Sophia Fowler Gallaudet - Born March 20, 1798, in Guilford, CT. Died May 13, 1877; her last home address site: Hartford, CT.Influential advocate to the US Congress on behalf of education of deaf people in the 1860s and who was known as "Queen of the Deaf Community" Deaf wife of Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet and mother […]
David Peikoff - Born March 21, 1900, in Yanoschina, Polava Province, Russia. Died January 28, 1995; last home address site: Greenbelt, MD.Dynamic leader who was known to hold the office of many deaf organizations and for his remarkable career in fundraising.
April 8, 1864 -- Charter signed by United States President Abraham Lincoln authorizing the Board of Directors of Gallaudet University to grant college degrees to deaf students. Dr. Edward Miner Gallaudet and Amos Kendall were the co-founders of Gallaudet University.
Byron Benton Burnes - Born April 13, 1904, in Batavia, IA. Died August 25, 1999; his last home address site: Martinez, CA.Taught many years at California School for the Deaf. Elected the 16th president of the National Association of the Deaf and remained president from 1946 to 1964, the longest presidential tenure so far.
April 15, 1817 -- Establishment of the first permanent public school in the Western Hemisphere for deaf students, now known as American School for the Deaf, located in Hartford, Connecticut. Laurent Clerc, Dr. Mason Fitch Cogswell and Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet were the school co-founders.
Erastus “Deaf” Smith - Born April 19, 1787, near Poughkeepsie, NY. Died November 30, 1837; last home address site: Richmond, TX.Chief scout and spy for a Texas army; Texas’s folk hero. He helped Texas get independence from Mexico. One county in Texas was named "Deaf Smith" after him.
Robert P. McGregor - Born April 26, 1849, in Lockland, OH. Died December 21, 1926; Last home address site: Columbus, OH.First president and one of the three co-founders of NAD. Educator, administrator, writer, skilled orator and leader. Founder of the Ohio Home for the Aged and Infirm Deaf in 1896, now known as Columbus Colony.
Better Hearing and Speech MonthMay, since 1927To raise public understanding about hearing, voice, speech, and language disorders, and recognize speech and hearing professionals for the important work they do. American Speech-Language Hearing Association has library resources. www.asha.org
William Ellsworth Hoy - Born May 23, 1862, in Houcktown, OH. Died December 15, 1961. Last home address site: Cincinnati, OH.First deaf major leaguer. He taught his teammates signs which some have become useful for umpires throughout the world like calling "balls” and “strikes”.
John Carlin - Born June 15, 1813, in Philadelphia, PA. Died April 23, 1891. Last home address site: New York City.Artist, writer and advocate who contributed greatly to the cultural life of the deaf community in the 19th century.
June 23, 1869 -- First Commencement of Gallaudet University, held at the First Congregational Church in Washington, D.C. John Carlin, the first deaf recipient awarded an honorary degree (Master of Arts).
Andrew Jackson Foster - Born June 27, 1925, in Birmingham, AL. Died December 3, 1987. Last home address site: Ibadan, Nigeria.American educator who founded thirty-one schools and many other programs for deaf people in thirteen African countries; first African American to graduate from Gallaudet College.
Helen Adams Keller - Born June 27, 1880, in Tuscumbia, AL. Died June 1, 1968. Last home address site: Westport, CT.First deaf-blind author and lecturer who received many honors for her global advocacy on human rights.National Helen Keller Deaf-Blind Awareness WeekFull week in June that includes the 27th, the birth date of Helen KellerA US […]
