Early History of CAD (1904-1940s)

President of CAD
2 days ago
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Key Themes of This Era:

Visionary Leadership (George Veditz, Charles Billings, Mary Veditz)
Preservation of Sign Language and Deaf Culture
Formation of Political and Social Structures
Advocacy Against Discrimination in Employment and Education
Survival and Support Through Economic Crisis and War

~1904~ The Birth of the Colorado Association of the Deaf

[Pupils at Colorado Mute and Blind Institute in about 1888: Standing Men: John White and Max Kestner] [On Chairs: Louise Reichenecker, Maggie Shideler, Grace E. Young, Bert Barton, Bonita Mawhiney, James Guymon, Maggie Turner, Henry Nelson, Kate Calhorn, Lizzie Towner, Steve McGinnity, Hattie Kennedy.] [On Ground: Paul Hubbard, Superintendant J.E. Ray, David H. Wolpert.]

The Colorado Association of the Deaf (CAD) was officially founded in 1904 during an alum reunion at the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind in Colorado Springs. Deaf leader George W. Veditz, then a teacher at the school, spearheaded the formation and drafted the first constitution and bylaws, which were adopted on May 28, 1904. Veditz had moved to Colorado in the late 1880s and, during his 17-year tenure at the school, founded the Colorado Association of the Deaf.”

The new association was initially known as the Colorado State Association of the Deaf and aimed at “the advancement [of the] social, intellectual and moral [welfare] of the deaf of Colorado,” as stated in its original constitution. Early membership was drawn mainly from school alumni and the local Deaf community, since no formal alum group existed at the time.

Early Leadership and Activities: Veditz served as the first president (and guiding force) of CAD, presiding over its conventions for decades. He and his wife, Mary “Bessie” Veditz – herself a Deaf teacher at the Colorado School for the Deaf – were central figures in CAD’s early years. Other notable founding members included Charles D. “Charlie” Billings, who would later also lead the Denver Deaf Club, and several Deaf women who formed a Ladies’ Auxiliary by 1909.

In its first few years, CAD established a constitution, began holding regular meetings, and affiliated with the National Association of the Deaf (NAD). By 1907, CAD had organized a Women’s Auxiliary to encourage Deaf women’s involvement (Veditz noted this development in The Silent Worker in 1909)

The CAD provided a platform for Deaf Coloradans to socialize, discuss common concerns, and advocate for their rights at a time when oralism was on the rise in Deaf education. In 1909, CAD hosted its own state convention, bringing together Deaf people from across Colorado. The decade closed with CAD firmly established as the voice of the Colorado Deaf community, thanks mainly to Veditz’s visionary leadership and the support of educators and alums from the state school. CAD’s founding set the stage for over a century of advocacy and community-building in Colorado’s Deaf community.

~1910s~

Early National Influence in Advocacy

The 1910s saw CAD extend its influence beyond state lines and solidify its advocacy role. In 1910, Colorado Springs hosted the 9th NAD National Convention – a prestigious event that CAD members helped organize. This convention was notable for also hosting an international “World’s Congress of the Deaf” alongside it, with delegates from around the world gathering in Colorado.

At the 1910 NAD convention, President William Howard Taft announced the removal of discriminatory federal hiring barriers against Deaf workers, a victory that NAD President George Veditz (by then CAD’s founder) had campaigned for. The success of this campaign, instructing the Civil Service to drop rules classifying the Deaf as “criminal and insane,” exemplified CAD’s impact through its leaders on national policy. CAD proudly celebrated Veditz’s dual role as its own leader and as NAD President (1904–10), during which he fiercely defended Deaf rights and the use of sign language.

CAD Filmed him in 1913 titled "Preservation of the Sign Language"

His film was added to the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress in 2011. The impact of the first ASL film is everlasting on deaf people.

World War I Era and Community Growth:

During World War I (1914–18), CAD aligned with NAD’s patriotic efforts. The association supported NAD’s 1917 offer to form a Deaf volunteer regiment and promoted the “Hire Deaf People – It’s Good Business!” campaign to fight job discrimination. On the home front, CAD encouraged Deaf Coloradans to buy war bonds and participate in relief drives, demonstrating Deaf citizens’ loyalty and capability. The war years also saw CAD defending the state residential school’s interests – for example, opposing any legislative moves that might have put the school under “Charities and Corrections” rather than the Education Department (a concern NAD had raised in prior years). Culturally, the 1910s brought more social opportunities for Deaf Coloradans: CAD conventions and gatherings often featured lectures, sports, and sign-language performances.

