The U.S. Census Bureau is proud of its history of employing 

people with handicaps and disabilities. Prior to the 

establishment of a permanent Census Bureau in 1902, many 

disabled war veterans received appointments as assistant 

marshals, census superintendents, supervisors, and 

enumerators. As the census became more complex in the late 

19th century, a larger workforce became necessary to compute 

and compile census reports. This led to more openings for 

people with disabilities. Eventually, the Census Bureau fell 

under several mandates, such as the 1947 Executive Order 

9644, which facilitated the hiring of disabled veterans—well 

before the national implementation of Section 504 of the 

Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities 

Act of 1990.

Wilson Henry Grabill was born on December 13, 1912, in Evansville, 

Wisconsin, to Dell Q. Grabill, a postmaster, minister, and executive at a 

farm equipment company, and Elizabeth “Bessie” Wilson Grabill, the 

daughter of a prominent physician who held leadership positions in her 

local Women’s Clubs. At the age of 5, Wilson began showing signs of a 

serious illness that diminished his hearing, and he was completely deaf 

by 12 years old. Wilson attended the historic Wisconsin School for the 

Deaf, and following graduation from high school he travelled to 

Washington, DC, to attend Gallaudet University— a university established 

for the deaf. While attending Gallaudet University, Wilson excelled and 

became deeply involved with many aspects of the school, something 

which he would continue to support his entire life. Wilson wrestled, held 

positions on the athletic association, founded a Movie Club, acted as 

business manager for the school newspaper, and joined the Kappa 

Gamma fraternity.

In 1934, Wilson graduated from Gallaudet University with his bachelor’s of science degree, and 

soon began working for the federal government in a career that would last 41 years. During his first 

few years of government employment at various agencies, Wilson could not achieve professional 

status due to his hearing impairment. However, within 2 years of transferring to the Census Bureau,

his supervisors granted him professional status and the associated benefits. The Census Bureau had 

long worked with the deaf and hard of hearing. When Congress established a permanent Census 

Bureau in 1902, noted deaf advocate 

Alexander Graham Bell served as a 

special agent and hired Gallaudet 

graduates to help compile his report 

for the 1900 Census, The Blind and 

The Deaf.

 

Influential Statistician and Advocate for the Deaf

Wilson at the Census Bureau, 1975.

Census Bulletin, August 1975

Wilson at Gallaudet 

University, 1934.

The Buff and Blue (Washington, DC), 

Vol. 42, No. 8, June 1934

Wilson’s 1940 Census, listing him as a statistical clerk at the Census Bureau.
At the Census Bureau, Wilson started as a junior clerk in the Division of 

Special Tabulations and specialized in developing statistical equations for

population estimates. He also worked on his education, and in 1942, he 

received his master’s degree in statistics from American University. At 

the same time, the outbreak of World War II caused several changes at 

the Census Bureau. In addition to moving out of Washington, DC, to 

Suitland, Maryland, the Census Bureau also focused on providing 

economic and population statistics to help the war effort. Wilson’s work 

illustrated the influence the war had on demographics, most notably on 

declining birth rates as more men were overseas fighting. Despite not 

being able to serve in the military, Wilson contributed to the war effort 

not only with his statistical work, but also by being a consistent blood 

donor. During the war, he contributed over a gallon of life-saving blood, 

and throughout his career he would be one of the Census Bureau’s most 

dedicated donors, reaching a lifetime contribution counted in multiple 

gallons.

As Wilson’s career advanced, he focused on the 

statistics of fertility and helped to produce one 

of the first census fertility reports based on 

decennial data in 1940. Wilson became the 

branch chief of the Fertility Statistics Branch in 

the Population Division, and he received 

recognition as one of the most prominent voices 

in the field of fertility statistics with the 

publication of The Fertility of American Women

in 1958. In 1962, he received the Department of 

Commerce’s Silver Medal and a position on the 

board of directors of the Population Association 

of America. Throughout his career, Wilson 

served on several committees as a fertility 

expert, such as the U.S. Board of Civil Service Examiners and the U.S. National Committee for Health 

and Vital Statistics. In addition, he was a presenter at several conferences.

While Wilson shaped the field of fertility statistics, he also helped shape the culture at the Census 

Bureau. Known as a helpful and friendly coworker, Wilson commonly communicated with speaking 

individuals using speech, and pen and paper when understanding became difficult. However, his 

outgoing attitude soon influenced several of his coworkers to begin learning American Sign 

Language. His assistant, Peggy Payne, started teaching sign language classes at the Census Bureau 

after she completed classes at Gallaudet University. Wilson also contributed as an advocate for deaf 

causes outside of the Census Bureau, including the Wisconsin Association of the Deaf, the National 

Foundation for the Deaf, and as an officer on Gallaudet

University’s Board of Directors. He also helped establish 

the National Health Care Foundation for the Deaf, now 

known as Deaf-REACH, which established the Wilson 

Grabill Center to provide housing to deaf people in need.

After several decades with the Census Bureau, Wilson 

retired in 1975, and received the Department of 

Commerce’s Gold Medal for his outstanding career. Wilson

passed away on January 30, 1983, survived by his wife 

Edna, a fellow Gallaudet University graduate, and their son.

The Census Bureau is thankful for Wilson’s contributions, 

and of the contributions of all the members of our diverse 

workforce throughout the years.

Wilson, standing left, received the Department of Commerce’s 

Silver Medal in 1962.

Census Bulletin, March 2, 1962

The Billings Gazette (Billings, MT),

May 9, 1944

Wilson, left, recognized for 40 years of service 

at the Census Bureau.

The SESA Inquirer, September 27, 1974

HB-19-0012