Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website may contain images, voices and names of deceased persons.

Education

Deaf Organisations

Deaf Organisations

Relevant Artefacts

Constitution of the Australian Association for the Advancement of the Deaf

Ratified in December 1932

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Proposed Constitution of the Commonwealth Association of the Deaf and Dumb

Proposed in 1934.

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Stanmore Documentary

A mini-documentary about the Deaf Centre in Stanmore NSW.

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ADDA Booklet of “Rules”

Rules of the Australasian Deaf and Dumb Association.

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ADDA Logo

Logo of the Australasian Deaf and Dumb Association.

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Deaf and Dumb, Angry Meeting

This article details the angry meeting held at 5 Elizabeth St Sydney following the dismissal of Herbert Hersee.

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Deaf and Dumb, New Society Formed

On 23 May the Sydney Morning Herald recorded the establishment of “a new society”.

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Deaf and Dumb Wild Meeting Policemen Present

Wild scenes at the Deaf Society AGM.

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Breakaway in Queensland

Queensland breakaway association founded.

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AAAD First Annual Report

1933

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AAAD Third Annual Report

1935

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AAAD Fourth Annual Report

1936

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North Quay Chapel 1925

Photograph of the interior of a chapel, with “Interior of Church – Adult Deaf Mission Turbot St + North Quay Brisbane 1925” written on the back.

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1977 Meeting to Discuss Possible National Association

Considerable hestitation about whether or not to establish a national association.

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1983 Meeting to again discuss possible national association

In contrast to the meeting in 1977, the delegates at this meeting agreed to establish a national association of deaf people.

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South Australian Deaf Monthly News 1909 Vol.4 No.7 – Excerpt

An article on Samuel Showell.

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South Australian Deaf Monthly News 1909 Vol.4 No.9 – Excerpt

An article on Emanuel Solomon.

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South Australian Deaf Monthly News 1909 Vol.4 No.12 – Excerpt

An article on Lily Showell.

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South Australian Deaf Monthly News 1909 Vol.5 No.1 – Excerpt

An article on Eugene Salas.

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South Australian Deaf Monthly News 1909 Vol.5 No.2 – Excerpt

An article on Martha Overend Wilson.

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Curator Video – Deaf Writers’ Group Part 3

Karen explains why Sound Off finished in 1989 after a further five issues altogether.

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Gus Levitzke

Gustav William “Gus” Levitzke

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Postcard from Gus Levitzke to Dot Shaw

Postcard from a sailor.

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Circular by Dot Shaw

Forming a Deaf Writers’ Group

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Deaf Writers’ Group

circa 1986

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Dorothy Shaw Story

Chapter from I Always Wanted to be a Tap Dancer

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Adult Deaf and Dumb Society Meeting at the Town Hall

Sydney Morning Herald, October 1913.

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Relevant Stories

First Nations Deaf History

A lack of respectfully documented history that we know of.

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Further Readings

Bontempo, K, & Hodgetts, J. (2002). History of the WA Deaf Society 1921-2001. Leederville, WA: The Western Australian Deaf Society Inc.

Carty, B. (2018). Managing their own affairs: The Australian Deaf community in the 1920s and 1930s. Washington, DC: Gallaudet University Press.

Fitzgerald, S. (Narr.) (1999). Open minds open hearts: Stories of the Australian Catholic Deaf community. Lidcombe, NSW: CCOD.

Flynn, J. W. (1984). No longer by gaslight: The first 100 years of the Adult Deaf Society of Victoria. Melbourne: Adult Deaf Society of Victoria.

Smith, E. J. (1991). Time is the builder: A history of the Royal Tasmanian Society for the Blind and Deaf 1887 to 1987. Hobart: The Society.

Smith, G. M. (2022). WA Deaf: Challenges and Changes 2001 – 2021. Wembley, WA: Access Plus WA Deaf. Available at: https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/catalog/8806349

Wilson, S. (2003). The history of the Queensland Deaf Society: From mission to profession 1903- 2003. Brisbane: The Queensland Deaf Society.

Carty, B. (2016). The “breakaways”: Deaf citizens’ groups in Australia in the 1920s and 1930s. In B. H. Greenwald & J. J. Murray (Eds.), In our own hands: Essays in deaf history 1780-1970 (pp. 211-238). Washington, DC: Gallaudet University Press.

Bremner, A. (1996). Deaf sports in Australia. Unpublished Masters thesis, La Trobe University, Melbourne.

Flynn, J. W. (1999). Some aspects of the development of post-school organisations of and for Deaf people in Australia. Unpublished MA thesis, La Trobe University, Melbourne.

Hoopmann, S. R. (2011). ‘We’re Deaf women! We’re sisters!’: Exploring the female Deaf voice through community and commensality. Unpublished Honours thesis, University of Adelaide.

Loades, R. (1989). The establishment and maintenance of the Deaf community in South Australia. Unpublished BA Hons thesis, Flinders University, Adelaide.

Welcome to the Deaf History Collections

We acknowledge the traditional custodians of Country throughout Australia and pay our respects to Elders past and present. We extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander visitors to our site, recognising the long, rich, complex and unjustly disregarded histories of First Nations peoples in Australia.
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