Historical Sign Language Database (HSLDB)

The Historical Sign Language Database consists of various sign language dictionaries from the early twentieth century as well as 14 films commissioned by the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) in 1910 through the 1920's. The dictionaries include a listing of concepts and descriptions of their signs, sometimes accompanied by pictures. The films include a variety of rhetorical styles and topics, for example:  an explanation of the discovery of chloroform, a narrative painting a picturesque scene of the setting of Lorna Doone in England, a rendition of the Gettysburg Address and a performance of Yankee Doodle. The searchable database provides a complete transcript of each film, with individual sign tokens listed for easier viewing. There are guides showing how to navigate, read, and understand the database. These are located at the bottom of the home page. 

View the HSLDB here