The origins of the Society go back to a Masonic youth organization called the Coming Men of America that was active in the 1890s and 1900s.
In the summer of 1901 they met to discuss the lack of opportunities for deaf people to obtain insurance.
At a reunion of the Flint School graduates on June 14, 1901, they decided to form the Fraternal Society of the Deaf, which was incorporated that August.
[2] As the number of policies turned in by voluntary surrender or redemption upon the members' passing began to outpace new members joining the Frat (as it was informally known among the deaf), the Illinois Department of Insurance gave the NFSD three options - increase membership, transfer the insurance policies to another organization and become a social organization, or disband.
Auxiliary divisions were established for the women and children, but they were eventually welcomed as full members of the Society.
The Degree system was adopted in 1947, reflecting the Masonic influence from the Coming Men of America.