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What is the Peikoff Chair of Deaf Studies?

The David Peikoff Chair of Deaf Studies is an academic trust position within the Faculty of Education and the University of Alberta. An endowed Chair is an academic honour that may be awarded by a university. This was the first endowed chair within the Faculty of Education, the only one that focuses on deaf studies, and the first research chair in the world to be named in honour of a Deaf person. There is only one other Endowed Chair of Deaf Studies, located at Gallaudet University in Washington, DC.

Outstanding specialists from a variety of disciplines in the field of deaf studies are appointed for a specified period to teach and conduct research related to increasing social, vocational, and educational opportunities for deaf and hard of hearing people.

The current holder of the Chair is Dr. Debra Russell.

What are the main activities of the Peikoff Chair of Deaf Studies?

• Conduct research with a focus on issues of importance to deaf and hard of hearing people.
   
• Encourage scholars and other community organizations to conduct research relevant to deaf and hard of hearing people.
   
• Develop and maintains an understanding of the current research affecting the areas of education, language, cultural studies and interpretation in order to direct inquiries towards the appropriate resources.
   
• Disseminate current research in the field of deaf studies.

What is the David Peikoff Chair of Deaf Studies Research Lecture Series?

This lecture series exemplifies the University’s commitment to research conducted to improving the quality of the lives of Deaf and hard of hearing Canadians. Typically these public lectures are offered two times through the academic year, often drawing in over 100 audience members.

Who was David Peikoff?

David Peikoff was born in Poltava, Ukraine in 1900.  He became deaf at the age of five.  His family immigrated to Canada in 1906 and Peikoff attended the school for the deaf in Winnipeg.  After training as a printer in the United States, he returned to Canada and became a tireless advocate in the areas of education and employment.

Peikoff served as President of the Ontario Association of the Deaf, and was one of the founders of the Canadian Association of the Deaf.   He tackled employment issues, defended the right for deaf people to have driver’s licenses, and campaigned for the re-opening of Winnipeg and Belleville schools for the deaf, both of which had been closed during the Second World War.

In 1961, Canada lost Peikoff to the United States when the Gallaudet College Alumni Association persuaded him to become chairman of their Centennial Fund Drive. During his term he served the college well, as an effective fundraiser establishing funds and scholarships to support Deaf students. 

David was presented with numerous awards including two honorary degrees (a Master of Arts in 1950 and a Doctor of Laws in 1957), the Laurent Clerc Award in 1970 for outstanding social contributions by a deaf person and the Gold Medal of Honour from the British Deaf Association.  In 1987 the University of Alberta established the David Peikoff Chair of Deaf Studies.

David Peikoff passed away in 1995.

Picture used with permission of DEAF LIFE Magazine