The Frat was the official member publication of the National Fraternal Society of the Deaf (NFSD). First established in 1902, the publication ran for just over a century, until its closure in 2006.

NFSD was an insurance business established in 1901. Its purposes were to provide insurance to mainly Deaf members, to serve as an advocate for the Deaf, and to provide community service and recreational opportunities through divisional activities. The existing insurance coverage was transferred to the Catholic Order of Foresters in 2005. The NFSD disbanded in 2007.

The Frat's main purpose was to keep members apprised of the activities of other chapters, present financial summaries of the state of the insurance business, and to share both news and editorial content relevant to the Deaf community.