In 1916, CAD hosted a statewide picnic that drew Deaf families for a day of fellowship. By the end of the decade, CAD had grown in membership and stature. Leaders like Otis N. Vance and Joseph Abbot, alongside stalwarts like Veditz and Billings, ensured that CAD remained active despite the challenges of war and the 1918 influenza pandemic. CAD entered the 1920s as an increasingly organized and influential body, having proven its ability to effect change (from local schools to federal policies) while uniting Deaf people across Colorado.

~1920s~

The New Age of Deaf Community

The Roaring Twenties were a vibrant period for Colorado’s Deaf community, with CAD at the center of social and cultural life. CAD’s regular conventions and social events provided much-needed unity and recreation for Deaf individuals after the war years. Deaf clubs and athletic teams blossomed – for example, Denver-area Deaf athletes formed leagues under CAD’s encouragement.

In 1927, Denver hosted the National Fraternal Society of the Deaf (NFSD) convention, where hundreds of Deaf delegates from across the country gathered on the Capitol steps for a panoramic photo. This event, co-organized by local CAD members, underscored Colorado’s status as a hub for Deaf activities. CAD’s 25th anniversary fell in 1929, and the association celebrated a quarter century of progress with a Jubilee convention that looked back on its 1904 founding and honored pioneers like Veditz.

By this time, CAD had refined its bylaws and was holding biennial conventions where Deaf Coloradans debated issues such as employment, the use of sign language in schools, and improving telephone access (still a distant dream in the 1920s). The association also built partnerships with other organizations; for instance, CAD worked informally with the NFSD (a Deaf fraternal insurance group) to promote financial security for Deaf families, and with church groups to support Deaf Sunday schools and weddings in sign language.

Advocacy and “Silent” Culture:

In the 1920s, CAD members vigorously defended Deaf culture amid rapid technological change. When sound films (“talkies”) replaced silent movies in the late 1920s, Deaf people suddenly lost access to a favorite entertainment. CAD President George Veditz famously described the passing of silent films as a “calamity” for Deaf audiences, noting that movies had been “counted as a real blessing” for the Deaf. He lamented that the Deaf were now “shut out” of the enjoyment of cinema and radio, which had become popular “new media” by 1930. In response, CAD joined the NAD in advocating for open captions and alternative solutions so that Deaf people could still engage with films and newsreels. This decade also saw CAD pushing for Deaf rights in education: CAD leaders petitioned the state school board to maintain sign language instruction at the Colorado School for the Deaf, countering nationwide pressures for purely oral education. Socially, CAD hosted popular annual events, such as a Thanksgiving banquet and a Spring picnic, that drew Deaf community members from Denver, Colorado Springs, and rural areas. The lively Deaf club scene began to take shape under CAD’s wing – informal gatherings at cafes and homes evolved into established clubs by decade’s end. The 1920s were thus a time of growth and solidarity: CAD helped Deaf Coloradans celebrate their culture (through sports, theater, and social outings) even as it advocated for inclusion in the hearing world’s emerging technologies.

~1930s~

Resilience Through the Great Depression

The 1930s brought economic hardship with the Great Depression, but CAD remained a pillar of support and advocacy for Deaf Coloradans. As jobs grew scarce, CAD worked to assist unemployed Deaf workers – arranging vocational workshops and liaising with agencies to place Deaf applicants in available jobs. CAD leaders met with state officials to emphasize that Deaf workers were capable and should be included in New Deal work programs. Nationally, the NAD and CAD pressed industries not to lay off Deaf employees first; Veditz and others wrote letters arguing that deafness did not impede job performance in factories. Locally, CAD set up a relief committee by 1933 to help needy Deaf families with small grants and donated food. Community-wise, CAD kept morale up by continuing its annual traditions: holiday parties, summer picnics, and even a Deaf theatrical troupe that performed sign-language plays in Denver and Colorado Springs. These events provided free entertainment and mutual aid during tough times. CAD also launched a newsletter in the early ’30s (the Colorado Index, a section in a Deaf newspaper) to keep members informed and connected despite geographical distances and economic troubles.

Leadership Transitions and Legacy of Veditz: A significant moment in this decade was the passing of CAD’s founding father, George W. Veditz, in 1937. After leading and inspiring the organization for over 30 years, Veditz died at age 75 in Colorado Springs. CAD members mourned his loss deeply – he had “presided over [CAD’s] conventions until the time of his death” and was revered nationally for preserving sign language on film.

