Evening star., 1952-05-25

A commemorative stamp in hon.
or Of Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet.
friend. teacher and benefactor Of
the deaf" is being sought by stu
dents Of Gallaudet College and the
Kendall School. In a statement
approved by the faculties of both
schools. the young people say:
Early in the 10Th century. Gal
laudet went abroad to study Eu-
ropean methods and techniques is
educating and instructing the deaf.
In France he enlisted the services
of a French teacher Of the deaf,
Laurent Clerc, who returned to
America with him. The result of
their association and labors was
the founding in 1917. at Hartford.
Conn, Of the first permanent
school for the deaf in America,
now known as the American
School for the Deaf. Privately sup
ported at first, the school soon
secured public funds and was thus
the first of the growing number of
State-supported schools for the
deaf in the United States. Through
the untiring efforts and foresight
of Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet and
the inspiration and stimulation
which he gave to contemporaries
and successors, abundant oppor-
tunity for full education is avail
able to deaf people throughout the
United States today. Hundreds of
mountaineering teachers trained
in the methods and techniqueS
of educationg the deaf at Galludet
College, so named in honor Of
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, have
gone forth to every State in the
union to assume teaching posi-
tions, many eventually becoming
heads Of departments, principals.
Superintendents or administrative
heads Of schools for the deaf.
Many more have proceeded to the
far reaches Of the earth to estab-
lish. to develop and to improve
schools for the deaf in various
foreign lands throughout the en-
tire world.
In view Of his interest in and
devotion to the deaf, of his un-
firing and ceaseless efforts in
their behalf, both those of his
own and those Of succeeding gen.
|erations; of the impressive prog
ress which he personally attained
and of the outstanding achieve
ments realized by those who have
been inspired by his objectives,
stimulated by his energies and
fired by his zeal, we feel that the
honor and recognition which we
request be accorded Thomas Hop
kins Gallaudet-friend, teacher,
benefactor-are richly deserved
and would be a fitting and appro-
PIRATE tribute to so outstanding
an American.
"We respectfully suggest that
the subject of the stamp be the
beautiful bronze statue of Thomas
Hopkins Gallaudet on the Gallau-
det College campus. This statue
which is considered one of the
finest sculptured by Daniel Chester
French, was erected in 1889. Sig
nificantly. this remembrance was
planned by the National Associa-
ton of the Deaf and was financed
by subscriptions from the deaf in
every territory, State and district
Of the United States"
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, a
native Of Philadelphia, born De-
cember 10, 1887, was led into his
work for the deaf by a little girl,
Alice Cogswell. who is represented
with him in the statue referred
to. Another of his pupils was
Sophia Fowler, whom he subse-
quently married. One of their
sons. Edward Miner Gallaudet
(1837-191D, was associated with
Amos Kendall in founding Gallau-
det College. Another, Thomas
Gallaudet d822-l9O2), was a
famous missionary to the deaf
Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet died
September 10, 1851.
Readers interested in the pro-
posed stamp are invited to COM
municate with Dean Irving S.
Fusfeld. 1914 Argyle terrace NV,
III D,,zzI@