Pennsylvania School for the Deaf
Encyclopedia
The Pennsylvania School for the Deaf is the third-oldest school of its kind in the United States
. Its founder, David G. Seixas (1788–1864), was a Philadelphia crockery maker-dealer who became concerned with the plight of impoverished deaf children that he observed on the city's streets. In 1819, he began bringing deaf youngsters into his home to provide them with food, clothing and instruction, all at his expense.
More space became needed to accommodate additional children as Seixas' humanitarian efforts became known, so he rented an office at the southeast corner of Eleventh and High (later Market) Streets to serve as a school. In 1821, prominent Philadelphia citizens decided to help Seixas by incorporating a charitable society: the Pennsylvania Institution for the Deaf and Dumb. The organization was chartered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
as "an asylum and school in the city of Philadelphia, where the children of the rich, for a moderate compensation, and of the poor, gratuitously, laboring under the privation of the faculty of speech, are maintained and educated." (Act of the Pennsylvania General Assembly
, February 8, 1821) The state also provided financial assistance. Episcopal Bishop William White
served as the school's president until his death in 1836.
The number of deaf children needing special education increased so much that a much larger school—more accurately, an asylum—was soon needed. This became the stately Greek Revival
structure that still stands at the northwest corner Broad and Pine Streets. Completed in 1826 and later incorporating two additions, this building is an excellent example of major works by three of America's most important 19th-century architects: John Haviland, William Strickland
and Frank Furness
. When the Pennsylvania School moved to a 70 acres (283,280.2 m²) campus in Philadelphia's Mount Airy neighborhood in 1892-1893, the Broad and Pine building was purchased by the predecessor of Philadelphia's University of the Arts
. The structure, now known as Dorrance Hamilton Hall, is the oldest extant edifice on Broad Street
.
Since 1984, the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf has been located in the Germantown
section of Philadelphia, occupying several buildings of the former Germantown Academy
site at 100 West School House Lane. The institution presently serves students aged 3 to 18 in preschool through high school classes. As one of four private state-chartered schools, along with the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf
, which recently took over the Scranton School for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children
(formerly known as Scranton State School for the Deaf
), the Pennsylvania School is reimbursed for most of its operating expenses by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and eligible youngsters attend tuition-free. The school also depends on charitable contributions. A resource and service center for deaf and hard of hearing adults called the Center for Community and Professional Services also operates on the school's campus.
Under the title "Pennsylvania Institute for the Deaf and Dumb," the school was added to the National Register of Historic Places
on May 9, 1985.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Its founder, David G. Seixas (1788–1864), was a Philadelphia crockery maker-dealer who became concerned with the plight of impoverished deaf children that he observed on the city's streets. In 1819, he began bringing deaf youngsters into his home to provide them with food, clothing and instruction, all at his expense.
More space became needed to accommodate additional children as Seixas' humanitarian efforts became known, so he rented an office at the southeast corner of Eleventh and High (later Market) Streets to serve as a school. In 1821, prominent Philadelphia citizens decided to help Seixas by incorporating a charitable society: the Pennsylvania Institution for the Deaf and Dumb. The organization was chartered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
as "an asylum and school in the city of Philadelphia, where the children of the rich, for a moderate compensation, and of the poor, gratuitously, laboring under the privation of the faculty of speech, are maintained and educated." (Act of the Pennsylvania General Assembly
Pennsylvania General Assembly
The Pennsylvania General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The legislature convenes in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. In colonial times , the legislature was known as the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly. Since the Constitution of 1776, written by...
, February 8, 1821) The state also provided financial assistance. Episcopal Bishop William White
William White (Bishop of Pennsylvania)
The Most Reverend William White was the first and fourth Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, USA , the first Bishop of the Diocese of Pennsylvania , and the second United States Senate Chaplain...
served as the school's president until his death in 1836.
The number of deaf children needing special education increased so much that a much larger school—more accurately, an asylum—was soon needed. This became the stately Greek Revival
Greek Revival architecture
The Greek Revival was an architectural movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, predominantly in Northern Europe and the United States. A product of Hellenism, it may be looked upon as the last phase in the development of Neoclassical architecture...
structure that still stands at the northwest corner Broad and Pine Streets. Completed in 1826 and later incorporating two additions, this building is an excellent example of major works by three of America's most important 19th-century architects: John Haviland, William Strickland
William Strickland (architect)
William Strickland , was a noted architect in nineteenth-century Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Nashville, Tennessee.-Life and career:...
and Frank Furness
Frank Furness
Frank Heyling Furness was an acclaimed American architect of the Victorian era. He designed more than 600 buildings, most in the Philadelphia area, and is remembered for his eclectic, muscular, often idiosyncratically scaled buildings, and for his influence on the Chicago architect Louis Sullivan...
. When the Pennsylvania School moved to a 70 acres (283,280.2 m²) campus in Philadelphia's Mount Airy neighborhood in 1892-1893, the Broad and Pine building was purchased by the predecessor of Philadelphia's University of the Arts
University of the Arts (Philadelphia)
The University of the Arts is one of the United States' oldest universities dedicated to the arts. Its campus makes up part of the Avenue of the Arts in Center City, Philadelphia...
. The structure, now known as Dorrance Hamilton Hall, is the oldest extant edifice on Broad Street
Broad Street (Philadelphia)
Broad Street is a major arterial street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and is nearly 13 miles long.It is Pennsylvania Route 611 along its entire length with the exception of its northernmost part between Old York Road and Pennsylvania Route 309 and the southernmost part south of Interstate 95...
.
Since 1984, the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf has been located in the Germantown
Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Germantown is a neighborhood in the northwest section of the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, about 7–8 miles northwest from the center of the city...
section of Philadelphia, occupying several buildings of the former Germantown Academy
Germantown Academy
Germantown Academy is America's oldest nonsectarian day school, founded on December 6, 1759 . Germantown Academy is now a K-12 school in the Philadelphia suburb of Fort Washington, having moved from its original Germantown campus in 1965...
site at 100 West School House Lane. The institution presently serves students aged 3 to 18 in preschool through high school classes. As one of four private state-chartered schools, along with the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf
Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf
The Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf is a school for deaf and hard of hearing children in Edgewood, Pennsylvania. It was established in 1869....
, which recently took over the Scranton School for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children
Scranton School for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children
The Scranton School for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children is a specialized school located in Scranton, Pennsylvania serving students from Northeast and Central Pennsylvania, USA. Formerly administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Scranton State School for the Deaf was closed at...
(formerly known as Scranton State School for the Deaf
Scranton State School for the Deaf
Scranton State School for the Deaf was a residential school for the deaf established in 1880 in Scranton, Pennsylvania, United States. Its students ranged in age from 3 to 18. At the end of the 2008-09 school year, the school was turned over from state management to the Western Pennsylvania School...
), the Pennsylvania School is reimbursed for most of its operating expenses by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and eligible youngsters attend tuition-free. The school also depends on charitable contributions. A resource and service center for deaf and hard of hearing adults called the Center for Community and Professional Services also operates on the school's campus.
Under the title "Pennsylvania Institute for the Deaf and Dumb," the school was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on May 9, 1985.