George William Veditz

• On August 13, 2011, Deaf people across the nation, celebrated the 150th birthday of George Veditz.

• Today in 2012, we celebrate 151st.

• He was the seventh President of the National Association of the Deaf.

• George was born on August 13, 1861 in Baltimore, Maryland.

• He became Deaf at age 9 from a scarlet fever.

• He was an alumnus of Maryland School for the Deaf in Frederick.

• Veditz graduated from Gallaudet in 1884; was valedictorian with a grade average of 98.8

• He taught at the Maryland School for the Deaf.

• He taught at Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind for 17 years.

• He founded the alumni associations and the Colorado Association of the Deaf.

• He was twice elected NAD president.

• He was president of the World Congress of the Deaf and a forerunner of the World Federation of the Deaf.

• Veditz was an avid chess player.

• He raised chickens and pigeons and won trophies from National Poultry Associations.

• Veditz is remembered for his advocacy of Deaf rights.

• He fought against oralism.

• He cherished sign language as “the noblest gift God has given to deaf people.” 

• He realized in the early 1900s that the newly developed technology of motion pictures were an ideal way to convey the beauty of sign language to the world.

• One of his motion pictures showing his passion for sign language was accepted into the Library of Congress in February, 2011.

• 150 years after his birth, we thank to his gift to us, NAD continues to advocate for the preservation, protection, and promotion of American Sign Language for all deaf individuals in the United States.

Veditz’s Famous Quote

"As long as we have deaf people on earth, we will have signs. And as long as we have our films, we can preserve signs in their old purity. It is my hope that we will all love and guard our beautiful sign language as the noblest gift God has given to deaf people."

George and Bessie VeditzThis photo was taken in 1934 at their home,

414 North Custer in Colorado Springs, CO.

In courtesy of Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind.

George and Bessie inside red circleGeorge Veditz, second row/third on the left, and fellow staff on the steps of the CSDB Administration Building in 1904,

the 30 year anniversary of the school.

In courtesy of Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind

George’s OfficeThe three trophies are from the poultry association that

Veditz won in Colorado. The typewriter was given to him from NAD in 1913.

In courtesy of Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind.

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