At the 1937 CAD convention, a special memorial honored Veditz’s countless contributions, and his wife Bessie (who had been CAD’s unofficial secretary and hostess for years) was recognized by the community. Leadership of CAD passed to a new generation: Charles “Charlie” Billings (a founding member) stepped up as CAD President in the late 1930s, providing continuity with the past. Under Billings and his board, CAD navigated the late Depression years by focusing on community self-help. For instance, CAD helped establish a cooperative workshop in Denver where Deaf artisans made furniture and crafts for sale to generate income. Culturally, CAD adapted to the times by organizing penny-pinching social gatherings – potluck dinners, card game nights, and joint meetings with the NFSD lodge – to keep spirits high.

By 1939, as war loomed in Europe, CAD was rallying Deaf Coloradans to stay united and prepared. The association’s survival and continued activity through the Depression attested to its resilience. It entered the 1940s carrying the legacy of Veditz’s advocacy and a strengthened resolve to improve the lives of Deaf people, no matter the challenges.

~1940s~

War Efforts, New Deaf Club, and Post-War Progress

10th Convention in Canon City Aug 30th - Sept 1, 1941

The 1940s were a dynamic decade for CAD, shaped first by World War II and then by post-war developments. During World War II (1941–45), CAD actively supported the war effort on the home front. With many hearing men enlisted, Deaf men and women found unprecedented job opportunities in defense industries. CAD collaborated with war plant recruiters to place Deaf Coloradans in factories and shipyards; by 1944, dozens of Deaf workers were employed at places like Denver’s Remington Arms factory and Pueblo’s steel mill. CAD leaders encouraged this trend, noting that Deaf workers had proven themselves highly productive in wartime manufacturing. The association also organized drives for Deaf people to buy war bonds and collect scrap metal, and Deaf students at the state school joined in by selling war stamps. However, there were also challenges – some Deaf war workers faced communication barriers or prejudice on the job.

CAD intervened by providing volunteer interpreters (often family members) and by educating employers that Deaf employees could do the job. These advocacy efforts mirrored NAD’s national push and were largely successful, as Deaf citizens in Colorado earned praise for their wartime contributions. On the community side, CAD maintained morale through “victory socials” – informal gatherings where Deaf Coloradans shared news of loved ones in service (many Deaf had hearing relatives in the military) and signed patriotic songs. CAD’s newsletter in this era reported on Deaf individuals training to become airplane mechanics and riveters, signaling newfound opportunities. By war’s end in 1945, the status of Deaf Coloradans had risen, and CAD prepared to leverage this progress in peacetime.

Formation of the Denver Deaf Club (1944) and Post-War Initiatives:

A landmark community development came in 1944 when Denver’s Deaf community formally incorporated the Silent Athletic Club of Denver (SAC), the city’s first Deaf club. CAD members like Charles D. Billings and Richard O’Toole led the effort, and on December 29, 1944, they obtained a state charter for the club. The Silent Athletic Club (later known as the Denver Metro Association of the Deaf) provided a permanent social and athletic hub for Deaf people in Denver and beyond. Its incorporation documents – signed by Billings as president – stated the purpose was to unite Deaf Coloradans in athletic and social activities “for the general welfare of the deaf.” CAD and the new club worked hand in hand: CAD often held meetings and banquets at the SAC clubhouse, and the club, in turn, supported CAD’s statewide advocacy.

This collaboration symbolized the post-war flourishing of Deaf social life. Throughout the late 1940s, CAD championed several causes: it lobbied for driver’s license rights for Deaf individuals (Colorado began routinely licensing Deaf drivers by this era, shedding earlier restrictions), and it pushed for interpreters in courtrooms for Deaf defendants. CAD also celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1954 (plans were already being laid in the late ’40s for a golden jubilee) – a sign of the association’s longevity.

By 1947, younger leaders like Mervin D. Garretson (a CSDB alumnus who would become a prominent Deaf educator) were getting involved in CAD. In the immediate post-war years, CAD advocated for improvements in Deaf education, supported returning veterans with hearing loss, and addressed the growing trend of Deaf children being placed in public schools. In summary, the 1940s saw CAD help Deaf Coloradans achieve greater socio-economic inclusion through war efforts, establish a Deaf-owned social club, and set the stage for the civil rights advances of the coming decades.

References on The Birth of the Colorado Association of the Deaf