National Exhibit Of Deaf History Enters Final Week Of Showing

NATIONAL EXHIBIT OF DEAF HISTORY
ENTERS FINAL WEEK OF SHOWING

"History Through Deaf Eyes," which features photographs, objects, replicas, text and an interactive DVD highlighting the little-known history of deaf Americans, runs through Saturday, Nov. 3, in the Ransdall Gallery of the UK Student Center.

Oct. 26, 2001 (Lexington, Ky.) -- The exhibit featuring American deaf history will enter its final week of showing at the University of Kentucky on Oct. 29. The exhibit closes Nov. 3.

"History Through Deaf Eyes," hosted by UK and the Kentucky School for the Deaf in Danville, features photographs, objects, replicas, text and an interactive DVD that highlight the little known history of deaf Americans.

A section specific to Kentucky's deaf heritage is part of the exhibit, which allows its host to specialize an area of the exhibit. The exhibit was organized by Gallaudet University, a college for the deaf and hearing-impaired in Washington, D.C.

This is the second showing of the exhibit, which has been seen only in Hartford, Conn., at the American School for the Deaf. The American School, a privately funded institution created in 1820, is the first U.S. school for the deaf.

The UK showing is co-hosted by the Kentucky School for the Deaf, the first publicly funded school for the deaf in the United States, which opened in 1823, and served as a model for public schools for the deaf.

Harvey Corson, superintendent of the Kentucky School for the Deaf, served as a consultant to Gallaudet in creating the exhibition.

"History Through Deaf Eyes" opened Oct. 1. The exhibit is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday in the Rasdall Gallery in the UK Student Center. The gallery may be opened by appointment for groups by calling (859) 257-5781.

A lecture series is planned for Thursday evenings during the exhibit, and the gallery will be open extended hours during a lecture event.

Following the UK showing, the exhibit will travel to William Woods University in Fulton, Mo. In 2002, the exhibit will be seen in Philadelphia; Rochester, N.Y.; and the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

"History Through Deaf Eyes" was made possible by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities and support from The Motorola Foundation, The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation, SBC Foundation and the BFGoodrich Foundation.