4	2	Correspondence and TDD texts on TDI real estate	1991
4	3	Correspondence on TDI	1992-1998
4	4	Correspondence on TDI sales and repairs of TDDs	1980-1983
4	5	Reports on federal telecommunications bills	1992
4	6	TDD texts with Wendy Woods on TDI	1992
4	7	TDI bylaws	Undated
4	8	TDI convention programs	1974-1985
4	9	TDI minutes and photos	1972-1974
4	10	Clipping on Ohio Relay Service	1993
4	11	Michigan Relay Center deaf culture training materials	Undated
4	12	Ohio Relay Service annual report	1993
4	13	Ohio Relay Consumer Committee minutes	1998
4	14	Ohio Relay Service ad copy	1992
4	15	Ohio Relay Service business card and logo	Undated
4	16	Ohio Relay Service guides	Undated
4	17	Ohio Relay Service monthly reports	1993-1998
4	18	Ohio Relay Service newsletter	1995
5	1	Ohio Relay Service training guide	1992
5	2	Ohio Relay Service training guide	1992
5	3	TDD conversations on Ohio telephone service	Undated
5	4	TDD interview on relay service	1993
5	5	Telephone Relay Service Consumers Advisory Group bid meeting agenda and handouts	1997
5	6	Telephone Relay Service Consumers Advisory Group correspondence and reports	1996-1998
5	7	Telephone Relay Service Consumers Advisory Group correspondence and reports on proposals	1997
5	8	Ameritech brochure and press release on deaf services	1991
5	9	Ameritech Universal Service Advisory Committee minutes and correspondence	1995-1997
5	10	Ameritech Universal Service Advisory Committee minutes and reports	1995
6	1	Ameritech Universal Service Advisory Committee minutes and reports	1995-1996
6	2	Ameritech Universal Service Advisory Committee minutes and reports	1995-1996
6	3	Ameritech Universal Service Advisory Committee minutes and reports	1996
6	4	TTY Distribution Program release and brochures	1997
6	5	TTY Distribution subcommittee correspondence and minutes	1994-1996
6	6	Community Services for the Deaf correspondence	1991-1992
6	7	Community Services for the Deaf correspondence and manual	1991-1994
6	8	Community Services for the Deaf minutes	1991-1992
6	9	Correspondence and contact lists for speeches project	1997-1998
7	1	Correspondence and texts for speeches project	1996-1998
7	2	Correspondence on speeches project	1997-1998
7	3	Notes on speeches project	2000
7	4	Emails and notes for Gannon book project	1999-2000
7	5	Emails and research materials for Gannon book project	1999-2000
7	6	Emails on Gannon book project	1999-2000
7	7	Emails on Gannon book project	1999-2000
8	1	Gannon book project draft	Undated
8	2	Notes on Gannon book project	Undated
8	3	Deaf Workers on the Home Front booklet autographed by Ben Schowe	1969
8	4	The Chemist in Three Wars booklet autographed by Otto Eisenschiml	1942
8	5	The Silent Men booklet	Undated
8	6	Personal photographs	Undated
8		8 x 10 prints	1937-1975
8		35th year of service party at Firestone	1993
8		Baseball World Series	Undated
8		Biology classroom	Undated
8		Buildings at Gallaudet	Undated
8		Camping	Undated
8		Convention	Undated
8		Dorm life	Undated
8		Drama – Arsenic and Old Lace	Undated
8		Dramas	Undated
8		Faculty	Undated
8		Family/personal	Undated
8		Gallaudet Day	Undated
8		Gallaudet pharmacy store	Undated
8		Gallaudet 75th anniversary	1939
8		General personal photos	Undated
8		Graduation	Undated
8		Hazing at Gallaudet	Undated
8		Kappa Gamma fraternity	Undated
8		Holiday cards	Undated
8		Inaugural parade	Undated
8		Indiana School for the Deaf	Undated
9		Lectures	Undated
9		Parties	Undated
9		Portraits	Undated
9		Sadie Hawkins Day	Undated
9		Snow	Undated
9		Sports	Undated
9		Squirrel	Undated
9		Student activities	Undated
9		Student groups	Undated
9		Trips	Undated
9		Tug o’ war	Undated
9		World War II Gallaudet campus	Undated
10		American Athletic Association of the Deaf patch	1967
10		NAD centennial convention charms (x5)	1980
10		NAD Knights of the Flying Fingers framed certificate	1964
10		ISD Alumnus of the Year plaque	1973
10		Ohio Association of the Deaf plaque	1975
10		TDI president’s gavel and plaque	1976-1977
11		Ohio Association of the Deaf president’s gavel and plaque	1978-1981
11		Ohio Association of the Deaf Boyd D. Hume Award plaque	1979
11		Keys to Keller, Lankenau, and Rudolph cottages on plaques (x2)	1979
11		Certificate of appreciation	1983
11		Ohio Association of the Deaf special award plaque	1985
12		TDI president’s gavel and plaque	1983-1985
12		Delaware Valley Telecommunications for the Deaf Ralph Harwood Memorial Award	1985
12		Kent State University recognition certificate	1986
12		Firestone Technical League first place award	1986
12		Ohio School for the Deaf Adult Leadership Award	1990
12		NAD building fund certificate	Undated
13		Akron Council Engineering and Scientific Societies (ACESS) distinguished award	1981
14		FAD award from 1972 NAD convention	1972
14		Phone-TTY modem (x2)	Undated
14		Phonetype modem	Undated
14		Ultratec Minicom IV	Undated
14		American Athletic Association of the Deaf silver anniversary ashtray	1969
14		Gallaudet University pennant	Undated