About the Project

The "DEAF EYES" project at Gallaudet University was established to bring Deaf history to the public and expand our understanding of United States history. The project is multi-faceted and includes the:

• Exhibition - "History Through Deaf Eyes"
• Documentary Film - "Through Deaf Eyes"
• Book - Through Deaf Eyes: A Photographic History of an American Community
• Other Products and Material

1. A Poster Series
2. DVD: "By Necessity and By Choice: How We Communicate"

The exhibition, book, and other products were produced by Gallaudet University. The two-hour PBS documentary film "Through Deaf Eyes," is a production of WETA Washington, D.C. and Florentine Films/Hott Productions, Inc. in association with Gallaudet University.

Created by Lawrence Hott and Diane Garey, the HDTV program aligns the broad sweep of U.S. history with the experiences of Deaf people, showing how major social, economic, and technological shifts in America have changed Deaf lives. It is propelled by the stories of people both eminent and ordinary and conveys a broad range of perspectives on what it means to be deaf. Narrated by Stockard Channing, the film presents the story of Deaf life in America - a story of conflicts, prejudice and affirmation that reaches the heart of what it means to be human. A Deaf cinematic lens is brought to the documentary by six contributing filmmakers: Wayne Betts, Jr., Kimby Caplan, Arthur Luhn, Adrean Mangiardi, Tracey Salaway, and Rene Visco.

Major funding for the documentary was provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, PBS, The Annenberg Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional funding was provided by Sign Language Associates, and Richard and Gail Elden.