User:Aquakatze/Deaf Clubs

Overview:

Deaf Clubs are a space that are meant for Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals to go in order to socialize. These spaces were created in order to provide a place that Deaf people could go that was entirely their own. In a world full of hearing people this space was one that they did not have to worry about communication access and could just have a good time. These clubs are built on the foundation of providing a "safe space" for people who are Deaf. This space they could be in their own culture, share stories, and jokes. Different events would be hosted at the club and would draw different crowds.

This article will discuss the history of the height of popularity in Deaf Clubs different types of Deaf clubs (segregation, oral deaf clubs) and the decline over time. However, there are still Deaf Clubs around today and there will be a list of some of those clubs down below (Locations).

The height of Deaf Clubs:

During the 40's-50s there were a spike in the establishment of Deaf clubs. Almost all major cities had Deaf clubs; and in some states where there were an exponential amount of Deaf people, one would see even more Deaf Clubs. For example, Ohio had Deaf Clubs in almost each of its big cities due to the increase of Deaf people that moved to Ohio during World War II. Some of the Deaf clubs even had their own sports teams that played against each other.

Deaf Clubs Segregation:

While America had segregation as did Deaf Clubs. There were clubs established only for men or women. There were "Black Clubs " and "White Clubs" as well as different religions having their own clubs. One famous Black Deaf Club located in Chicago was widely popular for their basketball team. They were named the Lincoln Club. There were two clubs established in New York City that were Deaf Clubs for Jewish members.

Deaf Oral Clubs:

While the Deaf clubs previously mentioned being part of "Deaf Culture" and having a space to be themselves. Deaf Oral Clubs were established by those who attended Oral programs. They wanted a space to feel they could flourish in their own culture as well. These clubs were built on the foundation that sign language would be prohibited. They would speak to each other using voice and reading lips.

One of these clubs was knows at the "Laro Club." This club is Oral spelled backwards, and was named that to show their beliefs. This clubs was established in 1935 by five individuals. By 1938, the Club was fully established with almost 50 members. Together they established the rules and regulations or their club that stood in their beliefs of oralism. The club lasted for 41 years until it was finally disbanded in 1979. The official manuscripts of the club were given to Gallaudet University.

Decline over time:

The Deaf Clubs that are still around today are mostly from the older generation. None of the major cities have Deaf Clubs anymore. There are different reasons that people have suggested for the decline of Deaf Clubs. While a huge part of the decrease happened during the technology advances, the decline had already started before that. However, while looking at the peak of Deaf Clubs in the 40's-50's, this is when they transitioned from jobs that were just hands on to factories. However, the younger Deaf population have jobs in various fields. This shift in unified jobs that built a community to more spread out could have played a large part in the decline of Deaf Clubs.

With the decline of Deaf Clubs also came the rise in Deaf Advocacy Groups. These groups were trying to advocate for the rights of Deaf people. Helping to find jobs, advocating for schools, etc. Many of these clubs were political and wanted to fight for issues that were important to them. They would fight for financial support in order to get interpreters when needed or to get job training. These advocacy groups possibly were the reason that Deaf Clubs started to decline. As Deaf people were more focused on fighting for their rights rather than spending time in clubs. While the clubs focused on fun and events. The Deaf Advocacy Groups focused on issues that were important such as making sure Deaf Students had access to materials needed.

Locations:

Some Deaf clubs are still around today. Below is a list of some of the known locations of Deaf Clubs.

Alabama:

North Alabama Deaf Club

Alaska:

Arizona:

Phoenix Association of the Deaf, INC- Phoenix, AZ

Arkansas:

California:

Colorado:

Greater Denver Deaf Social Club

Connecticut:

Greater Hartford Club of the Deaf- East Hartford, CT

Delaware:

Florida:

Georgia:

Hawaii:

Idaho:

North Idaho Deaf CLub - Coeur d Alene, ID

Illinois:

Indiana:

Greater Indianapolis Deaf Club- Indianapolis, IN

Iowa:

Kansas:

Olathe Club of the Deaf- Olathe, KS

Kentucky:

Louisiana:

Maine:

Maryland:

Frederick Deaf Club-Frederick, MD

Massachusetts:

Holyoke Athletic and Social Club of the Deaf- Holyoke, MA

Worcester Deaf Club, INC- Worcester, MA

Michigan:

Flint Association for the Deaf- Flint, MI

Minnesota:

Faribault Deaf Club- Faribault, MN

Mississippi:

Missouri:

Mid-Missouri Deaf Club

Montana:

Nebraska:

Nevada:

New Hampshire:

New Jersey:

New Mexico:

Hobbs Deaf Club-Hobbs, NM

New York:

Staten Island Club of the Deaf, INC- Staten Island, NY

North Carolina:

Durham Deaf Club

North Dakota:

Ohio:

Oklahoma:

Oregon:

Pennsylvania:

Pittsburgh Association of the Deaf- Pittsburgh, PA

York Association of the Deaf- York, PA

Rhode Island:

South Carolina:

South Dakota:

Tennessee:

Texas:

Austin Deaf Club-Austin, TX

Dallas Association of the Deaf- Dallas, TX

Utah:

Bonneville Recreation Club of the Deaf

Vermont:

Greater Burlington Deaf Club- Burlington, VT

Brattleboro Deaf Club- Brattleboro, VT

Virginia:

Richmond Club of the Deaf

Shenandoah Valley Club of the Deaf (SVCD)- Staunton, VA

Washington:

Olympia Deaf CLub-Lacey, WA

Spokane Deaf Club-Spokane, WA

West Virginia:

Wisconsin:

Green Bay Deaf Club

Wyoming:

Cheyenne Deaf Club- Cheyenne, WY

Bibliography:

Carmel, S. J., & Monaghan, L. F. (1991). Studying Deaf Culture: An Introduction to Ethnographic Work in Deaf Communities. Sign Language Studies, 1073(1), 411–420. doi: 10.1353/sls.1991.0009

Hall, S. A. (1991). Door into Deaf Culture: Folklore in an American Deaf Social Club. Sign Language Studies, 1073(1), 421–429. doi: 10.1353/sls.1991.0014

Hadjikakou, K., & Nikolaraizi, M. (2011). Deaf Clubs Today: Do They Still Have a Role to Play? The Cases of Cyprus and Greece. American Annals of the Deaf, 155(5), 605–617. doi: 10.1353/aad.2011.0007

Manuscripts. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.gallaudet.edu/archives-and-deaf-collections/collections/manuscripts/mss-076

Padden, C. (2007)The decline of Deaf clubs in the US: A treatise on the problem of place. In D. Bauman (Ed.) Sightings: Explorations in Deaf Studies. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.

United States. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.gallaudet.edu/office-of-international-affairs/international-relations/world-deaf-information-resource/deaf-orgs/local-orgs/united-states

Univ. Press. (2011). The Oxford handbook of deaf studies, language, and education. Oxford.

(n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.deafconnect.com/deaf/clubs.html