Z5601

Robert Panara

Educator of the Deaf

Founder of Theater of the Deaf

Cover Announcement 

This new stamp honors Robert F. Panara who was a poet, a college professor, and founder of the National Technical Institute for the Deaf as well as the National Theater of the Deaf. He is considered to be a pioneer in deaf culture studies in the United States.

My individually hand painted cachet shows the famous scene where Ann Sullivan reaches Helen Keller by teaching her the word "water." I chose this subject because it is ingrained in the study of deaf culture and also because of its connection to the theater as both plays and movies have portrayed the Helen/Ann relationship.

Panara was born in New York City on July 8, 1920. He lost his hearing as a child from spinal meningitis. He graduated from Gallaudet College for the Deaf and was a professor there and later at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Robert was very interested in the theater and developed some of the first plays for deaf actors and audiences.

The new stamp is canceled with a first day of issue postmark from Rochester, New York. Robert Panara is now ready. Collins #Z5601 at $15.00.