OUR STORY Together we will tell
NEWSLETTER
JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2015 Vol. 3, No. 1
Deaf Studies Internship
“
“[The DST internship] aligns perfectly with the Museum’s mission of educational partnership."
“
– Meredith Peruzzi
Abby McNamara starts drawing up design ideas while inspecting the Weyerhaeuser Gallery. Photo by Shane Dundas
The Gallaudet University Museum has been planning a new exhibit for a few months now. After the initial meetings with key members of the campus Jenni Mosiman, Abby McNamara, Meagan Sietsema, community (as detailed in last October’s edition of Lisa Napoli, Mia Fernandez, and Dr. Arlene B. Kelly the Newsletter), a new topic has been decided upon. pose in front of Archives. Photo by Shane Dundas We will be taking down the Deaf Peace Corps exhibit, and replacing it with a new one. Currently titled achievements and the lives of deaf women today. The “Deaf HERstory”, this exhibit will examine the lives of Museum recognizes that we need assistance with this deaf women in history, from overcoming obstacles to project, and we would like to introduce you to the Deaf Studies interns who will make this exhibit possible! Serving as academic coordinator is Dr. Arlene Kelly, a professor from the ASL and Deaf Studies department. Her excitement for the project is infectious, and clearly is carried on by the five interns. She commented, “It is without any question that I am beyond delighted to be collaborating with the Gallaudet Museum on the research, development & design of the Deaf HERstory Exhibit…the five interns -Mia Fernandez, Abigail McNamara, Jenni Mosiman, Lisa Napoli & Dorathy “Meagan” Sietsema- are highly The interns are relying on a variety of media to conduct motivated and ready to roll…” She wishes to recognize their research. Photo by Shane Dundas [ Continued on page 3 ] 1
GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY MUSEUM | NEWSLETTER
JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2015 Vol. 3, No. 1
Kansas Deaf Cultural Center
Certificate recognizing the DCC's participation in the museum Assessment Program. Photograph courtesy of DCC
On January 8, 2015, the Kansas Deaf Cultural Center was recognized by the American Alliance of Museums for its participation in the Museum Assessment Program. This is an important moment for them, as this marks the first step on the road to gaining accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums, or AAM, a major organization supporting 21,000 museums, individuals, and companies. AAM collaborates to develop standards and practices for their members to strive for; provide resources and career development assistance; and advocate the thriving of museums in today’s tough economy. Its members range from art, history, and science museums to zoos and
April
S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Tax
Deductions
If you donated to the Gallaudet Museum in the past year, or purchased any item from our store, then get ready to smile this April! You can put these down as tax-deductible purchases on your tax forms, and save some money when you file your taxes. Contact the Museum staff at museum@gallaudet.edu for more information. If you haven’t had the opportunity to make a purchase, then click here visit our store, or click here to donate online.
aquariums, botanical gardens, and arboretums, and individual members of said groups, such as curators, directors, and designers. The Gallaudet University Museum, as a member of the AAM and the Deaf community, is proud to congratulate our colleagues at the Kansas Deaf Cultural Center on taking their first step towards accreditation. We look forward to taking these steps together, as the Gallaudet University Museum seeks accreditation from AAM as well. The Deaf Cultural Center (DCC), located in Olathe, KS, has a brief but important history. Prior to the 1990’s, people would see the sign for the Kansas School for the Deaf (KSD) and stop by to ask questions pertaining to family members, former students and workers, and general inquiries about the Deaf world. Unable to provide this service on a regular basis, a group of interested community members formed the Kansas Educational Foundation and with the help of Kansas Deaf organizations (KSDAA and KAD), created the DCC. This museum serves to educate the general public about Deaf Culture, American Sign Language, and research on such topics, as well as to attract organizations and businesses serving customers who are Deaf and hard of hearing. The DCC was completed in June of 2001. Please visit their website (www.deafculturalcenter.org) to learn more about this wonderful place.
