English version:

Douglas Bahl

Douglas Bahl was born in Montevideo, Minnesota in 1950 and became deaf at the age of 2 years old. He attended Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf where he was graduated in 1969. He then attended Gallaudet University and graduated in 1974 with Bachelor's degree in Government. He returned Minnesota and continued his Master's studies in Deaf Education at the University of Minnesota. He taught Social Studies, English, Drama and Deaf Studies at the Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf from 1976 to 1990. He is now teaching Interpreter Training Program classes at St. Paul College in St. Paul, Minnesota since 1990.

Douglas is involved with Deaf Community affairs such as serving as Minnesota Association of Deaf Citizens president for 10 years (1989-1999), DHI President from 2006 to 2010, the Curator of Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf Museum (1985-2001), Charles Thompson Memorial Hall "Deaf Clubhouse" Board of Trustees (1987-present). Charles Thompson was a very rich Deaf man who inherited money from his wealthy parents. Following his death in 1915, his wife donated his money to build the Charles Thompson Memorial Hall "Deaf Clubhouse" in St. Paul, Minnesota.

He also has made many presentations at the local, national and international conferences, for example WFD (World Federation of the Deaf) Congresses, Deaf Way conferences and festivals, and DHI (Deaf History International) conferences. At the 1995 WFD Congress in Vienna, Austria he presented “Olof Hanson and his Architectural Works”, and also “Comparative Studies Among the Deaf Clubhouses all Over the World” at the 1999 WFD Congress in Brisbane, Australia. He gave his presentations, “Deaf Studies Curriculum For High School Teachers” and “Deaf School Museums” at the Deaf Way I Conference and Festival in Washington, D. C. in 1989, and had his presentations “The Life and Works of Olof Hanson” and “Deaf Royal Family Members” at the Deaf Way II Conference and Festival in Washington, D. C. in 2002. He also presented his lectures, “Preserving Deaf Heritage Landmarks” at the 2^nd DHI Conference in Hamburg, Germany in 1994; “Granville Redmond, Landscape Artist and Silent Movie Actor” at the 3^rd DHI Conference in Trondheim, Norway in 1997, and “Remembering the Deaf Kindertransports from Berlin” at the 6^th DHI Conference in Berlin, Germany in 2006. He was also invited to present his lecture “Deaf European Immigrants to USA” at the 2^nd Deaf European Symposium on Deaf History in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1996.

Om Douglas Bahls ulike foredrag på engelsk

Doug Bahl has done many workshop presentations in the last 20 years. These workshops range from all-day events to keynotes and one-hour breakout sessions. Given the range of subjects, Doug is able to adapt most his ideas and materials to most any topic you want him to address. Titles of his workshops/presentations are listed below.

“Deaf Minnesota Heritage: Famous Deaf Minnesotans, Deaf Clubhouse, Minnesota School for the Deaf, Minnesota Association of Deaf Citizens and other organizations/churches” (good for 2 hours to full day)

“Deaf Minnesota History Matters” (2 hours)

We recently received a grant from the State library to archive historical documents including old photos and documents from the archives of Minnesota Association of Deaf Citizens, our Deaf Clubhouse Charles Thompson Memorial Hall and Minnesota School for the Deaf. Some examples will feature etchings by Cadwallader Washburn, formal portraits, photos of daily life, handwritten and printed documents, all recounting the story of Minnesota’s Deaf Community,

Leadership’s Call to Action “Making Your Case” (2 hours)

We recently received a grant to prepare the ASL videotape training the Deaf Minnesotans with the lobbying and advocacy toolkits. Some examples of the successful work we have done are: the Interpreter Law for K-12 school deaf children; first statewide deaf voter registration drive; court settlement that resulted in the most qualified interpreters being hired in the judicial system, interpreting and captioning at the State Capitol; Newborn Hearing Screening Mandate (Early Hearing Detection and Intervention) and Deaf/Hard of Hearing Mentors for families with deaf babies for learning Sign Language if that is the communication choice of the parents, the cost for Deaf Cultural Health Workers for health practitioners and educators covered by Medical Assistance.

