Historic NAD Film Selected for Preservation by Library of Congress
The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) film "Preservation of Sign
Language" by George W. Veditz was selected to the National Film Registry
at the Library of Congress along with other films such as "Star Wars:
The Empire Strikes Back", "All the President's Men", "Malcolm X", and
"Saturday Night Fever".
"Preservation of Sign Language" was part of a collection of films
produced by the motion picture committee of the NAD specifically to
preserve early American Sign Language on film from 1910 through 1920.
The NAD at that time was concerned that "pure" sign language might
disappear under the pressures of oralism, and made these films so that
future generations might see master signers of the past. In 1965, the
NAD transferred these films to the Gallaudet University Archives for
preservation and to make them more available to the public. Appreciation
goes to the Gallaudet University Archives for making the NAD
"Preservation" film publicly available.
Under the terms of the National Film Preservation Act, each year the
Library of Congress names 25 films to the National Film Registry that
are "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant, to be
preserved for all time. These films are not selected as the "best"
American films of all time, but rather as works of enduring significance
to American culture.
In a press release by the Library of Congress the NAD film is described
as follows:
"Presented without subtitles, "Preservation" is a two-minute film
featuring George Veditz, onetime president of the National Association
of the Deaf (NAD) of the United States, demonstrating in sign language
the importance of defending the right of deaf people to sign as opposed
to verbalizing their communication. Deafened by scarlet fever at the age
of eight, Veditz was one of the first to make motion-picture recordings
of American Sign Language. Taking care to sign precisely and in large
gestures for the cameras, Veditz chose fiery biblical passages to give
his speech emotional impact. In some of his films, Veditz used finger
spelling so his gestures could be translated directly into English in
venues where interpreters were present. On
behalf of the NAD, Veditz made this film specifically to record sign
language for posterity at a time when oralists (those who promoted lip
reading and speech in lieu of sign language) were gaining momentum in
the education of the hearing-impaired. The film conveys one of the ways
that deaf Americans debated the issues of their language and public
understanding during the era of World War I."
"Indeed, our National Association of the Deaf has raised a fund of
$5,000 for this purpose. We have made a number of films. We have films
of Edward Miner Gallaudet, of Edward Allen Fay, of John B. Hotchkiss and
Robert MacGregor and many others. I regret that we do not have $20,000,
for we could have used it all. If we had this amount of money, we could
have performances in sign language, sermons in sign language, lectures
in sign language. And not only would we American deaf enjoy the benefits
of this, but no -- deaf people in Germany, in England, in France, in
Italy would also see these moving picture films. Fifty years from now,
these moving picture films will be priceless." - George W. Veditz (as
translated from the film by Carol A.
Padden)
"This selection is a tremendous honor and indeed our film by Veditz has
remained priceless nearly 100 years after the fact," said NAD President
Bobbie Beth Scoggins. "This film came during a time when American Sign
Language was being oppressed and the NAD took action to preserve,
protect, and promote our natural language and linguistic rights. We are
thrilled with the Library of Congress' announcement that the film will
be preserved for posterity. With this selection, our children,
grandchildren and beyond, will come to understand and always remember
the impact and significance of ASL on our community - including the
right to express ourselves and represent our own interests."
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