Birthday of a President
Abraham Lincoln
On February 12th, the Museum Staff observed the 206th birthday of the United States President who made Gallaudet University possible. Born in 1809, Abraham Lincoln was self educated, and later joined the new Republican party in 1854. In 1860 he was elected president of the United States, though his anti-slavery stance was the straw that broke the camel’s back, and led to the seccession of the Confederate states, ending in a four-year bloody struggle. Despite issues in the war keeping his attention (he loved to visit the telegraph office everyday to be kept in the loop on the progress of the war), he still found time to sign a piece of paper on his desk, authorizing the establishment of the National Deaf-Mute College. Six days after the one-year anniversary of the college, Lincoln was assassinated. 2
GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY MUSEUM | NEWSLETTER
JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2015 Vol. 3, No. 1
[ Continued from page 1 ] the exhibit's honorary sponsors, First Lady Vicki Hurwitz, and Dr. Genie Gertz, ’92, Dean of The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS). Our designer and artifact procurer is Abby. Her fellow interns Mia, Meagan, Jenni, and Lisa are responsible for researching topics, people, themes, and evidence, and conveying those to our visitors through writing, as well as photos they find. Together, they will bring the exhibition into fruition. With their obvious excitement, motivation, and energy, this project is sure to move along quickly, and see fantastic results. The Museum is extremely enthused
Lisa and Abby compare plans with photos of the space. Photo by Shane Dundas
Dr. Arlene B. Kelly offers her advice and expertise on research. Photo by Shane Dundas
to work with our interns, and looks forward to providing the community with a new exhibit at the Weyerhaeuser Family Gallery in the Student Academic Center, opposite the Marketplace. Be sure to keep an eye on our progress, which we will be reporting through Facebook, Twitter, and our website at www.gallaudet.edu/ museum. To meet the interns, visit our website (here). If you haven’t gotten the chance to visit the Deaf Peace Corps Exhibit, make sure you do in its current set up, which uses the space in such a way as to add to the experience, from the bright yellow walls to the metal roofing over the panels.
The National Black Deaf Advocates Founded in 1982, the National Black Deaf Advocates was established to “promote the leadership development, economic and educational opportunities, social equality, and to safeguard the general health and welfare of Black deaf and hard of hearing people.” As a non-profit, tax-exempt organization, the NBDA is run by a volunteer Executive Board, and is supported by its members and interested parties. Membership ranges from black deaf and hard First meeting of the group, in 1981, which would become the NBDA the following year. of hearing individuals, parents of black deaf and hard of hearing Photo courtesy of nbda.org. individuals, professionals who work with said individuals, sign language interpreters, people of color in general, and other interested people. While their headquarters are located in Washington, DC, they have more than 30 chapters in the United States. Check out their Facebook (National Black Deaf Advocates, Inc.) and Twitter (@NBDAdvocates) pages today to see current Black Deaf Leaders, and learn more about Black History Month. Be sure to also visit their website: http://www.nbda.org/content/history. 3
GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY MUSEUM | NEWSLETTER
JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2015 Vol. 1, 3, No. 1 SUMMER 2013
Rick Rush's Painting
Workers hang the new painting while standing on ladders. Photo by Shane Dundas
Have you been to the museum recently? If not, then you probably haven’t seen our recent acquisition. At President Hurwitz’s request, Rick Rush’s “Stronger Than Ever” painting is temporarily on display in the Museum in Chapel Hall above Amos Kendall’s portrait. Visit the DEAF Inc. website at deafinc.org/rush/ to find out more information, and what each part of the painting refers to.
Click to shop at the Museum Store.
The "Stronger Than Ever" painting hangs over Amos Kendall's portrait in Chapel Hall. Photo by Shane Dundas
We are
open Monday to Friday
10:00am to 4:00pm Please visit the Gate House or email Museum@gallaudet.edu for an appointment. The Gallaudet University Museum publishes the Our Story newsletter bi-monthly. We welcome photographs and stories of historical significance relating to Gallaudet University and Deaf History. In between newsletter issues, please visit our website for more information: www.gallaudet.edu/museum.html. We update the website frequently.
We want to stay connected with
YOU CLICK HERE
Join us for e-newsletters, updates and announcements. Follow Us - Click buttons below.
You are receiving this newsletter because you were a donor, or you filled out a contact form in the past. If you do not want to receive newsletters from us, please e-mail museum@gallaudet.edu to unsubscribe. If you have any suggestions or feedback about the newsletter, please share. Click here to see the Gallaudet Museum Mission & Vision, or visit the above mentioned website. 4