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Chapter 6 Preserving Sign Language N 1914 Roy J. "R. J." Stewart succeeded Oscar H. Regensburg as chairman of the National Association of the Deaf Motion Picture Committee upon the latter's death. When oralism took a strong hold on education of the deaf during the early part of this century, concern was expressed that the beauty of sign language might be lost. The NAD established a Motion Picture Committee to record on film some of the better signers of the day for preservation . The committee developed quite a collection of films which included the following titles: "The Lorna Doone Country of Devonshire, England " by Dr. Edward Miner Gallaudet; "Memories of Old Hartford," by Dr. John B. Hotchkiss; "Lincoln's Gettysburg Address," by Dr. Thomas F. Fox; "Preservation of the Sign Language," by George W. Veditz; and many others. These films were rented to schools, clubs and other groups, and they were quite popular. The committee's coffers were filled by the rental fees. Unfortunately, for the committee, the members voted at the Hartford Convention to transfer $1,000 from the Motion Picture Fund to the NAD Endowment Fund. The Picture Fund never recouped from this large withdrawal, and many ofthe old 35-mm films deteriorated so much that they could not be transferred to 16mm film . Many of the old films were lost. Nevertheless, Stewart remained the guardian angel of these old films through the many years they were in his care. His biennial request for funds to restore The 19108 old films and enlarge the collection became as common an item on the NAD convention agenda as the regular resolution supporting sign language which was inevitably adopted at each convention. Although RJ was not very successful in getting the financial support he needed, he took care of the Alms as best he could and arranged for their preservation in the Library of Congress and at the Edward Miner Gallaudet Memorial Library. He faithfully reported on their condition at each convention. It is due largely to RJ that today's students of sign language can see on video-tape the rare old sign language presentations made from those early films. The Deaf Nurses of Mercy Hospital One hot summer day in 1897 two doctors who were sisters-Dr. Katharine B. Richardson and Dr. Alice A. Graham-found a homeless crippled child in Kansas City, Missouri. Unable to find the child's parents or relatives, they decided to take care of her and their experience with this little waif led to the founding of Mercy Hospital. Both doctors were widows and, having no children of their own, they felt called upon to care for children of all kinds. One day, some years later, Dr. Richardson was approached by May Paxton, a graduate of the Missouri School for the Deaf, who wanted to become a nurse. Such an idea-a deaf nurse--was unheard of, but then, Dr. Richardson realized, so had been the idea 173 Student nurses May Paxton and Marion Finch at Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri. The Gallaudet Auxiliary making bandages dllrhlg World War 1. 174 of female doctors! An ardent feminist who had experienced rebuke and ridicule, Dr. Richardson tried unsuccessfully to dissuade Miss Paxton, explaining that the work was long and hard and the pay was small. May Paxton was unswerving so the doctor decided to give her a chance. Dr. Richardson was so pleased with Paxton's performance that she admitted three other deaf girls-Marion Finch from South Dakota, Lillie Speaker from Kansas, and Emma Brewington. Miss Brewington was in charge of the linen and worked in the nursery. The others worked in the operation room when tonsillectomies were performed, in the postoperation rooms and in the nursery. Finch was the first to leave. She returned home to South Dakota to tend to family business, and she later became a girls' supervisor at the Oregon School for the Deaf. Speaker left on account of illness, later married and raised four children. After three years May Paxton left to get married. On the occasion of her departure, one doctor wrote: "Your quick feet and clever hands and cheerful smiles have been an inspiration to all of us. " Dr. Graham also wrote Miss Paxton a letter in which she said: "I try to be thankful and rejoice with you that you are to have a good husband and a dear home of your own, [3.135.217.228] Project MUSE (2024-04-25 14:54...

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