Deaf History Scotland

Deaf History Scotland (DHS) is a volunteer and deaf-led charity founded in 2008. DHS are committed to preserving and celebrating the history, culture, and activities of deaf people and deaf organisations in Scotland. DHS is also the caretaker of the Scottish Deaf Archive, which is based in Edinburgh and holds more than 200 years of material relating to deaf history in Scotland.

 

Deaf Clubs in Scotland 

We are sharing items from the Scottish Deaf Archive that explore the history of Deaf Clubs in Scotland.  

 

Deaf clubs have their roots in informal religious gathering and services which were provided by ministers of different denominations. Examples of early deaf gatherings include Glasgow in 1822 and Edinburgh in 1818. These gathering later became formalised and there were also clubs in Fife, Dundee, Aberdeen, Paisley, Ayrshire and Kilmarnock to name a few. These were managed by boards of predominantly hearing people funded by charitable donations.  

 

‘Club’ is the term most used among the deaf community to describe the places and organisations where deaf people meet and gather. Clubs often had formal or official names such as ‘Institute’, ‘Mission’ or ‘Benevolent Society’. These official names changed over time to ‘Club’ or ‘Society’, reflecting the shift away from the benevolent or charity model of disability and towards increased management of clubs by the deaf community and more of a focus on social recreation and sport.  

 

Deaf Clubs are a place to socialise with other deaf people for events, drama shows, bingo, parties and playing sports such as football and chess.  Deaf clubs have been thriving multi-generational spaces where deaf people use their own language, British Sign Language (BSL) and passed down deaf culture and values. However, changes to the way deaf children are educated, developments in video call technology and improved access to public events and opportunities and cuts to local authority funding that had previously supported overheads, are all factors that have been cited in the decline of the deaf club over the last 20 years.  

 

Although role of Deaf Clubs for deaf communities has changed, many are still active and important places for deaf communities in Scotland. Annual events and festivals are also becoming increasingly popular in Scotland and the UK, such as DeafFest and Edinburgh Deaf Festival.  

 

As Deaf Clubs in Scotland have closed, we have collected committee papers, ephemera and photographs to ensure this important part of living deaf heritage in Scotland is documented.  

The items we have selected is only a sample, but they cover a geographical range across Scotland; Glasgow, Fife, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Kilmarnock. The items represent different aspects of the Deaf Club; the roots in worship and the Christian church, centres for social activity, drama and sport, sign language and deaf culture.  

 

A note on language:  

The term ‘deaf and dumb’ was historically used to describe people who are deaf. We no longer use this term. In this exhibition we use the names of old organisations that used this term in their official names. 

 

Aberdeen and North East Deaf Society, social gathering, 1952 

DHS Aberdeen Gathering 1952

This photograph shows the members of Aberdeen and North East Deaf Society at a gathering, most likely the annual New Years party. A boarder at the Aberdeen School for the Deaf recollects being invited to the club’s Christmas party during the 1950’s where there were games, a mime show and homemade food.  

 

Aberdeen and North East Deaf Society was based at Rose Street in Aberdeen from 1910 and in this picture, we can see the interior of the hall. The Society moved to a new building in Smithfield Road in 1976, and closed in 2010 after serving the deaf communities of the North East of Scotland for 115 years.  

 

There are many recognisable faces in the photograph including Rev. William Swanson who served as the Missioner for the Society from 1938 to 1965 and George D Campbell who was a highly skilled chess player and represented Scotland in many international chess tournaments.  One former member commented that there are only three people in the photo still alive today. Two of them are Children of Deaf Parents (CODA), one became a Teacher of Deaf Children and the other a BSL interpreter. 

 

Bronze plaque for Robert Smith, Missioner for Fife Deaf Club, c. 1935 

DHS Fife Plaque 1935

DHS Fife Plaque 1935 details

This bronze plaque is dedicated to Robert Smith who was the Missioner for Fife Deaf Club for 42 years until his death in 1932. This plaque was probably funded by members of the club and was hung in the club at Brycedale Avenue, Kirkcaldy. The club was founded by the Nairn family who gifted the building for social activities. The club was there for 90 years until 2016 when Fife Council sold the building. The club continued in rented premises until it sadly closed this year. 

