Robert Panara deaf poster collection

Collection — Oversize: Folder 1

Identifier: RITDSA-0030

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Robert Panara deaf poster collection consists of 11 posters concerning deaf cultural events at Rochester Institute of Technology (Henrietta, New York) and St. Mary's School for the Deaf (Buffalo, New York). Some posters are duplicates and are noted as such:

An Evening of Poetry and Sign, St. Mary's School for the Deaf, November 18

An Evening of Poetry and Sign, St. Mary's School for the Deaf, June 3 [2 copies]

NTID Drama Club 5th Annual Awards: New Horizons, NTID Theatre, May 31, 1975

NTID Drama Club 3rd Annual Awards: Persian Fantasies, Ingle Auditorium, May 11, 1973

It's a Deaf Deaf Deaf Deaf World!, Booth Auditorium, March 8-9, 1974 [2 copies]

NTID Drama Club Presents: And Gladly Teach, Two Angels on Duty, and Christmas Promenade, Ingle Auditorium, December 6-7

Woods and Bray: The Wonder Dancers, NTID Theatre, April 30, 1981 [3 copies]

Dates

Creation: circa 1975-1985

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to researchers.

Biographical / Historical

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

1 Folder(s) (1 Oversize folder)

Language

English

Additional Description

Overview

Collection of 11 posters collected by Robert Panara, the first deaf faculty member of the National Technical Institute for the Deaf at Rochester Institute of Technology.

Arrangement

Posters are arranged by size.

Physical Location

C.S. North, Shelf 295, Poster Drawer 51

Other Finding Aids

In addition to this finding aid, an inventory is available below. For more information, please contact the RIT Archive Collections.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Accession number(s): 11:19

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