Life of Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet: Founder of Deaf-mute Instruction in America

Reverend Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, LL.D., (December 10, 1787 – September 10, 1851) 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. When opened on April 15, 1817, it was called the "Connecticut Asylum (at Hartford) for the Education and Instruction of Deaf and Dumb Persons," but it is now known as the American School for the Deaf.

CONTENTS:

CHAPTER I.
1556 — 1685—1787—1805.
Ancestry—Parentage—Childhood—Family Environment—
School and College Life

CHAPTER II.
1805 —1815.
Study of Law—Tutorship in Yale College—Serious Ill-
health—Religious Despondency and Doubts—Active
Business and Travel—Theological Study at Andover
—A Call to the Ministry at Portsmouth, New Hamp-
shire.

CHAPTER III.
1815—1816.
Interest in Deaf-Mutes — Alice Cogswell—An Invitation
from Citizens of Hartford to Undertake the Education
of the Deaf in America—A Tour to England, Scotland
and France to Gain Information — Difficulties and
Hindrances in Great Britain—Success in France—
Temporary Pastorate in Paris


CHAPTER IV.'
1816—1823.
Return to America—Efforts to Interest the Public in the
Education of the Deaf— Public Addresses in Many
Cities — Organization and Opening of the School at
Hartford — Favorable Action of State and National
Legislatures — Munificent Grant of Land from Con-
gress—Erection and Dedication of Permanent Build-
ings for the Institution—Rapid Increase of Number of
Pupils—Difficulties in Management—Attempt in the
Board of Directors to Remove Mr. Gallaudet from
Office.

CHAPTER V.
Marriage to Sophia Fowler, One of the Earliest Pupils of
the School—Characteristic Letter written Two Days
after the Wedding—Description of Mrs. Gallaudet—
Happiness in the Married Life.

CHAPTER VI.
1823-1830.
Arduous Labors as Principal and Teacher—Invention of
Methods of Pantomimic Communication—Visit of Col.
John Trumbull — Solicitations to aid in Establishing
Schools for the Deaf outside of New England—Failing
Health—Application to the Directors for Relief from
Certain Duties — Opposition of Associates to such
Relief—The Institution Established on a Firm and
Permanent Basis—Increasing Feebleness—Resigna-
tion of Principalship


'CHAPTER VII.
Services in Aid of Various Public Enterprises—Foreign
Missions —The Tract Society — Education .— Prince
Abdul Rahhamann—A Visit to Washington—A Ser-
mon in the House of Representatives—Notes from
John Quincy Adams' Diary—Education of Negroes as
Missionaries to Africa—Letters from Dr. Milnor and
Gerrit Smith.

CHAPTER VIII.
1830—1838.
Invitations to fill a Number of Important Positions—To
Inaugurate the Education of the Blind of America at
Boston—To represent the Colonization Society in New
England—To take Professors' Chairs in several Colleges
and to become Principal of Various Institutions—To
Inaugurate a Professorship of the Philosophy of Edu-
cation in New York University—Mr. Gallaudet De-
clines all these Offers and Devotes Himself to the
Preparation of Books for the Young—Correspondence
with the King of Siam—Interest in Manual Training
and Normal Schools—An Important Secret Mission
to the West—Invitation to become Principal of the
First Normal School.

CHAPTER IX.
1838—1851.
Interest in the Insane—An Invitation to Preach at the In-
sane Hospital in Worcester, Mass., and to become
Permanent Chaplain—A Similar Invitation from the
Retreat at Hartford Accepted—Extracts from the
Chaplain's Diary—Suggestions as to Treatment of the
Insane.


CHAPTER X.

A Home School—Family Government — Hospitality


This pre1923 publication has been reformatted for the Kindle and may contain an occasional defect from the original publication or from the reformatting process.