Evening star., 1936-04-05

pletely lost her hearing as the result
Of severe illness. Between this
star pupil and her teacher q great
mutual affection developed. Their
marriage was q supremely happy one.
During Dean Peet's grandfather's
time, the New York school was moved
to its present location at One Hundred
and Sixty-third street and the Hudson
River, once the estate Of Col. James
Monroe, cousin of President Monroe,
who often visited there during Col.
Monroe's occupancy. The mansion
became the principals residence. Be-
cause Col. Monroe's wife was named
Fanny and beautiful woods sur
rounded the estate, it was designated
Fanwood.
Elizabeth Peet's brother George
became journalist and was well
known in Washington as the Associ-
ated Press correspondent at the State
Department during the World War.
He afterward became liaison officer
between the French High Commission
and the newspaper men in Paris.
Another brother, Walter, who was IS
years older than Elizabeth, was a
member of winning crews at Columbia,
lover Of dogs and an exhibitor Of
the Westminster Kennels.
Her children found it as easy to
talk to Mrs. Peet as to their father.
1t was matter Of course in the fam
lily that the mother should be kept
posted on the subject under discus
sion. 1t is fascinating to hear Dean
Peet describe how vital, eager and in
teresting every one found her mother
and Of the pleasure which every one
had in talking to her.
Family Paths Again Cross.
Twice more the Gallaudets and the
Peets were fated to cross destinies.
Amos Kendall, warm hearted person.
al friend Of Andrew Jackson, and Post
master General then. had Congress
appoint him as guardian Of a group
of stranded deaf mutes brought to
Washington by a man who had en-
deavored to exploit them in his futile
efforts to start new school. Bring
ing them to one Of the buildings upon
his own estate, where two acres were
set apart for their use, he established
the Columbia Institution for the
Deaf. Eventually, Congress pur-
chased the entire estate of 100 acres
for the school, naming it Kendall
Green in memory of its first friend.
Seeking a teacher, Mr.. Kendall Of.
fered the position to DR.. Isaac Peet,
father Of Dean Peet. DR.. Peet felt
that he could not leave his New York
School, but suggested Edward Gallau-
det, youngest son Of Thomas Gallau.
det.
Edward Gallaudet became the presi-
dent Of the first college in the world
for the deaf when Congress in 1864
empowered the Columbia Institution
to grant degrees. In 1894. upon Pc
tition Of its graduates. the name was
changed to Gallaudet College.
Just SO years after Edward Gallau-
Diet entered upon his work in the
Nations Capital, he journeyed to the
Rhode Island School for the Deaf at
Providence. where Elizabeth Peet was
teaching. Once again a Gallaudet said
to Peet, I'VE need you in our work
with the deaf" Elizabeth. like her
grandfather before her, needed that
call.
SO Years Of Service.
This year she ROUNDS out SO school
sessions Of service In the institution
to which she came as q young girl.
Well have her shoulders worn the
mantle of her great grandsire and
equally great father To Miss Peet
came the distinction Of being the first
woman to sit upon the faculty at CAL
laudet College. She holds a degree
from George Washington University,
a certificate from the Sorbonne in
Paris and an honorary degree from
Gallaudet. When George Washington
University sought its first dean Of
women, Miss Peet was offered the
post, but declined because she felt
her life should be spent in the edu-
cational field for which she was
especially fitted by inheritance and
specialized training.
u. Recently she became the first won-
an to be honored with q position upon
the executive committee of the con-
ventioh Of American Instructors Of the
Deaf, founded by her grandfather
and which is now the largest profess
sional organization Of teachers of
the deaf in the world.
Miss Peet also is professor of French
and an instructor in the language Of
signs and dactylology In Gallaudet's
of Normal Training.
Today Gallaudet College is the cap
stone of the Kendall School, which
affords free instruction in its ele-
mentary and secondary classes to the
deaf pupils Of the District of Columbia.
Both Gallaudet College and the Ken
dali School are separate departments,
with separate faculties and buildings,
Of q corporation known as the Cofum-
bia Institution for the Deaf. A sim
gle group Of directors governs both
the school and the college. DR.. Per-
cival Hall, president Of Gallaudet Col
lege, also is president Of the corpora
ton and Mr.. Samuel B. Craig is prin-
cipal of the Kendall School.