American School for the Deaf
Encyclopedia
The American School for the Deaf (ASD) is the oldest permanent school for the deaf in the United States
. It was founded April 15, 1817 in Hartford, Connecticut
by Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet
and Laurent Clerc
and became a state-supported school in 1817.
During the winter of 1818-1819, the American School for the Deaf became the first school of primary and secondary education to receive aid from the federal government when it was granted a tract of land in the Alabama Territory
. As a result of its pivotal role in American deaf history, it also hosts a museum containing numerous rare and old items. While it is situated on a 54 acres (218,530.4 m²) campus, the ASD has a small enrollment — in its history, the ASD has graduated approximately 4000 graduates.
The impetus behind its founding was the fact that Alice Cogswell
, the daughter of a wealthy local surgeon (Mason Fitch Cogswell
), was deafened in childhood by fever
at a time when the British schools were an unacceptable substitute for a local school. Dr. Cogswell prevailed upon the young Gallaudet (who had recently graduated from Yale University
's School of Divinity and had begun studying at Andover
). Gallaudet met young Alice in Hartford, where he was recovering from a chronic illness.
Cogswell and nine other citizens decided that the known 84 deaf children in New England
needed appropriate facilities. However, competent teachers could not be found, so they sent Gallaudet in 1815 on a tour of Europe, where deaf education
was a much more developed art. After being rebuffed by the Braidwood
s, Gallaudet turned to the Paris
ian French schoolteachers of the famous school for the Deaf in Paris
, where he successfully recruited Laurent Clerc.
On the strength of Clerc's reputation, the ASD was incorporated as the "American Asylum for Deaf-mutes" in May, 1816. When it opened in 1817, there were seven students enrolled: Alice Cogswell, George Loring, Wilson Whiton, Abigail Dillingham, Otis Waters, John Brewster, and Nancy Orr. The original name of the school was: The Connecticut Asylum (at Hartford) for the Education and Instruction of Deaf and Dumb Persons. John Brewster Jr., was a 51-year-old itinerant portrait painter.
Gallaudet would be principal until 1830. His son would follow in his legacy, establishing Gallaudet University
, which followed the ASD's lead and taught students primarily in American Sign Language
(derived from the methodical signs and Parisian sign language of the French Institute for the Deaf).
(NTD) moved its corporate headquarters to the campus of the American School for the Deaf.
.
John Flournoy
helped establish the Georgia School for the Deaf.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It was founded April 15, 1817 in Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
by Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet
Reverend Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, LL.D., was a renowned American pioneer in the education of the Deaf. Along with Laurent Clerc and Mason Cogswell, he co-founded the first institution for the education of the Deaf in North America, and he became its first principal...
and Laurent Clerc
Laurent Clerc
Laurent Clerc , born Louis Laurent Marie Clerc, was called "The Apostle of the deaf in America" by generations of American deaf people...
and became a state-supported school in 1817.
History
The first deaf school established in the United States was a short-lived school established by William Bolling near Petersburg, Virginia in March 1815, which closed in the fall of 1816.During the winter of 1818-1819, the American School for the Deaf became the first school of primary and secondary education to receive aid from the federal government when it was granted a tract of land in the Alabama Territory
Alabama Territory
The Territory of Alabama was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from August 15, 1817, until December 14, 1819, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Alabama.-History:...
. As a result of its pivotal role in American deaf history, it also hosts a museum containing numerous rare and old items. While it is situated on a 54 acres (218,530.4 m²) campus, the ASD has a small enrollment — in its history, the ASD has graduated approximately 4000 graduates.
The impetus behind its founding was the fact that Alice Cogswell
Alice Cogswell
Alice Cogswell was the inspiration to Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet for the creation of the now American School for the Deaf in Hartford, Connecticut....
, the daughter of a wealthy local surgeon (Mason Fitch Cogswell
Mason Fitch Cogswell
Mason Fitch Cogswell was a United States physician.-Biography:...
), was deafened in childhood by fever
Fever
Fever is a common medical sign characterized by an elevation of temperature above the normal range of due to an increase in the body temperature regulatory set-point. This increase in set-point triggers increased muscle tone and shivering.As a person's temperature increases, there is, in...
at a time when the British schools were an unacceptable substitute for a local school. Dr. Cogswell prevailed upon the young Gallaudet (who had recently graduated from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
's School of Divinity and had begun studying at Andover
Phillips Academy
Phillips Academy is a selective, co-educational independent boarding high school for boarding and day students in grades 9–12, along with a post-graduate year...
). Gallaudet met young Alice in Hartford, where he was recovering from a chronic illness.
