CID DONATES GOLDSTEIN HEARING DEVICE COLLECTION TO BECKER LIBRARY

ST. LOUIS, Missouri, July 30, 2004 — Central Institute for the Deaf (CID) announces its donation of the CID-Max A. Goldstein Collection of Historic Devices for Hearing to the Washington University Bernard Becker Medical Library. The collection, started by Max A. Goldstein, founder of CID in 1914, contains more than 350 hearing devices dating from 1796 and represents one of the world’s largest collections of hearing devices. The collection will be known as the CID-Max A. Goldstein Historic Devices for Hearing Collection at Washington University Bernard Becker Medical Library.

“The library is thrilled to receive this amazing historic collection,” said Barbara Halbrook, associate director of the Bernard Becker Medical Library. “Our goal is to secure funding so we can display it in its entirety.”

Among the older devices in the collection are an acoustic mourning fan made of black silk in pristine condition, an animal horn trumpet with elaborate silver engravings from the 1700s, a gold-plated bouquet holder with elaborate filigree work, a bronze telescopic hearing trumpet and an acoustic headband, with the original paint still intact on the gracefully protruding pistils and stamens, dating from 1803. The more modern devices are the first model of an electronic hearing aid, a carbon battery device in the shape of a radio, the first hearing aid incorporated into eyeglasses, a hearing aid concealed within a ladies hair barrette and an early model of a cochlear implant. There are very few duplicate devices; many are the only known kind in existence. Affiliated with the collection is archival material pertaining to hearing devices dating from the 18^th century including photographs, illustrations, advertisements and patents.

Included in the transfer is CID’s “Deafness in Disguise” exhibit, which traces the evolution of devices disguised as everyday items during the 19^th and 20^th centuries and includes illustrations, photographs and patents. In 2002, CID and Washington University Bernard Becker Medical Library collaborated on a virtual counterpart to the Deafness in Disguise exhibit. 

Founded in 1914, Central Institute for the Deaf prepares children with hearing loss to participate and succeed in mainstream educational settings. CID teachers use the auditory-oral method, helping deaf children learn to speak, listen and read with proficiency without the use of sign language. CID’s Joanne Parrish Knight Family Center serves children and their families from birth to 3. Preschool-kindergarten and primary-middle school programs serve students ages 3 to 12. CID school children have come from 48 U.S. states and 24 countries.

Educational consultants in the CID Outreach Center help ensure a smooth transition for hearing-impaired students leaving special education to enter schools with hearing children. CID also offers professional continuing education workshops for professionals as well as evaluations and curricula used to help hearing-impaired children throughout the world.

CID is financially independent from but closely affiliated with CID at Washington University School of Medicine, which operates CID-developed adult clinic, research and academic programs to benefit children and adults with hearing loss.      

CID is located at 4560 Clayton Avenue and the Washington University Bernard Becker Medical Library is located at 660 South Euclid Avenue, in the Washington University Medical Center, Central West End, St. Louis, Missouri.
 

For electronic images for print, contact Cathy Sarli at sarlic@msnotes.wustl.edu