History Through Deaf Eyes

About

Note: This website is no longer home to the official History Through Deaf Eyes exhibition. You can see it in its new format at our online exhibition site.

Gallaudet University created the “Deaf Eyes” project to bring deaf history to the public and expand understanding of U.S. history. The project is multi-faceted and includes the:

Exhibition – History Through Deaf Eyes
Documentary Film – Through Deaf Eyes
Book – Through Deaf Eyes: A Photographic History of an American Community
DVD shown within the exhibition: By Necessity and By Choice: How We Communicate

Explore The Exhibit

Language and Identity

Formation of a Community

Community Building

Awareness, Access and Change

Information

Through Deaf Eyes: Tucson, Arizona

November 4 – December 19, 2004 Hosted at the University of Arizona Union Gallery. Dr. Samuel Supalla giving remarks during the exhibition opening. Photo by Todd, Hlavacek, November 11, 2004. Dr. Samuel Supalla giving remarks during the exhibition opening.

Through Deaf Eyes: Washington, D.C.

May 9 - September 22, 2002 Hosted by the Smithsonian Institution at the Arts and Industries Building, in conjunction with the National Museum of American History. The summer of 2002 Gallaudet University hosted Deaf Way II, an international conference and festival on Deaf history, cultures,...

Through Deaf Eyes: Iowa City, Iowa

November 4, 2005 - February 23, 2006 Hosted at the University of Iowa. In November, 2005, this family visited the History Through Deaf Eyes opening at the University of Iowa in Iowa City and found a photo of a relative.

Through Deaf Eyes: Lexington, Kentucky

October 1 - November 4, 2001 Hosted by the Kentucky School for the Deaf and the University of Kentucky at the University of Kentucky. Kentucky opening, Superintendent Dr. Harvey J. Corson on left.

Through Deaf Eyes documentary

Through Deaf Eyes is a two-hour documentary that explores almost 200 years of Deaf life in America and presents a broad range of perspectives on what it means to be deaf. The film is propelled by the stories of people, both eminent and ordinary, and...

Through Deaf Eyes film credits

A Film By Lawrence Hott and Diane Garey Narrated by Stockard Channing Written by Ken Chowder Inspired by the History Through Deaf Eyes Exhibition Created by Jack R. Gannon Project Director, Gallaudet University Jean Bergey Senior Advisor Harry Lang Contributing Filmmakers Kimby...

Through Deaf Eyes filmmakers

Diane Garey Diane Garey has had a distinguished career as a documentary and feature editor and producer. She edited and co-produced Wild By Law, which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 1992 and was broadcast as part of the American...

Through Deaf Eyes tour cities

Estimated total attendance: 415,000 Hartford, Connecticut, March 5 - April 14, 2001, Hosted by the American School for the Deaf - at the Phoenix Home Life Insurance Building. Lexington, Kentucky, October 1 - November 4, 2001, Hosted by the Kentucky School for the Deaf and...

Through Deaf Eyes: Birmingham, Alabama

September 7 - October 24, 2004 Hosted by the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, in conjunction with the Alabama Association of the Deaf. Reverend Jay Croft, who led the planning for the Birmingham, Alabama opening, is sharing the story of how and why this model of...

Through Deaf Eyes: Hartford, Connecticut

March 5 - April 14, 2001 Hosted by the American School for the Deaf at the Phoenix Home Life Insurance Building. Gary Wait (right) and helper installing objects.

Through Deaf Eyes Documentary Discussion Guide

The documentary Through Deaf Eyes takes a straightforward look at life for people who are part of the cultural-linguistic group, use American Sign Language, and often define themselves as "Deaf" — with a capital, and cultural, "D" — and deaf people who, for a variety...

Areas of Study