Akron's "Silent Colony" - what it meant to be active and visible

History Through Deaf Eyes – The Silents

Deaf people who found jobs in Akron created an active and visible community. The “Silent Colony” supported clubs, church groups, amateur sports, and company sponsored teams.

The Goodyear Silents, a semi-professional football team, was a particular source of pride to deaf residents of Akron. The winning Silents demonstrated that deaf workers were as competent as anyone else, on the football field as well as the factory floor.

The Goodyear Silents were a semi-professional football team composed of deaf workers from the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company’s factory in Akron, Ohio.

From 1917 to 1922 the Silents won 54 games, lost six, and tied three. The photograph above shows the 1918 team.

All images from Gallaudet University Archives