"Deaf mutes" and "physical handicaps" are outdated terms used historically to refer to the deaf and individuals with a physical disability which many find offensive. The use of the terms in the newspaper photo caption have been maintained in keeping with Special Collections & Archives’ approach to language in archival descriptions, which prioritizes speaking openly about and clearly identifying problematic, harmful, and otherwise offensive records in the department’s holdings. This approach, while potentially upsetting, allows for the critical assessment and questioning of historical material by contemporary researchers.