Cogswell and nine other citizens decided that the known 84 deaf children in New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
needed appropriate facilities. However, competent teachers could not be found, so they sent Gallaudet in 1815 on a tour of Europe, where deaf education
Deaf education
Deaf education is the academic discipline concerned the education of students with various hearing capabilities in a way that addresses the students' individual differences and needs.Deaf education also includes the study of:* Special education...
was a much more developed art. After being rebuffed by the Braidwood
Thomas Braidwood
Thomas Braidwood was born at Hillhead Farm, Covington, Lanarkshire, Scotland, the fourth child of Thomas Braidwood and Agnes Meek. Braidwood originally established himself as a writing master instructing the children of the wealthy at his private building based in Canongate in Edinburgh...
s, Gallaudet turned to the Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
ian French schoolteachers of the famous school for the Deaf in Paris
Institut National de Jeunes Sourds de Paris
Institut National de Jeunes Sourds de Paris is the current name of the famous school for the Deaf founded by Charles-Michel de l'Épée in 1760 in Paris, France....
, where he successfully recruited Laurent Clerc.
On the strength of Clerc's reputation, the ASD was incorporated as the "American Asylum for Deaf-mutes" in May, 1816. When it opened in 1817, there were seven students enrolled: Alice Cogswell, George Loring, Wilson Whiton, Abigail Dillingham, Otis Waters, John Brewster, and Nancy Orr. The original name of the school was: The Connecticut Asylum (at Hartford) for the Education and Instruction of Deaf and Dumb Persons. John Brewster Jr., was a 51-year-old itinerant portrait painter.
Gallaudet would be principal until 1830. His son would follow in his legacy, establishing Gallaudet University
Gallaudet University
Gallaudet University is a federally-chartered university for the education of the deaf and hard of hearing, located in the District of Columbia, U.S...
, which followed the ASD's lead and taught students primarily in American Sign Language
American Sign Language
American Sign Language, or ASL, for a time also called Ameslan, is the dominant sign language of Deaf Americans, including deaf communities in the United States, in the English-speaking parts of Canada, and in some regions of Mexico...
(derived from the methodical signs and Parisian sign language of the French Institute for the Deaf).
Athletics
- Fall: Soccer and Volleyball
- Winter: Basketball and Wrestling
- Spring: Track and field
Camp Isola Bella
Isola Bella is ASD's summer camp for Deaf and Hard of Hearing children located in northwestern Connecticut (Salisbury, CT) on an island on Lake Washining. It was established in 1964, after a will of the island from ASD trustees Ferrari and Muriel Ward. There are two sessions, session 1 for ages 8–12 and session 2 for 13-18.National Theater of the Deaf
In 2004, America's National Theatre of the DeafNational Theatre of the Deaf
The National Theatre of the Deaf is a touring theatre company in the United States. It was founded in 1967. Productions combine the use of American Sign Language with the spoken word. The theatre has won several awards, including the Tony Award for Theatrical Excellence...
(NTD) moved its corporate headquarters to the campus of the American School for the Deaf.
Alumni
Edmund Booth helped establish the Iowa School for the DeafIowa School for the Deaf
Iowa School for the Deaf is a pre-K to 12th grade school for deaf and hard-of-hearing students located in Council Bluffs, Iowa. It serves students who live in Iowa or Nebraska.-History:...
.
John Flournoy
John Flournoy
John J. Flournoy , a graduate of the American School for the Deaf, is best remembered as an advocate for a deaf state.According to Jack Gannon's, Deaf Heritage: A Narrative History of Deaf Americans, Flournoy proposed that deaf people obtain a government land grant to establish a colony "where all...
helped establish the Georgia School for the Deaf.
External links
- Official ASD website
- History page on the ASD website
- Camp Isola Bella on the ASD website
- "A Brief History Of The American Asylum, At Hartford, For The Education And Instruction Of The Deaf And Dumb"
- Third Report of the Directors and Officers 1819
- Fourth Report of the Directors and Officers 1820
- Fifth Report of the Directors and Officers 1821
- Eighth Report of the Directors and Officers 1824
- Fourteenth Report of the Directors and Officers 1830
- Fifteenth Report of the Directors and Officers 1831
- Eighteenth Report of the Directors and Officers 1834
- Nineteenth Report of the Directors and Officers 1835
- Twentieth Report of the Directors and Officers 1836
- Twenty-second Report of the Directors and Officers 1838
- Twenty-third Report of the Directors and Officers 1839
- Twenty-fifth Report of the Directors and Officers 1841
- Twenty-sixth Report of the Directors and Officers 1842
- Twenty-seventh Report of the Directors and Officers 1843
- Twenty-ninth Report of the Directors and Officers 1845
- Thirtieth Report of the Directors and Officers 1846
- Thirty-second Report of the Directors and Officers 1848
- Forty-first Report of the Directors and Officers 1857
- Forty-second Report of the Directors and Officers 1858
- Fifty-fourth Report of the Directors and Officers 1870
- Fifty-fifth Report of the Directors and Officers 1871