Deaf Printers virtual exhibition launches

A new website, deafprinters.com, launched on October 17 with a reception in the National Deaf Life Museum. This virtual exhibition chronicles the history of deaf printers–many of them Gallaudet University alumni–at The Washington Post. 

The Deaf Printers Pages website is the culmination of four years of work by the Drs. John S. & Betty J. Schuchman Deaf Documentary Center at Gallaudet University and a group of Deaf retirees from The Washington Post. This online exhibit preserves the last of many generations of Deaf people who learned printing in school and worked at local and national newspapers around the country. From the 1970s to 2000, more than 125 Deaf people found employment at The Washington Post. The composing room and advertising departments of the newspaper became spaces where Deaf and hearing printers interacted daily, creating a uniquely accessible work environment. The Deaf Printers Project aims to record and preserve the stories and signs of this disappearing community. History professor Dr. Jannelle Legg, G-’11, curated this project in close collaboration with retired Deaf printers who advised on different parts of the project. Zilvinas Paludnevicius, ’12, provided the editing and filmed numerous interviews. Also involved in the project were students Aleah Nishizaki, who conducted research; Christy Pe, Tyrone Curry, Savannah Lynch, and Summer Dykstra, who transcribed the interviews; and Brenna Smith, ’22, who served as a graduate assistant.

The site describes the project and its genesis. It also contains a history of printing, a glossary, and a list of resources. It also includes a video by retired printer Dick Moore explaining the iconic “pressman’s hat,” a paper hat that press staff made and used to protect themselves from dust, grease, and ink.

Post columnist John Kelly attended and wrote about the event. He also wrote an article about the Post’s deaf printers in 2019.