 

Many deaf clubs recruited Missioners who supported the club members with communication, employment and access to public services. Some but not all Missioners were ordained or licenced ministers, and some received training to carry out communion, baptisms, wedding and funerals. Over time the work of the Missioner was taken over by advocates, social workers and interpreters. 

 

The relationship between Deaf Clubs and Missioners is a complex and sometimes difficult topic. Because of the organisational structure, members of the clubs did not necessarily have control over the running and finances of their clubs, and because of attitudes towards deaf people in society, deaf people often had to rely on the Missioner to get access to public services. This created a power imbalance and there were some incidences where this power was exploited by Missioners.  

 

Insignia for Glasgow social clubs, c.1980 

 DHS Glasgow handmade insignias

These wooden handmade and hand painted insignia were made in the 1980s by a member of the Glasgow Mission to the Adult Deaf and Dumb to represent some of the various social clubs founded in the early 1950s. Former members recall that there were more insignia and they were all displayed above the bar in the club on West Regent Street and then later at Deaf Connections on Norfolk Street.  

 

Most Deaf Clubs would have social clubs for different hobbies and activities, ranging from outdoor activities, sport, drama, chess and a women’s group. These social clubs would usually have their own committees and regular schedule of activities and some clubs, for example chess, drama and football clubs would meet for regional and national competitions. Glasgow Deaf Athletic Football Club, the world’s oldest deaf football club also participated in international tournaments. 

 

 

Photograph and social pamphlet for the Regional Drama Festival, 1968 

DHS drama performance, 1968

This photograph shows Stephen Butler and Brian Wright in a performance of the play ‘Esther’ written by Jack Giffen for the Glasgow branch. The play won the Scottish Regional Drama Festival and the British Deaf Drama Sheild in 1968. Giffen wrote and produced many plays since the Glasgow Deaf Drama Club was founded in 1951 and sadly closed in 2004.  

Scottish Regional Drama Festival pamphlet, 1968

The Scottish Regional Drama Festival was held every year in different cities and towns, organised by deaf people, including John Young who was one of the founding members of Glasgow Deaf Drama Club and the British Deaf Association (BDA)’s first Deaf Chair from 1983 to 1992.  

DHS plays and cast, 1968

The Scottish Regional Deaf Drama Festival Shield was much coveted, especially every three years when the BDA organised their triennial National Drama Festival and the winning team would represent Scotland in the latter festival. Adjudicators were either deaf or hearing and all the plays were signed in BSL and there were no interpreters. 

 

Butterfly Quilt, Deaf Action patchwork group, c.2010 

DHS quilt, 2010

DHS quilt detail, 2010 

Morag Davis, a deaf tutor who had qualifications in patchworking, ran classes for deaf people every week during 2010s and they were very popular. The group made the butterfly quilt to be displayed at Deaf Action. The quilt is currently on display in the Brennan Library in Deaf Action, where still today a craft group meet once a month.  

 

‘Deaf Kilmarnock, Their Story’ a film by Scott Campbell  

 Deaf Kilmarnock, Their Story film

This short film by film maker Scott Cambpell explores Ayrshire Society for the Deaf in Kilmarnock which was founded in 1881. The film looks to the past of the club and its proud history, and to the future, which is uncertain as the membership numbers are declining and those remaining are mainly elderly. 

 

The film was commissioned by Solar Bear as part of the Solar Flares Heritage Project which was supported by Deaf History Scotland. Thanks to Solar Bear and Scott Campell.  

 

Memories of Deaf Clubs?

We would love to talk to you! If you want to share your memories or items from Deaf Clubs please get in touch with us at secretary@deafhistoryscotland.org.uk 

 

We used the following resources to research this exhibition: 

• Solar Flares Deaf Heritage 
• Aberdeen and North East Deaf Society by Deaf History Scotland
• Glasgow Deaf Heritage Trail by Deaf History Scotland  
• Understanding Deaf Culture: In Search of Deafhood by Dr. Paddy Ladd

 

Find out more about Deaf History Scotland.

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