Collections : [ASD Archives]

This carefully organized collection includes the histories of deaf education, religion, Hartford, and the United States. It also links ASD's heritage and regional impact with its contributions to the Deaf Community as a whole. Among the thousands of items in ASD's collection are: Over 3,000 letters, including correspondence from the School's founders; ASD's Act of Incorporation, 1816; ASD Board of Directors Reports, beginning 1816; Documents relating to the first state and federal aid to special education in the history of the U.S.; The oldest book on sign language; Letters and essays by the school's earliest students; Over 35,000 photographs. The school's archival inventory was first organized in 1967. In 2008, the archives were relocated to the former Principal's house. Since then, ASD's archives have been significantly enriched by donations from friends and alumni. Collaboration with other historical societies, research, and new discoveries have also broadened the collection.