Deaf culture encompasses a group's identification as a distinct cultural entity, with a unique language and experience that ties the members of this group. It includes the history, folklore, values, behavior, and beliefs of the deaf community.
Books
Baynton, Douglas C. Through deaf eyes : a photographic history of an American community
This is the companion book to the video Through Deaf Eyes.
Gannon, Jack. Deaf heritage: a narrative history of deaf America
This is the book that stimulated interest in deaf history. It showcases the history of deaf people in America, starting with the first school for the deaf in 1817 to the 1980s. Notable deaf people and important events in deaf people's lives are also included.
Gertz, Genie, and Boudreault, Patrick, eds. The SAGE Deaf Studies Encyclopedia (On reserve at the Deaf Services reference desk).
This is a good place to start to find some topics on deaf culture. Use the index in volume 3 to find articles with these topics: deaf community, folklore, deaf history and education. The article by Thomas K. Holcomb, "Deaf Culture" in Volume 1 on pages 161-166, is a good introduction to deaf culture.
Holcomb, Thomas K. Introduction to deaf culture
A professor of Deaf Education at Ohlone College in Fremont, explains deaf culture.
Ladd, Paddy. Understanding deaf culture : in search of deafhood
A professor from the University of Bristol in England presents an alternative view of deaf culture.
Padden, Carol and Tom Humphries. Inside deaf culture
Two professors from the University of California at San Diego look at deaf culture.
Periodicals
Periodicals are good places to find recent information on deaf culture. On the SFPL website, there are some databases you can use to find articles on deaf culture. Ask the library staff in Deaf Services for assistance.
Online databases
Two good databases on the SFPL website are: Academic OneFile (Gale) and Academic Search Complete (Ebsco). Use the keywords DEAF CULTURE to find articles.
Videos
Videos are available in Deaf Services by the back wall and also at the reference desk. Some good videos to start with are:
American culture: the deaf perspective. San Francisco Public Library & Deaf Media, inc.
Set of 4 DVDs on deaf culture produced by San Francisco Public Library and Deaf Media. The four DVDs are subtitled: Deaf Heritage, Deaf Folklore, Deaf Literature, and Deaf Minorities.
This is based on Jack Gannon’s book Deaf Heritage.
Prominent people in the deaf community tell their life stories.
Nathie Marbury explains some aspects of deaf culture.
Vertical files
The Deaf Services Center has vertical files on deaf culture in the drawers next to the videophone. Please ask library staff for assistance.
A comprehensive listing of biographies of deaf people sponsored by Gallaudet University's library.
Gallaudet University resources on deaf culture
This is an excellent resource on deaf culture created by the staff at the library of Gallaudet University.