Julius Wiggins

When I was in college, I was delighted to discover a newspaper for the deaf. It was the Silent News. Many an hour was spent in the college library, enjoying the news and catching up on what was up in the deaf and hard of hearing community.

Starting a Newspaper

There would have been no Silent News without Julius Wiggins, who passed away October 13, 2001. He and his wife started the best-known newspaper for the deaf in 1969, printing it in Lincoln Park, New Jersey.

From interview of the Wiggins about "Silent News"

HOW, WHEN AND WHY DID YOU START UP SILENT NEWS?
A: In the summer of 1968, when our three children's schools were closed, the five of us took our five weeks to travel from the East to West Coast. We stopped in Las Vegas, Nevada where my cousin resided. We stayed for a few days. One night we walked thru well-lit downtown area. Julius noticed the sign at the newstand of free samples of newspapers saying; Why? How? When? What? It hit Julius' mind--he dreamed to set up a newspaper for the Deaf.

After that five weeks vacation, I called our 10 deaf friends to come to our home. Julius explained to them about the deaf newspaper. They were very interested in investing $250.00 each to become shareholders. A deaf printer in New Jersey used the hot linotype method, and printed the first issue. It said Silent News was born in January 1969. It cost 15 cents per issue. One year subscription cost $1.80 for 8 pages. One year later the tabloid changed to 11x17 from 8x11.

Growth

Together with his wife, Wiggins, the author of a book published in 1972 called No Sound, built the Silent News up until it became self-supporting. Even so, the newspaper had to struggle over the years, facing competition from other deaf newspapers. When the dust was settled, the Silent News was the only survivor.

Legacy 

Wiggins leaves behind a newspaper that was one of the most powerful and influential voices in the deaf and hard of hearing community, and a crucial outlet for many talented writers who write columns ranging from financial advice to how to have a positive outlook on life.