Robert Panara collection on Patrick Graybill

Collection — Box: 1

Identifier: RITDSA-0029

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Robert Panara interviewed Patrick Graybill on July 5, 2004. The interview was recorded on four VHS tapes:

First 2-hour sesion (Close up of Panara only)

First 2-hour sesion (Wide view of both people)

Second 2-hour sesion (Close up of Panara only)

Second 2-hour sesion (Wide view of both people)

Dates

Creation: 2004

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to researchers.

Biographical Information: Patrick Graybill and Robert Panara

About Patrick Graybill

Patrick Graybill attended the Kansas School for the Deaf, and earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Gallaudet University. Graybill worked in Deaf theatre, and joined the National Theatre of the Deaf in 1969. He has also taught in the performing arts department of the National Institute for the Deaf (NTID) at Rochester Institute of Technology. He served as the 2009-2010 Deaf Artist-in-Residence at the Rochester School for the Deaf (RSD), teaching students in public speaking, acting, and storytelling. In 2010, RSD renamed its annual storytelling festival “The Patrick A. Graybill Storytelling Festival,” in honor of his contributions to the Deaf community.

About Robert Panara

The first Deaf faculty member at NTID, and a key figure in its history, Robert Panara was hired in 1967 to assist in establishing NTID on RIT's campus. He was instrumental in planning NTID's curriculum and preparing RIT's staff with ASL classes. He taught English at NTID and founded the Drama Club in 1970, which has grown into a full performing arts program with numerous productions yearly in the theater at NTID named in his honor. It was at the celebration of NTID's 20th anniversary in 1988 that the Robert F. Panara Theatre was dedicated. Panara is recognized as one of the founders of the National Theatre of the Deaf. He was the only deaf member of the National Advisory Board, and the first NTID faculty member. He was also awarded the RIT Founders Award for his lifetime of achievement and devoted service to RIT. Panara retired from NTID in 1987.

Robert Panara died in 2014 at the age of 94.

Extent

0.5 Linear Feet (1 Clamshell box)

Language

English

Additional Description

Overview

Robert Panara's video recording of an oral history interview with Patrick Graybill. The interview was conducted as part of the Deaf Rochester History Preservation Project.

Arrangement

The collection consists of four VHS videotapes.

Physical Location

C.S. North, Shelf 231

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Accession number(s): 11:14

The Robert Panara collection on Patrick Graybill was donated to the Deaf Studies Archive in 2011 by National Technical Institute for the Deaf faculty member Aaron Kelstone.