“Holocaust: Remembering the Deaf Kindertransports” (1 hour)

Ten Deaf Kindertransport children were brought to England from Berlin, Germany by Felix Reich, the school for the deaf director. However, he was arrested and put into prison before returning Germany to bring more Deaf Jewish children from Berlin. Unfortunately this group of 146 deaf children were murdered during the War. Doug Bahl contacted and gathered further information on these 10 Deaf Kindertransports and their updated whereabouts. Doug already met and interviewed with some survivors about 6 years ago.

“Any Deaf Members in the Royal Family?” (2 hours)

Doug will share the stories of the royal people who were deaf. Among these people were Queen Alexandra, Princess Katherine, Princess Joanna, Princess Alice, Prince Don, Prince Waldemar, Prince Emmanuel, and the others.

“The Architectural Works of Olof Hanson, Deaf Architect” (2 hours)

Doug will share his experience of finding further data on Olof Hanson’s architectural works and show his powerpoint slides of Olof’s buildings.

“Granville Redmond, Landscape Artist and Silent Movie Actor” (2 hours)

After doing Doug’s extensive research on Granville Redmond’s paintings, more than 150 of Redmond’s paintings were sold through Christie’s Auction in NYC, Sotheby’s Auction in NYC, John Moran & Butterfield’s Auction in California. These paintings currently range in the cost between $10,000.00 and $500,000.00. This has shown that Redmond’s artwork is renewed interest among today’s museum in the West. Slides of his artwork will be shown along with several video clippings of Redmond as minor role actor with Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks, Raymond Griffith, and other celebrities in the Silent Films during the early 1900’s. Redmond was well known for helping Charlie Chaplin perfect his pantomime techniques in the Chaplin movies.

“Cadwallader Washburn, Deaf American Drypoint Etcher” (2 hours)

Cadwallader Washburn was born and raised in Minnesota before he entered Gallaudet University and later became a famous drypoint etcher. One of the buildings at Gallaudet University is named in honor of him (Washburn Art Center). Cadwallader’s life work included about 1,000 etchings along with numerous paintings. He also had many adventures in his long life. Doug will narrate the highlights of Cadwallader’s adventures and show the powerpoint slides of his etchings.

“Preserving Deaf Heritage Landmarks” (2 hours)

More than 75 buildings related to Deaf Heritage/Deaf Education are named on the National Register of Historic Sites in USA. Case studies on the successful and unsuccessful stories to preserve "save" these buildings will be discussed.

“Who’s Who Among Deaf Actors/Actresses in Motion Pictures and Television” (2 hours)

Doug will share the detailed list of some feature films which involve Deaf characters or acting roles by CODA, from Silent Films to the present. He will show segments of different films with biographies of the actors/actresses and information about the films in USA.

“Comparative Studies Among Deaf Clubhouses All Over the World” (2-hrs)

“Deaf School Museums in America” (2 hours)

“Deaf Humor/Deaf Folklore” (1-hour)

“Deaf Heritage Ministry in America” (Different denominations-Lutherans, Catholics, Episcopals, Baptists, Assembly of God) (2 hours)

SIGN LANGUAGE/QUALITY ASSURANCE – INTERPRETING

“Linguistics of ASL/ASL Grammar and Structure” (2 hours)

“Evolution of American Sign Language” (2 hours)

LEADERSHIP

Deaf Leadership Training Workshop Activities (2-hour to full-day)

NORWEGIAN-AMERICAN ROOTS

“Doug Bahl’s Norwegian Immigrant Ancestors” (2-hour)

Doug will share his successful search on his maternal Norwegian ancestors who fled Norway when Norway was the poorest county in Europe in the late 1800’s. He will also show the powerpoint slides and narrate the stories of his Norwegian ancestors and family members. He successfully wrote and published two books on his Norwegian-American ancestors and descendants.

All of his Norwegian ancestors came from Telemark, Norway. His mother still carries the old customs and traditions from Norway. Every year on Christmas Eve, she bakes Lutefisk and serves the family with lefsa, rosettes, krumkake and other Scandinavian goodies.